The Bright Ideas Fund is now closed. 

I can’t find any information on the web regarding the Bright Ideas Fund, can you please direct me to where this information is published? 

The Bright Ideas Fund is funded by Power to Change, the independent trust supporting community businesses in England, and delivered by Locality, the national network for community organisations, in partnership with Co-operatives UK, the Plunkett Foundation and Groundwork UK. 

In November 2020, Power to Change, announced substantial changes to their organisational development and goals over the next five years. As a result of these changes, there will be no further funding rounds for the Bright Ideas Fund.  

How many further rounds were originally due to take place?  

Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, a total of 9 Rounds were planned as part of the Bright Ideas Fund programme, most of which had been completed. Round 7 was launched in spring 2020, Round 8 was due to launch in autumn 2020 and the final Round 9 due to launch in spring 2021.  Round 8 and Round 9 will now not go ahead.  

I applied in Round 6 and was successful in obtaining the Bright Ideas Fund grant as well as the Business Development Support (BDS). Does the fact that the Bright Ideas Fund has closed mean that I’m not going to get all my BDS and grant?  

Power to Change have confirmed that any grants or BDS awarded will still be honoured. This means that you will still get the grant you were awarded and you will still receive the Business Development Support allocated to you when you officially joined the programme.  

I’m part of the Bright Ideas Fund programme but I haven’t received my grant yet or completed my BDS. Will I still receive these? 

Any incomplete activity or funding awarded in rounds 5, 6, and 7 of the Bright Ideas Fund can still be completed and those successful applicants are still eligible to receive the grant and/or BDS previously confirmed and communicated. Projects who took part in rounds 1,2,3,4 are already complete.  

Is there a time limit for completing the BDS for successful awardees from Rounds 5, 6 and 7?   

Unless you have requested an extension, the time limit will have been agreed with your adviser. In general, BDS support is delivered over a six to eight–month period.  However, BDS should be completed as soon as it’s feasible to do so, whilst taking into account local circumstances. For example, the government’s second lockdown might delay activity until restrictions are lifted. Please speak to your appointed adviser if you are experiencing difficulties in completing your outstanding support.       

Is there a time limit for spending my grant? 

Unless you have requested an extension, the time limit will have been set out in your grant award letter. Grant spend must be completed by the end of the programme in December 2021. If you require more time to spend your grant please speak to Groundwork UK in the first instance by following the instructions in your grant award letter. 

If I am a successful applicant and I’ve got more questions, who can I speak to? 

Please speak to your appointed adviser in the first instance if you want to speak about your BDS support. If you want to make a request to extend your grant spend timeline, please speak to Groundwork UK. For anything else contact the Bright Ideas programme team at brightideas@locality.org.uk 

I was hoping to apply to the Bright Ideas Fund in the next round that opened, where can I go to for other funding opportunities. 

Locality and other organisations operating in the community sector work closely together to share funding opportunities. Please check the My Community funding hub regularly as we will publish any news about funding there.