Housing Executive Social Investment Awards

Application Form

The Housing Executive’s Social Investment Strategic Plan 2025-2030 People, Place & Prosperity sets out to provide assistance to organisations and social enterprises in Housing Executive communities. Investment in social and community enterprises that are primarily based in or serve Housing Executive communities is an important aspect of the strategic plan. We understand the tangible outcomes that can community-based services can assist in improving socio and economic circumstances of residents. The Social Investment Strategic Plan outlines our plans to contribute to social economic, sustainability and resilience within our communities.

We know that in areas where there are high levels of disadvantage, social enterprises have been at the forefront of providing economic and employment initiatives by creating new services, learning and reskilling opportunities at a local level. We believe that our role is to enable self-sustaining, vibrant, and economically active communities. The outworking of our investment over the last decade has been the creation and growth of social enterprises locally with the creation of new jobs and training opportunities, as well as the allowing these businesses and services to provide sustainable solutions at both local and regional level.

We are seeking application which focus on the following themes and that bring a benefit to Housing Executive estates;

Social Enterprise activity
Community Wealth Building
Social Value
Employment and apprenticeships

The awards categories are;

Think It – up to £5000

The Think It Awards are primarily focused on those embryonic or newly established organisations/social enterprises/ based in or serving Housing Executive communities which align with the priorities as outlined in the lifetime of the new strategic plan In particular where it includes growth of the social enterprise sector and through, community wealth building, social value, employability & apprenticeships.

Boost It – up to £10,000

The Boost It Awards will aim to support those emerging organisations / social enterprises that are evolving with aspiration for growth. As outlined above these will align with the same priorities.

Grow It – up to £35,000

The Grow It Awards will target those more established organisations / social enterprises within our communities that are looking for further growth or diversification.

These awards may fund, but not exclusively; support for organisations / social enterprises related to innovation and in particular; applications that support areas relating to Social Value, Climate Change, Net zero, Information Technology, other social enterprise activity related to Community Wealth Building, Apprenticeships & Employability.

The focus is on trading for sustainability and growth – where there is a social enterprise focus. (Note the definition of trading will include a community-based organisation or social enterprise providing a service selling some products / services for which some fees/prices have been charged).

For Social Enterprise applications a business plan is essential, and the enterprise must demonstrate its trading capability/prospects and that it has the potential to be a viable sustainable entity. If in doubt please contact a member of the Housing Executive Social Investment Team at socialinvestments@nihe.gov.uk.

Background

We launched initial our Housing Executive Social Enterprise Strategy in 2015. The subsequent Social Enterprise Strategies set out to assist individuals or groups living or working in Housing Executive communities. As part of our strategy, it was agreed that financial investment may be awarded to social enterprises that are primarily based in or serve Housing Executive communities either through the provision of services, development of services and providing employment/training opportunities. The aim of the investment awards is to increase economic activity in the area, assist the development of social enterprises to grow and develop their commercial activity and sustainability.

This programme has an increased focus on social enterprise, community wealth building, social value and employability and apprenticeships.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the award, applicants must demonstrate how Housing Executive communities will benefit as a result of the award. And how they intend to measure the impact they make – in relation to Community Wealth Building, Social Value & Employability and Apprenticeships.

You must be able to prove that an award will:

Increase capacity to become a viable sustainable business. (This could be the creation of a product/service to benefit community wealth building, or an increase in jobs and apprenticeship opportunities, or an innovative partnership which brings new benefits to a Housing Executive community.)
If not applying as a social enterprise, demonstrate increased capacity related to Community Wealth Building, Social Value & Employability and Apprenticeships.
Demonstrate direct benefits to Housing Executive communities either through service/product development, community wealth building, social value and or job opportunities and apprenticeships or investment in Housing Executive areas.
Contribute to community improvement either by enhancing the environment or mitigating negative effects of rising costs of living. This may involve providing/improving access to a product/service for a Housing Executive community or improving health and well-being for tenants.

We will consider applications from community-based and community focused organisations with a social enterprise/social purpose element. Priority will be given to those applicants that can demonstrate how the award intends to contribute to development of economic activity in the local area, particularly relating to the following priority themes.

Social Enterprise activity
Community Wealth Building
Community Wealth Building is 1) Plural Ownership 2) Locally-Rooted Finance 3) Fair Employment and Just Labour Markets 4) Socially Productive Use of Land and Property 5) Progressive Commissioning, Sourcing, and Procurement of Goods and Services.
Social Value
Social Value is a mandatory requirement in Northern Ireland's public procurement that measures the wider, positive, non-financial and financial impacts that a contract has on the well-being of individuals, communities, and the environment. It is a mandatory part of public contracts.
Employment and apprenticeships

Assessment of applications

Applications will be assessed by a panel of managers. Funds are limited and all applications which meet the criteria will not necessarily be funded.

What we do with your information

The Housing Executive is the Data Controller under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for the personal data it gathers for the purposes of administering the Social Enterprise Plus Programme.

The information you have provided is required for the following specified purposes:

Identify the group
Update relevant funding databases
Provide any letter of offer which may arise from this application; and
Payment of any Grant which may arise from this application.

By submitting this form you are consenting to the Housing Executive processing your information for the purpose of your Social Enterprise Plus Programme.

You can withdraw your application at any time by contacting socialinvestments@nihe.gov.uk. If you withdraw your application, the Housing Executive will be unable to further process your application for Social Enterprise Plus Programme.

Sharing your information with others

Your information may be shared internally within the Housing Executive with staff who are involved in providing this service and where necessary, between internal departments with the purpose of supporting an effective delivery of service. Personal data is held and stored by the Housing Executive in a safe and secure manner and in compliance with Data Protection legislation.

Information in relation to this application, including contact details provided as part of the application, may also be shared with others for statistical analysis, and the Government Funding Database for fraud prevention/detection. This information is only shared where this is necessary to comply with our legal obligations or as permitted by General Data Protection Regulation or Data Protection Act 2018.

The data contained in the Application will be retained by the Housing Executive in line with the current retention policy.

Privacy Notice

The Housing Executive is committed to protecting your privacy and maintaining your trust and confidence in how we handle your personal information. You can view our Privacy Notice at www.nihe.gov.uk/privacy_notice, pick up a copy at any Housing Executive office or you can ask us to post or email a copy to you.

Organisational Details

Name of organisation

Title

First name

Last name

Position

Local Housing Executive Office

What Housing Executive area is your organisations based?

Council area in which your group / organisation is located

Electoral Ward

Parliamentary Constituency

To find out your electoral ward and parliamentary constituency, you can search by postcode here.

(Right click the link and open in new tab)

Is this application for funding for a new or existing organisation / social enterprise, which is::

Not yet establishedNew (less than 12 months)Operational (more than 12 months)

How long has your organisation been operational

Organisational Details

Business Address Line 1

Business Address Line 2

City

Post Code

Business Telephone

Mobile

Business Email

Website

Type of Group

Please detail

Is your group a member of the Housing Community Network

YesNo

Purpose of award

What is the purpose of the award? What does it relate to:

Social EnterpriseCommunity Wealth BuildingSocial ValueJobs and Apprenticeships

These investments must benefit Housing Executive communities, please list the specific communities / estates that will benefit:

Please provide an overview of your current social enterprise activity or where related to Community Wealth Building, Social Value or Jobs & Apprenticeships:

Please detail what you are applying for in this application i.e equipment or staff costs (we will ask you about costs later in the application):

Please detail any contribution in kind/other support re staff/finance that you are making towards this social enterprise:

Have you received/approached other funders/funding sources such as Community Finance Ireland / Bank loans for your social enterprise/organisation, if not would it be something you would consider? Please detail below:

What is the profit destination? i.e. where there is a profit from the social enterprise – where will this go to? Please detail below

If funded as part of the application, please indicate how your organisation or activities /social enterprise will improve the economic circumstances of tenants/ residents in Housing Executive communities

Does your organisation / social enterprise work/or intend to work with any other agencies or groups in an innovative or collaborative way?

Main Client Group Anticipated

(please select all that are relevant)

CarersChildren (5-13 year olds)Communities in TransitionCommunityCommunity SafetyDisabilityElderlyEthnic minorities- BAMEEx-offenders and prisonersInterfacesInterface CommunitiesHealth / Mental HealthHomelessnessMenMental HealthOlder PeopleParentsPeople with disabilities/special needsPreschool (0-5 year olds)Race relationsRuralSchool age childrenSegregation/IntegrationSexual orientation – LGBTQ+1Social enterprisesTravellersUnemployed/low incomeVolunteersYouth (14-25 year olds)WomenWorking with prisoners / ex-offendersOther

What are the key outcomes relative to the priorities of this award? (This may be one or more)

Social EnterpriseCommunity Wealth BuildingSocial Value/Preparing social enterprises for social clauses within Government contracts and also current and future Housing Executive maintenance contractsEmployment and ApprenticeshipsNet carbon/environmental impact

Please state how you intend to measure these outcomes:

Social Enterprise

Community Wealth Building

Social Value / Preparing social enterprises

Employment and Apprenticeships

Net carbon/environmental impact

Have you previously received funding from other Housing Executive Programmes?

YesNo

Please explain

Does your organisation have a strategic plan?

YesNo

Please attach your strategic plan

Does the social enterprise or activities in which you are applying for as part of this application, feature in the strategic plan?

YesNo

Do you have a business plan specific to this social enterprise and application?

YesNo

Detail the business case for this application (priority will be given to applications supported by a business plan).

Please identify the expected outputs/outcomes which will be achieved as a direct result of funding.

Number of participants

Approximately how many of these will be Housing Executive tenants?

Number of beneficiaries
(if different from above)

Approximately how many of these will be Housing Executive beneficiaries?
(if different from above)

Detail any new product/service provided to the Housing Executive community

Purpose of award

Please detail below costs you are applying for to the Social Investment Programme. Please be as accurate as possible as the letter of offer will reflect this and cannot be changed:

Think It (up to £5,000)Boost It (up to £10,000)Grow It (up to £35,000)

Please detail below how much exactly you require as part of this application

Think It Costs

£ - GBP

Boost It Costs

£ - GBP

Grow It Costs

£ - GBP

Also please research item costs i.e. for equipment as we will only accept what is listed below. We will require evidence of best value, for example for equipment costing less than £5000 - two quotes will be required.

Item

Total cost requested as part of this application

£ - GBP

Funds already secured from other organisations / funders towards what you are applying for in this application

£ - GBP

Source

Total

Total cost requested as part of this application

Funds already secured

Social Value

Are you aware of social value in public sector procurement? (Since June 2022 Government departments must allocate a minimum of 10% of the total scoring award criteria to public sector contracts)

YesNo

Social Enterprises and community/voluntary organisations, if they are to benefit, should be registered on the socialvalueni.org website as a broker.
Are you registered on the socialvalueni.org website as a broker in order to potentially benefit?

YesNo

If no, why not?:

Are you aware of social value in Housing Executive contracts?

YesNo

Please add more information:

Your Organisations' Finance

Please detail actual income generated as part of your social enterprise in the last 2 years.

Year One

Income Generated

£ - GBP

Profit/Loss

£ - GBP

Year Two

Income Generated

£ - GBP

Profit/Loss

£ - GBP

Whether your social enterprise is established or not, please detail your financial projections below for the next 3 years:

Year One

Income Generated

£ - GBP

Profit/Loss

£ - GBP

Year Two

Income Generated

£ - GBP

Profit/Loss

£ - GBP

Year Three

Income Generated

£ - GBP

Profit/Loss

£ - GBP

As a social enterprise please detail how any profit will be reinvested back into the local social housing community?

Please outline previous experience in delivering similar services, products or outputs.

Project Management

As part of this application how will your organisation/social enterprise be monitored/ managed?

Is the organisation/social enterprise receiving any support from any other agencies, either financially or otherwise?

Checklist

WE REQUIRE AT THIS STAGE:

Are you applying as Social Enterprise?

YesNo

A copy of your business plan

A copy of your governing document i.e. constitution, Articles of Association etc.

Are you working with Children or Vulnerable Adults?

YesNo

Vulnerable Adults Policy

eChild Protection Policy

If your Child Protection and Vulnerable Adults policies are combined, please attach under 'Child Protection Policy'

Do you have a copy of your Public Liability Insurance?

YesNoNot Relevant

A copy of your Public Liability Insurance

Comments regarding Public Liability Insurance

The items listed below MAY be required at a later date if the application is successful, please indicate if these are available

(These do NOT need to be submitted with this application).

A copy of your most recent audited accounts. Note, if you are a new organisation/social enterprise you may not have accounts, please inform us.

YesNoNot Relevant

A copy of your audited accounts

Comments regarding Audited Accounts

A list of your organisational committee/board members

YesNoNot Relevant

A copy of your organisational structure

YesNoNot Relevant

A completed bank details form (mandatory if successful)

YesNoNot Relevant

Copies of child protection policies, health & safety, counter fraud & public liability insurance etc.

YesNoNot Relevant

A copy of your current leasehold agreement or freehold title for your property, where applicable

YesNoNot Relevant

NOTE: If your proposal includes any capital works, you will need to provide the necessary approvals, prior to any finance being released.

Declaration

Are you related to a Housing Executive staff member or do you have any connections that you would like to let us know about?

YesNo

Please explain

I confirm that:-

I have read the guidance notes attached to this application form
All the information contained within this application is accurate to the best of my knowledge
I am authorised to apply for funding on behalf of the organisation
I understand that if it is successful there will be monitoring and evaluation responsibilities to fulfil

Title

First name

Last name

Position in organisation