Civic Pride 2025
Civic Pride investment fund
We have launched the Civic Pride Fund to support the delivery of activity by our communities.
The Civic Pride approach empowers our community to take action which is led by us to boost pride in areas across the borough and to strengthen its reputation as a place which is clean, safe and friendly.
Following the implementation of the campaign in October 2024, we and our partners have rolled out Civic Pride activity across the borough. Now there is an opportunity for you to make a difference. We have allocated an enabling fund to help you get started on delivering your own local Civic Pride projects.
What this fund is for
The fund:
- provides a flexible resource for activity which supports and enhances your local area
- is designed an annual process to ensure that the Borough Council can direct funds to activities which meet local needs
- is primarily for revenue activity, but the Borough Council will consider the use of funding to purchase capital assets which will benefit the community, where there is no ongoing revenue liability for the borough council.
We are keen for you to think creatively about how you can deliver Civic Pride projects which fit with the needs in your area, but some examples might include:
- Cleaner - equipment for community litter-picks, such as gloves, pickers and high-viz vests, funding for planting or smartening up an area that means a lot to your community.
- Safer - funding to establish a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, or money for diversionary activity for younger people
- Friendlier - money to encourage activities which bring people in your neighbourhood together, such as advertising for new members of clubs and societies or holding a one-off event.
What we cannot fund
We cannot fund:
- activity which conflicts with a policy decision of Newcastle Borough Council
- gaps in budget as a result of a savings decision made by Newcastle Borough Council
- services provided on a borough-wide basis, for example projects that don’t meet at least one of our Council Plan outcomes
- staff salaries (except for match funding project staffing costs)
What we will need
We will need some project information, including the following:
- a phone number and email address for the main contact in the organisation
- a description of what you will use any funding for, including:
- what you plan to do
- how you plan to do it
- what you will spend the money on, including a breakdown
- how you identified and evidenced a need for the activity
- how the project meets priorities for your area, including the themes of the Council Plan
- how the outcomes will be measured
- how outcomes will be sustained after this funding
- what you plan to do
You should engage with your local ward councillors in the development of proposals. Newcastle Borough Council officers can provide advice on proposals, but cannot complete applications and proposal documentation for applicants
Timetable and decision-making
The application process for the fund opened in June 2025, with applications received and assessed each quarter. All activity must be completed by 31 March 2026.
Decisions on applications will be made by our cabinet. There is no right of appeal against decisions. We do not commit to fund activity in every ward area, as decisions will be based on need and impact.
Monitoring
Monitoring of spend, activity and outcomes will take place on a quarterly basis. Successful applicants will be appointed a link officer who will advise of monitoring arrangements.
Promotion
The recipients will acknowledge us and the Civic Pride campaign (#PrideinNUL) in all publicity relating to the funding.