Nns Foundation

Charity Number: 1184159

Annual Expenditure: £10.0M
Geographic Focus: Throughout England And Wales, Egypt, United States

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Quick Stats

  • Charity Number: 1184159
  • Annual Expenditure: £9,841,100 (2024)
  • Annual Income: £13,085,239 (2024)
  • Grant Range: £5,000 - £10,000 (standard programs)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Approximately 12 weeks (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: Birmingham constituencies (England & Wales); also operates in Egypt and United States
  • Application Method: Online portal via Heart of England Community Foundation

Contact Details

Foundation Administration:

  • Registered Office: Third Floor, 20 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7AN
  • Administrator: Withers Worldwide
  • Company Secretary Email: company.secretary@withersworldwide.com
  • Phone: 020 7597 6000

Grant Applications (via Heart of England Community Foundation):

Overview

The NNS Foundation (Neighbourhood Network Scheme Foundation) is a private grant-making charity established on 12 December 2018 and registered with the UK Charity Commission (charity number 1184159). The foundation operates as a company limited by guarantee and is professionally administered by Withers Worldwide, a leading international law firm specializing in charity and philanthropic foundation administration.

The foundation's primary charitable purpose is furthering its mission by making grants to support a range of charitable projects. With total income of £13.09 million and expenditure of £9.84 million in 2024, the foundation maintains substantial reserves of £3.24 million for future grant-making. The foundation operates with a single trustee and has no paid employees, relying on Withers' professional administration services.

The NNS Foundation works primarily through the Heart of England Community Foundation to deliver its grant-making activities, focusing on Birmingham's ten Neighbourhood Network Schemes. These schemes support older adults aged 50+ and disabled adults aged 18-49 to access community-based services and activities that promote wellbeing and quality of life. The foundation's strategic approach emphasizes helping citizens lead healthier, happier lives with increased financial capability within their own homes and communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Edgbaston & Northfield NNS Fund (Older Adults 50+)

  • Amount: Up to £10,000
  • Geographic Focus: Edgbaston and Northfield wards (defined by Parliamentary Constituency boundaries)
  • Application: Online via Heart of England Community Foundation
  • Target: Community groups delivering projects for vulnerable people aged 50+

NNS Younger Adults Program

  • Amount: Up to £10,000
  • Geographic Focus: Edgbaston and Northfield constituencies
  • Application: Online, requires review of area-specific fund factsheets
  • Target: Projects serving working-age adults aged 18-49 with long-term disabilities

Hall Green NNS Grants Programme

  • Amount: Typically up to £10,000 (£160,000 distributed to 16 projects in 2023-24)
  • Geographic Focus: Hall Green constituency
  • Application: Via Hall Green Communities and Heart of England Community Foundation
  • Target: Older people aged 50+ and younger adults aged 18-49 with disabilities

Birmingham Fairer Futures Fund - Locality Small Grants (New program for 2024-25)

  • Amount: Up to £15,000 per year (maximum £45,000 over 3 years)
  • Geographic Focus: All ten Birmingham NNS constituencies
  • Application: Must connect with local NNS lead provider before applying
  • Target: Community organizations addressing local health and wellbeing needs

Priority Areas

For Older Adults (50+):

  • Dementia awareness and brain health
  • Falls prevention and dementia support
  • Carer support, including grief and loss services
  • Combating social isolation
  • Compassionate communities initiatives
  • Chair-based exercise and physical activity
  • Outreach to isolated individuals

For Younger Adults (18-49 with disabilities):

  • Transition to adulthood and skill development
  • Reducing social isolation and building connections
  • Digital inclusion for safe online engagement
  • Employment/volunteering/social activity pathways
  • Sensory communication needs support
  • Independent living arrangements
  • Enhanced carer and ex-carer support

Core Outcomes All Projects Must Address:

  • Remaining engaged with social activity
  • Living healthy lifestyles
  • Increasing financial capability
  • Retaining independence in the home (Northfield priority)
  • Supporting families and carers

What They Don't Fund

The Heart of England Community Foundation (which administers NNS Foundation grants) explicitly excludes:

  • General fundraising appeals
  • Arts without clear community benefit
  • School mainstream activities (funding limited to beyond statutory provision)
  • Medical research
  • Sports lacking charitable elements
  • Retrospective grants (already completed projects)
  • Endowment contributions or loan repayment
  • Overseas travel or projects
  • Contingency expenditure
  • Animal welfare organizations
  • Political organizations
  • Religious groups seeking to influence beliefs (unless grant benefits wider community)
  • Statutory bodies without demonstrating wider community benefit
  • National charities based outside the service area
  • Individuals
  • Organizations with income exceeding £500,000
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Governance and Leadership

Structure:

The NNS Foundation operates as a private company limited by guarantee without share capital (Company Number 11725070). The charity has one trustee who receives no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the foundation. The foundation has no employees and no trading subsidiaries.

Professional Administration:

Withers Worldwide provides comprehensive foundation administration services including maintaining the registered office, regulatory compliance, record-keeping, financial book-keeping, regulatory filings, board policy preparation, and liaison with investment managers, accountants, and auditors. Withers is recognized as one of the UK's leading charity law firms, acting for over 50% of the UK's top 50 charities by income.

Investment Philosophy:

The foundation maintains an investment strategy to balance current and future beneficiary needs, with capacity to realize capital gains alongside income generation.

Partnership Approach:

The foundation works in close partnership with Birmingham City Council's Adult Social Care department and the ten Neighbourhood Network Scheme lead organizations across Birmingham constituencies. Heart of England Community Foundation administers the grant-making process, providing application support and grants management.

How to Apply to Nns Foundation

How to Apply

Applications to NNS Foundation grants are submitted through the Heart of England Community Foundation's online portal. The process varies slightly by program:

Standard Application Process:

  1. Pre-Application: Contact info@heartofenglandcf.org or call 024 7780 0520 for guidance
  2. Review Requirements: Download and review fund factsheets for your specific geographic area
  3. Check Eligibility: Ensure your organization meets eligibility criteria
  4. Submit Online: Complete application via the online portal at https://www.tfaforms.com/5069378
  5. Assessment: Applications undergo professional assessment by Heart of England Community Foundation staff

For Birmingham Fairer Futures Fund:

  • Critical First Step: Must connect with your local NNS lead provider before applying
  • Only applications supported by the NNS lead will be considered by the grants panel
  • Contact details for all ten NNS leads available via Birmingham Connect to Support

Application Requirements:

All applicants must provide:

  • Written constitution or articles of association
  • Recent annual accounts or financial records with balance sheet
  • Twelve weeks of bank statements (clear, unredacted, showing organization name and balance)
  • List of directors/trustees indicating who has bank authorization
  • Safeguarding policy (mandatory for organizations working with vulnerable populations)
  • Equal Opportunities Policy (addressing Equality Act 2010 protected characteristics)
  • Detailed breakdown of project costs with specific line-item detail
  • Quotes for capital items exceeding £300

Eligible Organization Types:

  • Registered charities
  • Charitable Incorporated Organizations (CIOs)
  • Constituted community groups
  • Companies Limited by Guarantee with charitable aims
  • Community Interest Companies (with clear charitable purposes)
  • Registered Community Benefit Societies
  • Social Enterprises (demonstrating clear social benefit)

Income Restrictions:

Organization income must not exceed £500,000 as shown in recent annual accounts. Organizations holding substantial financial reserves must justify why reserves cannot cover project costs.

Decision Timeline

Standard Programs (Edgbaston & Northfield NNS, Younger Adults):

  • Assessment Period: Approximately 12 weeks from submission to decision
  • Rolling Basis: Some programs operate on rolling deadlines

Birmingham Fairer Futures Fund (2024-25 round):

  • Applications Open: Mid-November 2024
  • Deadline: 9 January 2025 at 17:00
  • Outcomes Delivered: From March 2025

Notification Methods:

Applicants are notified by email and phone. Heart of England Community Foundation aims for quicker decisions on smaller grants and operates some programs on a rolling notification basis.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data for NNS Foundation grants is not publicly disclosed. However, the Hall Green NNS programme awarded £160,000 to 16 projects in 2023-24, indicating competitive but achievable funding opportunities.

The foundation's substantial annual expenditure (£9.84 million in 2024) and retained reserves (£3.24 million) demonstrate strong ongoing commitment to grant-making across multiple programs.

Reapplication Policy

Successful Applicants:

Organizations that receive funding cannot reapply to the same program for 12 months.

New Applicants:

May hold a maximum of two concurrent applications until monitoring reports are satisfactorily received.

Multiple Programs:

Organizations may apply to multiple different programs within the same year if activities differ, though the foundation discourages duplicate submissions to different funds for the same project.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented priorities and the guidance from Heart of England Community Foundation, successful applications demonstrate:

Strong Community Connection:

Projects must be actively working within the specified Birmingham wards or constituencies. The foundation values deep local knowledge and existing relationships with beneficiary communities. As stated in their guidance, projects should “build trust with citizens from these specific communities.”

Asset-Based Community Development:

The foundation prioritizes approaches that recognize and build upon existing community strengths, resources, and capabilities rather than deficit-focused interventions. For programs like NNS Connected Communities, expertise in Asset Based Community Development is essential.

Clear Outcomes Alignment:

All funded activities must contribute directly to helping citizens lead healthier, happier lives with increased financial capability. Projects should clearly articulate how they will achieve the required outcomes: remaining engaged with social activity, living healthy lifestyles, and increasing financial capability.

Detailed Budget Planning:

Applications require “a detailed breakdown of costs” with specific line-item detail including staff hours and per-item pricing for equipment. Quotes are required for capital items exceeding £300. The foundation expects realistic, well-researched cost projections.

Safeguarding Excellence:

For organizations working with vulnerable populations (mandatory for NNS programs), safeguarding policies must include abuse definitions, designated child protection personnel, appropriate background checks, risk assessments, and annual review dates.

Equality and Inclusion:

Equal Opportunities policies should address the Equality Act 2010 and protected characteristics including age, gender, disability, race, religion, and sexual orientation, plus complaint procedures ensuring equitable treatment.

Evidence of Need:

Applications should demonstrate clear understanding of local needs and how the project addresses gaps in provision. Successful Hall Green NNS projects in 2023-24 included those addressing specific community needs like “outreach programme for elderly residents” (Mila CIC) and “workshops for BAME communities” on digital literacy (Allies Network).

Sustainability Thinking:

While the foundation funds time-limited projects, they look favorably on applications that consider longer-term sustainability. For Community Interest Companies and Social Enterprises, the foundation expects self-sustainability within four years.

Partnership Working:

Partnership applications are welcomed with one lead organization. For Birmingham Fairer Futures Fund, applications must have support from the local NNS lead provider, demonstrating collaborative approaches are valued.

Common Reasons for Rejection:

  • Applications from organizations with income exceeding £500,000
  • Retrospective funding requests for already completed activities
  • Projects lacking clear community benefit
  • Insufficient detail in budget breakdowns
  • Missing required policies (safeguarding, equal opportunities)
  • Incomplete bank statements or financial documentation
  • Applications to multiple funds for the same project
  • Projects outside defined geographic boundaries
  • Organizations holding substantial reserves without justification for grant need

Recent Funded Project Examples:

From Hall Green NNS 2023-24 awards (£160,000 distributed to 16 projects):

  • Mila CIC - “Bridging Generations”: 40-week outreach programme targeting Baltic and Central European communities aged 50+, including weekly drop-in sessions and digital literacy support
  • Building Lives Together - “Remembering Bollywood”: Therapeutic intervention using Bollywood music and dance for South Asian seniors experiencing dementia
  • Allies Network - Digital literacy workshops for BAME communities on banking and benefits
  • All Saints Youth Project - “Inclusion+” sessions providing skills-building for young adults with disabilities
  • Unlocking Potential - Monthly deaf social gatherings with support signposting

These examples illustrate successful applications demonstrate cultural competency, address specific accessibility needs, and combine social connection with practical skill development.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Local NNS Connection is Critical: For Birmingham Fairer Futures Fund and similar programs, connecting with your local Neighbourhood Network Scheme lead provider before applying is mandatory. Build these relationships early���only applications supported by the NNS lead will be considered.
  1. Geographic Boundaries Matter: Ensure you understand the exact ward or constituency boundaries for your program. The foundation is strict about geographic eligibility, with each program serving specific Parliamentary Constituency-defined areas.
  1. Focus on the Core Outcome: Every application must clearly demonstrate how it helps citizens lead healthier, happier lives with increased financial capability. This three-part outcome framework should be woven throughout your application narrative.
  1. Financial Documentation is Non-Negotiable: Applications require twelve weeks of unredacted bank statements, detailed cost breakdowns, and quotes for items over £300. Missing or incomplete financial documentation will delay or derail applications. Start gathering these materials early.
  1. Demonstrate Asset-Based Approaches: The foundation values projects that build on community strengths rather than deficit models. Frame your project in terms of what communities already have and how you'll amplify those assets.
  1. Partnership Applications Are Welcomed: If you're working collaboratively, don't hesitate to submit partnership applications—just ensure one organization takes the lead role and all partners understand their responsibilities.
  1. Target Beneficiaries Must Be Specific: Projects must serve either people aged 50+ or adults aged 18-49 with long-term disabilities. Applications serving other age groups or general populations will not be considered. Be explicit about how you'll reach these specific demographics.
  1. Reapplication Timing: Successful applicants cannot reapply to the same program for 12 months, so plan your project timescales accordingly and ensure you're ready to deliver before applying.
  1. Professional Administration Means Professional Standards: With Withers Worldwide providing foundation administration, expect rigorous due diligence and compliance standards. Your governance, policies, and financial management must meet high professional benchmarks.
  1. Multiple Programs, Multiple Opportunities: The foundation operates several different grant programs across Birmingham. If your project serves different beneficiary groups or geographic areas, you may be eligible for multiple programs—just ensure each application is for genuinely different activities.

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