Microgrants as a pathway for community development: A case study exploring impacts, implementation and context

ABSTRACT

Microgrant schemes are used in many contexts relevant to community development, but there are few detailed accounts of their operation and effects. This study explored a four-year microgrant scheme in Bristol, UK. The research analyzed 141 awards and collected qualitative and quantitative data on 233 individuals. The research found that the diversity of activities, local embeddedness, skills and capacity development, social connection and volunteering features of the scheme offered routes to community development goals. Microgrant schemes are likely to benefit from designated staff to conduct outreach work, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and provide ongoing support. Coordination with other community development activities enhanced the scheme’s impact while weaknesses in local infrastructure, caused by funding cuts, impeded delivery. Microgrant schemes should be understood as an intervention that complements and works alongside other community development activities. To enhance their role in community development, attention needs to be paid to scheme design, implementation and integration.

KEYWORDS:

• Microgrants
• community development
• social connection
• capacity building
• programme implementation

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the support of the other Community Researchers (Penny Beynon, Ginny Burdis, Carol Fry, Eddy Knasel, Christopher Orlik and Jill Turner), the BAB staff team, the volunteer Older Persons Commissioning Panel, the National Lottery Community Fund and all the award holders, organizers and participants in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Lottery Community Fund