Digbeth Trust

The Difference The Digbeth Trust Makes

Neighbourhood Performance Reward Grant - Working in Neighbourhoods

The Neighbourhood Performance Reward Grant programme is an initiative of the Birmingham Community Safety Partnership (BCSP) managed by The Digbeth Trust. In spring 2007, 4 groups were awarded a grant of £10,000 to tackle a local community safety issue in their area. Each group received capacity building support from the Trust to help them design and manage their project. They each set a target for how much of a difference their project was going to make and if they met their targets they would each be entitled to apply for a further Reward Grant of up to £15,000. Three organisations applied for the Reward Grant and all 3 were successful. In addition, the panel offered additional funding to one of the groups to take forward a “spin-off” project. The panel also offered the group which decided not to submit a Reward Grant application some additional funds to continue an aspect of their NPRG activities. As part of the programme the Trust and BCSP commissioned a local filmmaker to produce short films about each of the NPRG projects. These can be viewed online by clicking the respective links below:

Kingstanding Neighbourhood Forum

Sparkbrook Neighbourhood Forum

Bordesley Green Neighbourhood Forum

Washwood Heath Youth and Community Network

Case Studies - Examples of our capacity building in action:

The Trust has produced a series of case studies which demonstrate the impact of our work with voluntary and community organisations.  Please see our Publications and Resources page for the full list.

In 2002 The Digbeth Trust first provided support to Cycle Chain. Cycle Chain is a social enterprise that uses the bicycle and its related products and services to improve health, social welfare and the environment.

Initially The Digbeth Trust provided feasibility study finance and later awarded them a capital grant.

Cycle Chain now repairs and renovates bicycles and sells them through their cycle shop.

Through this process Cycle Chain supports the provision of training and work experience opportunities to people who have a visual impairment, a mental illness, or other disability.

"The Digbeth Trust's role has been significant in our development since Cycle Chain's inception. The Digbeth Trust's ongoing support has been immensley valuable to our business, our partners and, most importantly, our clients." - Andy Elder, Cycle Chain

To download a full copy of the case study, click here.


Impact Assessment - Small grants do benefit the sector:

The Digbeth Trust has distributed more than £1.6m in small grants in the last 21 years - helping voluntary and community groups to buy in professional and technical skills and expertise or to carry out a wide range of projects (such as health promotion, women's safety and education/training work supporting community economic regeneration).

In 2006 one of our funders (Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust) commissioned an independent evaluation of the grant programmes we manage on their behalf.  The report - "Opening the Door" found that these programmes:


Periodic Reviews of The Trust's Work:

About every 4 years the Trust commissions an external evaluation of the support we have provided to voluntary and community groups.  The last review covered the period 2004-2008. The review surveyed our impacts and found:

We fund new services

Almost all organisations that received funding from the Trust agreed that the money had helped them to access or provide services which they otherwise couldn’t have afforded

Grants help organisations to provide new services or to develop new initiatives.


We respond to organisations

“What made them [the Trust] stand out was their willingness to go the extra mile – to respond to our needs over and beyond the call of duty….” Interview Quote

Findings show that the Trust offers personal and tailored support to organisations and that organisations feel that the Trust listens to the sector and “places the needs of VCO’s first and foremost when planning and delivering it’s services and products.”  Exec Summary


We develop organisations

38 organisations that responded to the questionnaire agreed that the support received from the Trust brought about a significant improvement in the skills, capacity and confidence of their organisation.

The Trust works well with VCO’s to build capacity, both through the grants given, and by using the PTAS consultants register.

"Working with smaller VCO’s to realise the steps required to achieve their vision is the Trust’s USP ” Executive Summary

Work the Trust have done with community organisations in our area and the capacity support that they have given in terms of technical support and solicitors almost certainly saved organisations several thousand pounds in legal fees”. Commissioner interview


We increase income for organisations

Organisations reported having secured 33 grants as a direct result of the funding and or support received from the Trust

The total funding secured was £1,597,116

Of this £429,598 was revenue and £1,167,518 was capital


We add value

Health Impacts. The Trust manages health targeted grant programmes on behalf of the HoBPCT and a number of organisations cited health benefits for their clients.

Environmental impacts. For example one organisation was able to clean up 26 sites across a specific neighbourhood.

Building Sustainability. For example one organisation had support from the Trust to develop a business plan - the organisation is now running a successful Social Enterprise.


We increase awareness of the voluntary sector

Commissioners interviewed for the review felt that working with the Trust had “really helped my understanding of the help and support needed by VCO’s – helped me look at the support required.” Commissioner Interview

“Yes, it has helped our understanding of VCO’s. A lot happened after the development worker post …brought in a huge variety of skills from different consultants”….. Commissioner Interview


Previous Evaluation:

In 2004 Third Sector Services carried out an independent evaluation of the Trust’s work, surveying 150 groups with over half replying. [Alun Severn, Nov 2004, A Review of Digbeth Trust’s Activities 2001-04].

The 2004 Review found that:

92% of groups replying confirmed that, because of the Trust’s support, they were able to buy in the skills and expertise which they could not otherwise afford

81% now have a clear understanding of their circumstances and needs because of the support provided

78% significant improvement in their organisation’s skills, capacity and confidence

69% made a permanent improvement

54% helped them improve services to clients

27 groups went on to raise nearly £2million additional funds from elsewhere following the Trust’s grant- aided support. The Trust has separate evidence that this figure may be as much as £3.5million.

The benefits from the Trust’s work are felt most by the very people who need support most; groups that are mainly:

The findings show that small grants worked for VCOs, while at the same time contributed to the policy outputs that of regeneration programmes.

If you want to talk about the issues raised here, including more details about the impact surveys, please contact the Digbeth Trust.

Comments from VCOs involved in the 2000 - 2004 evaluation