Knowsley Working Well has secured additional funding from Knowsley Council’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) to assist local businesses (SME’s), charities and community groups to keep premises COVID safe.
A total £216,000 of funding is in place for two grants which are open for applications from today (13 September 2021).
Local businesses, charities and community groups can now apply for a grant from the £150,000 Covid-19 Workplace Ventilation Grant fund, and a further £66,000 has been released for businesses and charities to apply for the Covid-19 Workplace grants, which is split into two allocations. £33,000 for Workplace initiatives and £33,000 for Mental Health initiatives. Grant funding is only available for new initiatives or activities.
Ventilation Grant – (open to businesses, registered charities and community groups based in commercial property in Knowsley). An adequate supply of fresh air (ventilation) is considered part of the suite of Covid-19 safety measures such as screens, masks, and regular cleaning.
For ideas on how to assess your ventilation needs, view the application web page. If there are areas of your buildings that are used by multiple people, it may be worth reviewing your CO2 and undertaking site-based risk assessments to ensure acceptable levels of ventilation are in place. Guidance is available from the HSE, visit: Ventilation and air conditioning during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (hse.gov.uk).
The application process is now open and will remain open throughout Autumn and Winter months (2021/22), or until funding is exhausted. Grant payments are based on the rateable value (RV) (or rent equivalent) of the property that the business or organisation is operating from:
Group 1: RV up to £15,000 Grants available up to £4,000
Group 2: RV £15,001 – £51,000: Grants available up to £8,000
Group 3: RV over £51,001: Grants available up to £14,000
Grants will not be awarded for expenditure that has already taken place. TO APPLY FOR THE VENTILATION GRANT CLICK HERE
Covid-19 Workplace Grant, Window 4 (open to businesses and registered charities based in commercial property in Knowsley). The grant scheme opens today (13 September 2021) and has two separate funding allocations for Workplace initiatives and for Mental Health initiatives.
Covid-19 Workplace Grants will enable companies and charities to fund infrastructure items to enhance their premises into sustainable Covid-19 secure environments, for example
- Automatic hand-sanitisers and other ‘non-touch’ systems
- Automated systems to prevent cross-contamination
- Additional PPE
- Signage, high viz jackets etc
- Perspex Screens
- Re-evaluation of office layout
- Health & Safety advisor support
The Covid-19 Mental Health support grant can be used to help businesses and charities provide increased support for their staff whose wider health may have suffered during lockdown or upon returning to the workplace, for example meeting the standards around Health and Safety, Leadership and Mental Health First Aid Training.
The Ventilation Grant and Workplace Grant windows will be live from 10.00 am on Monday 13 September 2021. With limited funds available, grants will be determined and awarded in the order in which the applications are received, and the window will close once the funding pots are exhausted.
Cllr Christine Bannon, Cabinet Member for Health said: “We are now moving to a situation where COVID-19 is part of our everyday life and so it is important that steps are taken to ensure all premises are COVID safe and the risk of infection is reduced.
“I would urge all Knowsley businesses, charities to apply for these grants, where possible, to help support them to play an important role in protecting those who live, work and visit our borough.”
“Cllr Tony Brennan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “Businesses and community groups in Knowsley have responded incredibly during the pandemic despite facing many hurdles.
“These two grants will help to support businesses to further ensure they are COVID-secure and reassure staff and visitors that steps have been taken to reduce the chances of transmission and workplace outbreaks.”
Companies can apply for a grant to support infrastructure items and for staff mental health support. Therefore, depending on the RV of the property a company could receive a maximum of £6,000.