Welcome to Neighbourhood Connections Small Grant Program
The Neighbourhood Connections Small Grants program provides grants between $100 to $500 to fund opportunities for neighbours to gather and participate in a new event, activity or workshop. Its’ purpose is to inspire neighbours to deliver small, fun, creative projects on their doorsteps for the benefit of all other neighbours.
Creating opportunities to gather fosters relationship building. It’s these important personal connections that helps combat feelings of loneliness and isolation while at the same time promoting feelings of safety, togetherness, and resiliency. It comes from knowing that it’s our everyday neighbour who may become our everyday hero in times of crisis and need.
Grants are administered by Greater Fredericton Social Innovation, a charity committed to uniting like-minded people and organizations in community work that improves the quality of life for all in Fredericton. This is a pilot project with limited funds available so applying early is recommended.
Who can apply? Groups with a minimum of three neighbours are eligible to apply to fund inclusive events or projects. The goal is to make or enhance social connections and to promote community spirit among neighbours.
Note: Organizations are not eligible to apply but may support the efforts of a group of neighbours. For example, an organization may offer use of their kitchen space and equipment for a canning workshop or lend a tent canopy and tables for set up in a park.
How do you define a neighbourhood? Neighborhoods tend to have their own "feel" based on the people who live there and the places nearby like parks, shops, walkways, and gathering places. Your neighbourhood could be defined by formal association boundaries, a city block, a certain street, an apartment building, a condo, or all houses surrounding a local park.
Neighbours may apply for any project that aims to increase social connections among neighbours, share skills or talents with each other, deepen multicultural connections, create and promote beautiful and clean spaces or animate community spaces with group activities like arts, crafts and recreational activities.
Projects eligible for funding will:
Funding is open to neighbours located in the Capital region. Applications are reviewed and decided upon by members of a Review Committee within two weeks of the application being received.
Applications require a matching contribution of resources such as volunteer time and possibly donations of goods, services and/or cash to aid in offsetting the costs of the project.
Only one application per neighbourhood will be eligible for funding.
Creating opportunities to gather fosters relationship building. It’s these important personal connections that helps combat feelings of loneliness and isolation while at the same time promoting feelings of safety, togetherness, and resiliency. It comes from knowing that it’s our everyday neighbour who may become our everyday hero in times of crisis and need.
Grants are administered by Greater Fredericton Social Innovation, a charity committed to uniting like-minded people and organizations in community work that improves the quality of life for all in Fredericton. This is a pilot project with limited funds available so applying early is recommended.
Who can apply? Groups with a minimum of three neighbours are eligible to apply to fund inclusive events or projects. The goal is to make or enhance social connections and to promote community spirit among neighbours.
Note: Organizations are not eligible to apply but may support the efforts of a group of neighbours. For example, an organization may offer use of their kitchen space and equipment for a canning workshop or lend a tent canopy and tables for set up in a park.
How do you define a neighbourhood? Neighborhoods tend to have their own "feel" based on the people who live there and the places nearby like parks, shops, walkways, and gathering places. Your neighbourhood could be defined by formal association boundaries, a city block, a certain street, an apartment building, a condo, or all houses surrounding a local park.
Neighbours may apply for any project that aims to increase social connections among neighbours, share skills or talents with each other, deepen multicultural connections, create and promote beautiful and clean spaces or animate community spaces with group activities like arts, crafts and recreational activities.
Projects eligible for funding will:
- create new opportunities for in person gatherings
- take place in the area where the neighbours live
- be located in Capital Region 11
- require only a short term commitment and have a set completion date
- encourage involvement and participation among neighbours
- bring a benefit to neighbours
- be offered free to participants
- require a contribution of volunteer effort
- demonstrate due regard for health and safety matters
- apply ecologically sound practices to reduce, reuse and recycle products
- include a plan for reporting on outcomes
- note: youth led projects are welcomed
Funding is open to neighbours located in the Capital region. Applications are reviewed and decided upon by members of a Review Committee within two weeks of the application being received.
Applications require a matching contribution of resources such as volunteer time and possibly donations of goods, services and/or cash to aid in offsetting the costs of the project.
Only one application per neighbourhood will be eligible for funding.
To get the ball rolling, here’s some ideas for community projects:
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Create an “Our Street’s a Play Street” event for an afternoon.
Play Streets can be whatever you and your neighbours dream up. Set up game or sport tournaments like basketball or road hockey where individuals of varying ages can make teams and compete in a shared space. This could also include wide games like capture the flag, dodgeball, tag, or specific events like Tug-of-War. Set up tables and spaces for comfortable talk, tables with board games or set up tournaments for chess or card games. Use the street as a local art gallery and supply chalk for people to decorate their street and sidewalks. You could also host events like an outdoor paint night, or invite a local artist to show their work and give a talk! Maybe one of your neighbours is an artist who could lead the activity! |
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“Show You Know Your Neighbourhood” Photo Challenge and BBQ
Have neighbours divide into teams and ensure that each team has a camera. Each team gets a list of locations/items which they must take a picture of to complete the scavenger hunt. Give a time limit and have all teams meet back at a specific location when the time runs out. Neighbours can end the game by sharing the different pictures they took during the scavenger hunt. The team that gets the most pictures (or points) wins the game. Some helpful rules are: 1) Teams must stay together at all times. 2) Each picture should include all group members, excluding the person taking the picture. 3) Teams that arrive back late will have points deducted. Feel free to create your own photo scavenger hunt list as well! |
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Save the Harvest! Learn Together. Enjoy Together!
Invite an expert in preserving food to deliver a workshop in a community space with an equipped kitchen. Give people opportunities to prepare fruit and veggies and can the produce. Have “young canners” make unique labels and decorate jars. Provide produce and mason jars and let people take home samples and recipes. Or invite neighbours to prepare batches of soup with fresh produce, some of which they keep and some of which they donate to other neighbours in the community. |
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“Decorate Our Street” Bash
Neighbours register to receive chalk kits. On a specific day, families decorate their sidewalks. That evening, people stroll the block and vote on the art. Have several categories for multiple winners. Or hire an artist to create a mural for everyone to color in together. Pick a place that offers a big canvas, is safe to play in and can be admired by many for days to follow. |
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This program was financed in part by a grant from the New Brunswick Department of Justice and Public Safety |
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