21FND002 The New Infrastructure Design Lab - Emerging

Tender description

Prior to the start of this contract, the Fund will award up to 8-10 small grants to infrastructure organisations (4 pr 5 to 'established ' infrastructure organisations, 4 or 5 to emerging infrastructure organisations). These grants will fund the resourcing and 'headspace' needed within these organisations to engage with the Design Lab process. The needs, challenges and activities of established /existing infrastructure organisations will be greatly different than those of emerging infrastructure organisations. We are therefore procuring two different organisations or consortiums. We are seeking two support partners to each design and run a design lab to support these two cohorts to be ready for the future, and provide some answers on what is needed in civil society in terms of infrastructure now and into the future, and what role can The National Lottery Community Fund take on to support infrastructure?  Emerging Infrastructure Organisations It will be useful for bidders to know what we will be looking for when making these grants to emerging infrastructure organisations - so they are clear what kinds of organisations they in turn will be supporting. For the emerging infrastructure cohort, we will seek to support applications that: 1. Demonstrate that their organisation is experiencing growth and would benefit from dedicated support with future planning in order to increase resilience. 2. Are frank and detailed about the strengths and weaknesses of their skills and the additional capacity that they need. 3. Are clear and detailed about how additional capacity and funding can benefit them. 4. Demonstrate a generosity of spirit in how they intend to share their learning, technology or opportunities with other new and emerging infrastructure organisations. 5. Can demonstrate that their networks and/or membership are active and representative. 6. Can demonstrate how their funding will enable the organisation to engage with the Design Lab offer and that the work will lead to sustained change in how they work. The successful bidder will provide coaching, guidance and planning support to the grant holders through a dedicated team which will provide the following: - Governance design - Resilience coaching - Strategies for growth - Leadership Coaching - Financial and planning advice - Building partnerships - Guidance and support re growing a team The work of the Design Lab will be to coach and support this cohort to establish themselves further and enhance their offer through methods of organisational design, coaching and strategic planning.