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A Guide to Applications & Awards

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The Application Process


What is a CCE Grant?

  • A Centre for Community Excellence (CCE) grant is intended as seed funding, giving communities the financial wherewithal they may need to invigorate their events calendar with new and innovative ideas. The grant enables the recipient community to hold a long-term programme or one-off event by minimising the projected shortfall.
  • The grant is open to all United Synagogue (US) and United Hebrew Congregation (UHC) communities to apply for funding.
  • CCE funds events of a religious, social, cultural and educational nature that make for a diverse community events calendar. Find out more about what CCE funds further down.
  • Although CCE has developed specific criteria for funding, the Board nevertheless assesses each application on its individual merits and in the context of the community applying, so can, on occasion, be flexible.
  • CCE awards grants of up to £2,000 for shul-based events or programmes, though sums exceeding this may be considered for long-term planning. CCE awards grants of up to £3,000 towards residential Shabbatonim.
  • If the event ultimately incurs a shortfall totalling less than the grant, the grant is reduced to reflect this. If the shortfall from the event is higher than anticipated, the grant is not increased.
  • Synagogues may apply for funding for multiple programmes within each application deadline. A new form must be submitted for each individual programme, and there is no limit on the number of applications a community can make.

What CCE is looking to fund

  • Priority is given to new and innovative programmes and events, with the amount of funding awarded based on the individual merits of each application.
  • Funding generally targets the activity, learning or entertainment elements of a programme or event, rather than food, equipment, staff or promotional activity. Examples of what CCE does fund includes but is not limited to:
  1. A speaker or scholar in residence
  2. Day trips
  3. Musical act or entertainer
  4. Comedian
  5. Film hire
  6. Workshop or course – cooking, dance, learning etc
  7. Purim or Chanukah party
  8. Yom Limmud
  9. Residential Shabbaton
  10. Occasions on which food is funded: ShabbatUK, residential Shabbatonim, Twinning projects and cooking workshops.

You can view examples of CCE-funded activities on our here.

  • Events and programmes should address areas of synagogue activity that need to be strengthened.
  • For each event or programme, CCE seeks to enter into a sustainable partnership with the recipient community. This means that where possible, revenue is generated via shul contributions, local fundraising efforts and charges* levied to programme/event participants. *This would not be expected when the event/programme (e.g. listening to a speaker over Shabbat) would make charging a fee inappropriate.
  • Regular shul contributions can become a realistic objective if programming is prioritised, as we believe it should be, and budget is set aside for programming on an annual basis.
  • Through the application form, communities should clearly identify the project they wish to implement, explaining their local context, together with the aims and objectives of the project.
  • CCE encourages communities to plan ahead. There is no limit on the applications you can submit within any given month. The form can be found here.
  • If you are unsure whether your project is eligible for funding, please contact Rachel Shababo, Director of CCE on 020 8343 6309 or rachel@chiefrabbi.org

What CCE does not fund:

  • Programmes or events retroactively
  • Repeat events
  • Trips abroad
  • Permanent salaries
  • Prizes
  • Marketing & publicity
  • Caretaking
  • Hospitality staff
  • Security
  • Capital e.g. shul buildings or equipment
  • Honorariums or travel expenses for scholars in residence who are relatives of the Rabbi or Rebbetzen at the host synagogue
  • Events held in honour of a community anniversary, unless they include non-food/equipment-related content e.g. an educator
  • CCE does not normally fund food. This rule is disregarded for ShabbatUK events, for which funding is available for meals

Application Timeline

  • Applications submitted in plenty of time will be looked upon more favourably. Applications filed within an insufficient timeframe will be rejected.
  • There are rolling deadlines for applications at the end of each month, with new applications reviewed in the first week of the new month.
  • Applicants will be notified shortly thereafter as to the outcome of their application and issued with these Terms and Conditions for Successful Applications.
  • CCE requires a minimum four week period from the date funding is allocated to the date of the event or programme, so that successful applicants can satisfy pre-event conditions (e.g. supplying marketing materials).
  • Following the event or programme’s conclusion, communities have two months to satisfy all CCE conditions and claim their grant, after which the grant will expire.

Looking to the Future

The long term goals of CCE funding are to:

  1. Support communities in making creative programming the norm.
  2. Embed programming in the fabric of every community.
  3. Ensure that such programming is made a priority in community budgeting and that programmes are financially viable.
  4. Ultimately, help communities develop funding models that ensure they are financially self-sufficient for their programming needs.

You can download the PDF version of these notes on the application process here.

You can view our downloadable CCE Timeline here

10th April 2016: Ahead of Pesach, members of South Manchester had the chance to try their hand at baking matzah

Ahead of Pesach, members of South Manchester had the chance to try their hand at baking matzah

Terms & Conditions for Successful Applications


1)A CCE grant enables the recipient community to hold a programme or event by minimising the projected shortfall. If the event ultimately incurs a shortfall totalling less than the grant awarded, the grant will be reduced accordingly. If the shortfall from the event is higher than anticipated, the grant will not be increased.

2) Initial outlay and payments to suppliers must be made by the synagogue.

3) CCE will pay up to the awarded amount, directly into the synagogue bank account:

  • Upon completion of the event
  • Upon completion of the Evaluation Form; to be completed by either the Rabbi, Chair or principal organiser within 7 days of the event’s conclusion
  • Upon completion of the online Participant Feedback Form; you will receive a unique link to be emailed to all participants within three days of the event. CCE will share this feedback with you
  • Upon receipt of the completed Income and Expenditure Table template
  • Upon receipt of copies of all invoices and receipts from the event, to be submitted over email or via this online form. This includes for cash transactions. Failure to provide these may result in a reduced grant.
  • Upon receipt of the synagogue’s bank account number and sort code*

4) Following the completion of all points listed under 3), the agreed sum will be paid out within 28 days.

5) CCE grants must be claimed within 2 months of the conclusion of the event or programme. Beyond this period the grant will be annulled.

6) In the event that plans change, and a grant is required to cover elements not indicated in the original application, the grant is not automatically transferable. Under such circumstances, CCE must be notified as soon as possible so that the application can be reconsidered.

7) Where possible, CCE requests that organisers send photos of events.

* This only applies to non-United Synagogue communities

Marketing materials

  • CCE requests that successful applicants share their marketing materials with CCE. These materials should bear the CCE logo, which will be forwarded by email, and incorporate the following wording: This event is supported by the Chief Rabbi’s Centre for Community Excellence. 
  • To view model flyers, please click here.

The Future

Where possible, communities are expected to record names and email addresses of people attending programmes and have a follow-up plan to maintain contact with these participants.

Following on from the CCE-funded programme, communities must have a clear vision and follow-up plan for future projects, as well as how these will be funded.

You can download the PDF version of these Terms & Conditions here.