Local VCSE organisations and volunteer coaches came together for an IDEAS HACKATHON

at the AMEX on 6th June, 2024…

…developing their ideas to reduce homelessness in Brighton & Hove.

The Brighton & Hove Homelessness Fund ran an ideas hackathon event at the AMEX on June 6th to kickstart the first round of applications.

With grants of up to £60,000 (£20,000 per year for three years) available for each successful application.

The event gave an opportunity to:

  • Collaborate with other sector professionals and creative coaches to think outside the box

  • Move beyond chasing pots of funding to think and act creatively and innovatively

  • Develop viable ideas that can evolve and grow, even if you don’t get the funding

This Ideas Hackathon event was a new concept to many of us, bringing together people from different backgrounds, experiences and disciplines. With this in mind we created a Wellbeing Guide to create a friendly accessible safe space for all.

We will share a more detailed update on the event shortly…

09:30 to 14:30
Thursday June 6th

Agenda

  • Welcome & Briefing

  • Work on ideas

  • Get feedback from other teams

  • Improve ideas

  • Present to funding panel

  • Next steps

(includes snacks and lunch)

Who we were looking for:

People working in VCSE organisations tackling homelessness in Brighton & Hove.

To bring along a small team to build an idea and work towards an application.

Ideally: CEO/Manager + Fundraiser + Support Worker + Person with Lived Experience.

People working in creative, tech, or commercial companies to be coaches.

To work alongside a team to help them build an idea that aims to have a big impact on reducing homelessness in Brighton & Hove.

Timeline

  • 23rd May - Hackathon sign up deadline

  • 6th June - 4hr Hackathon event

  • 5th August - Application deadline

  • Mid September - Funding decisions announced

We’re looking to fund ideas that aim to have a multiplier effect on reducing homelessness in Brighton & Hove.

Potentially radical, innovative ideas that would be impossible to fund from traditional sources.

Sussex Community Foundation partnered with Regent Exhibitions Ltd, owner of the IMEX Group, to create the Brighton & Hove Homelessness Fund.

This event and application process is supported by the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Network (HRSN), led by Justlife.

The HRSN is a recipient of a grant from the Brighton & Hove Homelessness Fund.

This event was open to all organisations within the VCSE sector in Brighton & Hove, regardless of their membership within the HRSN.

See the detailed funding criteria, here.

We are looking to support organisations delivering programmes of work in the following areas:

  • Prevention and early intervention: assistance for people at risk of homelessness.

  • Supporting innovation for the sector: seed funding for experimental solutions to current homelessness challenges.

  • Longer term solutions: Improving the situation for people experiencing homelessness over the longer term.

Grants of up to £60,000 (£20,000 per year for three years) are available. Though we may be able to consider larger applications in some circumstances, providing they fit in with the criteria, and demonstrate long-term impacts, rather than responding to an immediate funding need.