MEMBER COMMUNITY GRANT SCHEME

From August 2008 each of the Councils 82 County Councillors has been allocated a fund of £3,000 to provide financial support to projects that benefit their local communities.

In order that the Council can ensure that each individual grant application is dealt with fairly and objectively a standard grant application process has been introduced. This gives the applicant the opportunity to clearly explain the purpose of the application and why the funding is required.

On submission each application is assessed by the appropriate local County Councillor to ensure they meet the criteria set. The local County Councillor will make decisions on the allocation of grants and will monitor the expenditure and outcomes of each agreed project. If you require clarification as to which County Councillor represents the area covered by your group then details can be found on the County Council’s website:

http://mapping.cornwall.gov.uk/website/government/gov_search.asp

What types of projects/initiatives are covered by the scheme?

Groups/ organisations can apply for both revenue (one-off) funding and minor capital projects. These grants aim to benefit a wide range of groups/activities: for example, vulnerable children or adults, young people, facilities for older people, community facilities, local environment projects, and community safety. The scheme covers:

• Any group based within or beyond the division whose activities benefit the residents of that area, eg. voluntary and community groups, schools, clubs, Parish Councils;
• The group does not have to be a registered charity but will need to have a bank account (or identify another organisation who can act as banker for funds);
• Applications for grants which demonstrate that their project or initiative contributes to one or more of the county council’s vision and aims:
  • Improving individual development and wellbeing
  • Fostering the success of all our communities
  • Enhancing the living environment
  • Promoting Cornwall to the world
• Projects which do not contravene the County Council’s policy guidelines in areas of equality of opportunity (i.e. gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief or age).

Examples of generally eligible organisations are available in appendix A.

How much is available?

• Grants range between a minimum of £100 and a maximum of £1,000 with the total grants not amounting to more than 75% of the total project costs;
• Evidence of other funding (secured or applied for) must be demonstrated;
• Projects which cross county electoral division boundaries, may be considered by more than one Councillor, and the total grant, if agreed, should not normally exceed £3,000;

Groups/projects will need to prove the funding is needed (eg. through supplying accounts, a budget etc. where possible).

What is not eligible?

• Repeat funding for the same project;
• Retrospective funding;
• Activities for which the authority has no legal powers;
• Political or exclusively religious activities (although faith groups may receive funding for community development or self-help activities, but the application must show that the project will bring wider community benefit and that the primary purpose of the activity is not religious);
• Individuals (e.g. for personal sponsorship);
• Any relative of the respective County Councillor;
• Statutory activities/ requirements;
• Hospitality;
• Salary or administration costs.

Financial issues

• Grants range between a minimum of £100 and a maximum of £1,000 with the total grants not amounting to more than 75% of the total project costs;
• Grant payments will be one-off, and there should be no expectation of future funding. The grants are expected to support projects and not to contribute to an organisation’s revenue costs (e.g. annually recurring costs);
• The scheme may be used to facilitate matchfunding from other organisations, but matchfunding is in no way a requirement.

Timetable

The scheme will commence on 30th July 2008, and will conclude on the 28th February 2009.

The deadline for submitting grant requests to the County Council will be the 28 th of February 2009. No remaining budgets will be carried over following the end of this period.

Appendix A

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list – other organisations who seek to serve the people of Cornwall may well qualify, provided that they satisfy the Council’s corporate priorities.

• Parish Councils (for specific projects only)
• Scout, Guide, boys and girls brigade local organisations
• Religious groups where the project will bring wider community benefit
• Citizen’s Advice Bureau (local)
• Disability groups or organisations (local)
• Village or community hall associations
• Age Concern, Mencap
• British Legion, Services’ benevolent societies
• Parent teacher associations (formally constituted)
• Organisations promoting the locality
• Nursery education groups

Examples of Organisations that are not Eligible (as may be amended from time to time)

• Any political party
• Any organisation with political aims
• Any campaigning group (CPRE, Friends of the Earth, etc etc)
• Any organisation that raises funds nationally – for national distribution
• Any organisation that is principally funded by national government (District Councils, Natural England, Highways Agency)
• Any government quango
• Any pressure group formed solely for one issue
• Any activities or events with religious aims
• Any statutory activities

Guidance Notes on completing the form. (pdf)