Policies & Procedures

CARRINGTON WITH NEW BOLINGBROKE PARISH COUNCIL 
Adopted 23 January 2021

The grant scheme offers grants to community groups and the money available is set in the annual budget.

For accountability the application process ensures access, openness and fairness to all community groups which may ask for support. This small grant award is open to established community groups and to assist new groups to form.

Aim

To ensure the grant award process is:

Open

Transparent

Fair

Competitive

Supports local community groups

Who is eligible to apply?

Established groups must:

Be established for charitable, benevolent, social, cultural, recreational or philanthropic purposes with a membership structure of at least 4

Have a constitution, or set of rules, which define its aims, objectives and operational procedures

Be able to provide a copy of its latest annual accounts and/or most recent Bank Statement. Accounts are to be checked and signed by a person independent of the Group. The independent person must not be a close relative, business partner or employee

Have a Bank Account operated by a minimum of two joint signatories

New groups must:

Be established for charitable, benevolent, social, cultural, recreational or philanthropic purposes

Have a Bank Account operated by a minimum of two joint signatories

What can be funded?

The project should be something that makes the local community a better place in which to live, work or visit

Any project must benefit local residents

There must be clear evidence that local people support the project and are involved in carrying it out

The Council will not support applications for revenue expenditure. Revenue expenditure covers day to day running expenses; rates, gas or electricity costs; maintenance; salaries; or rent/hire costs

The Council will consider applications for small scale capital expenditure such as purchase of special equipment.

Priority will be given to those who are doing something which adds community value

Only one grant award will be made from this fund to an organisation in any financial year, unless there are exceptional circumstances

The following are not eligible:

Support for individuals or private business projects

Projects that are the prime statutory responsibility of other government bodies

Projects that simply replace existing facilities with no significant improvement

Projects that improve or benefit privately owned land or property

Projects that have already been completed or will have been by the time the grant is issued

How will decisions be made?

Unfortunately, the council may not be able to fund all projects. However, all applications will be considered carefully. They will be assessed based on the following criteria:

Submitting an application

Applications must be submitted on the Council’s application form which can be obtained from the Clerk: carringtonnewbolingbroke@clerk.com

Applications will not be considered from established groups without audited accounts and constitution

For new groups, a simple business plan must be submitted in place of accounts, together with a simple projection of income/expenditure

The application must include evidence of self-help i.e., other funding sources or fundraising activities

A reference from a responsible member of the community to support your organisation and project must be included with the application

Relevant dates, these maybe able to be changed

Submission of application by the 31st October

Applicants will be notified of successful and unsuccessful applications, in writing, by 31st January

Grants will be payable after 1st April

After receipt of grant

Organisations awarded grants for specific capital expenditure must produce proof of that expenditure within 6 months of award of grant

Any grant not spent within 6 months must be returned

Non-capital expenditure i.e., for an event or forming a new community group, must be returned if the event is not held or the group not formed

The Parish Council must be included in any publicity material

Financial support can only be used for the purpose for which the grant is given and grants must be used for the purpose as stated on the application form

The Council reserves the right to request evidence of fund spending i.e., receipts 

Carrington with New Bolingbroke Parish Council reserves the right to change this Policy

2 | Page                Small Grants Policy             Adopted 23rd January 2021