Our Priorities for Grant Programme 2011/12

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The funding Available

We have £25,000 to award in 2011/12, £10,000 of this is to specifically fund projects supporting vulnerable adults as it comes directly from the budget of the Adult Social Care unit; and grants of between £150 and a maximum of £3,000 are available. Applicants can only receive one grant per year.

As a result we are requiring all applicants to seek advice from Poole Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) to explore whether it would be more beneficial to apply for funding from other sources including the Big Lottery and charitable trusts. We will not consider a grants application from your group unless we can confirm that you have sought advice from Poole CVS and there are few or no other options for funding your project from elsewhere.

Poole CVS provides one to one advice to help voluntary, community and faith groups run and fund their activities and services, the advice is tailored around the needs of the individual group and includes:-

Starting a group

Drafting constitutions and policies

Where to get funding

How to write funding applications

Planning the development of your group

Trustee/committee responsibilities

Staff/volunteer training

Volunteer recruitment

Problem solving

Their contact details are; Poole CVS

54 Lagland Street

Poole

BH15 1QG

01202 682046

Open: 9am -1pm and 2pm-5pm Monday to Fridays

Eligibility Criteria for the Award of Grants by the Borough of Poole

We welcome applications from existing groups that have a proven track record as well as new groups developing in response to a local need. Whichever is the case we recognise that they may be better placed to meet the needs of local people than direct council services.

Please read the following criteria carefully before completing the application from, grants will only be awarded to applicants that meet this criteria.

The services, facilities or activities provided are in line with outcomes set out in Poole’s Sustainable Community Strategy 2010-2026.

The services, facilities or activities for which a grant is sought are wholly benefiting the residents of Poole.

There is a need in Poole for the specific services, facilities or activities provided by the organisation, demonstrated with feedback from users of your services, facilities or activities.

The organisation is a registered charity, community interest company or a ‘not for profit’ voluntary, community or faith group. We will fund branches of larger organisations as long as they can demonstrate their independence e.g. their own governing document and bank account.

The organisation has a financial need for the grant, without which the services, facilities or activities could not be provided.

Other sources of funding have been fully investigated, and where possible, secured.

The organisation actively encourages disadvantaged groups in the community to make use of the services, facilities or activities provided.

You cannot apply for money you have already spent.

Confirmation will be required that your project will start before 1 April 2012 and be completed by 31 March 2013 at the latest.

Grants are not available for leisure or sporting activities. The council runs a separate grants programme managed by our Leisure Services Unit, please contact or 01202 265 265.

Successful applicants will be required to acknowledge the Council’s grant and use its logo on any promotional material produced for the funded project.

We require the following information to ensure that the groups we fund are run properly and are able to manage the grant which is awarded:

A copy of the latest set of your approved accounts, signed and dated by your chair, secretary or treasurer and if required by either your auditor or independent examiner. If your group has not been running for more than 15 months, we will accept a 12 month financial projection for the year when you will spend the grant.
A forecast sheet of income and costs for the coming financial year.
A copy of the organisation’s Constitution and details of its management committee structure.
Poof of a UK based bank account in the name of your group with two cheque signatories.
Proof of a relevant insurance policy for your activities.
A safeguarding policy if you are working with young people aged below 18 or if you are working with vulnerable adults.
An Equal Opportunities Policy and a commitment to equalities.

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ:

The Council will not provide grant aid to:

Individuals and sole traders.
Profit making organisations.
Organisations not based in the UK.
Activities promoting political or religious beliefs

Timescales/Decision making

PLEASE NOTE:

Incomplete application forms will be returned, so please fill in as much detail as you can to ensure your application is processed efficiently. We need all the information requested on the form to enable a decision to be made.
Applications are required at least four months before your project starts; you will be required to use the grant within one year.
All applications will be acknowledged.

In considering whether to approve a grant application, we will principally look at whether it meets:-

The councils aims as described above, and your application demonstrates clear evidence of need.
The eligibility criteria listed above is fully met, including whether your group has the capacity to manage a grant.

Unsuccessful applicants will be informed about the reasons why their application was not approved.

For further information please contact Poole CVS using the contact details listed above.