Tullamore Town Council

Community Grants Scheme 2014

Terms & Conditions of Scheme

1.BACKGROUND TO SCHEME

The Offaly Local Authorities Corporate Plan 2010-2014 includes the following Strategic Objective :

Strategic Objective Six – Facilitating economic development and enterprise creation in Offaly and co-ordinating and promoting tourism development.

Strategic Objective Six also has as a specific target:-

‘Encouraging voluntary activity and its role in building social capital in our communities’

2.WHAT CAN I APPLY FOR ?

Grant aid should be for specific projects or activities that the organisation proposes to undertake during the year. Grants for general purpose day to day running expenses of organisations will not be considered. Each grant application will be examined on its own merits under the criteria outlined in Section 4 below. However projects demonstrating a direct economic benefit to the local community will be given priority.

Direct funding for projects involving construction works can not unfortunately be considered due to the health and safety and insurance implications for the local authority in doing so.

3.WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY

This Scheme is aimed at groups and organisations who rely predominantly on fund raising and donations to operate and are not in receipt of significant state subsidies and support.

Applications will generally be considered from Community and Voluntary ‘Not for Profit’ groups operating in Tullamore Town and Environs. Tullamore Environs is defined in this instance as the boundary specified in the current Tullamore Town & Environs Development Plan 2010-2016.

However Community & Voluntary Groups who are currently in receipt of substantial public funding for their day to day operations are not eligible to apply under this scheme.

Who is not eligible : -

A number of groups and organisations are not eligible for this scheme on the basis that there are other grant schemes in operation both within the Offaly Local Authorities and through other state agencies for which they are eligible to apply. Similarly groups supported on a day to day basis by a Government department or agency either directly or indirectly are also not eligible.

Applications will not be considered from the following Groups or organisations :-

  • Residents Associations
  • Sporting Organisations unless project proposed can demonstrate a direct benefit to the economic development or tourism potential of the town
  • Groups and Organisations eligible to apply for other grant assistance from Tullamore Town Council or Offaly County Council e.g. residents associations grants, environmental grants, sports partnership funding etc
  • Projects that benefit’ individuals’ as distinct from the community at large
  • Groups who have unnecessary restrictions on their membership that could be considered discriminatory or who could be perceived to unreasonably prevent membership of the organisation
  • Lobby group, issue based or politically motivated groups

Whilst the criteria above attempts to clarify who is eligible to apply and who is not the list above is by no means exhaustive. In the event of an issue arising over eligibility the final adjudication on this matter will be made by the assessment committee.

4.HOW APPLICATIONS WILL BE ASSESSED

A Sub-Committee of the Town Council has been established to assess the applications received and make recommendations to the full Council. The Sub-Committee will be chaired by the Cathaoirleach and supported by Council personnel.

Applications will be assessed under the following broad headings each of which will be assigned a weighting in the assessment process although this list is not necessarily exhaustive :-

  • Projects and activities which promote and enhance the attractiveness of Tullamore as a place to live, work and do business in
  • Projects and activities which promote local action and voluntary participation in community development by organisation members
  • Projects and activities that promote links between a number of organisations working together
  • Projects and activities which incorporate sound community development practices and principles
  • Does the group or organisation have an ethos of openness, transparency and accessibility to all ?
  • Does the project or activity support social inclusion and target or assist marginalised groups ?
  • Extent to which proposed projects and activities meet local needs and will benefit the intended target group or area
  • Capacity of organisation or group to deliver the project or activity

5.CONDITIONS OF GRANT

All organisations in receipt of grant assistance must give an undertaking that the support of Tullamore Town Council will be acknowledged by the group on any promotion material produced, as part of publicity campaigns or where any appropriate opportunity should arise.

6.LEVEL OF GRANT AID AVAILABLE

The budget for the 2014 Scheme is €50,000.

7.CORRESPONDING & REPORTING

All applicants will be informed of their success or otherwise and if unsuccessful will be given the reasons why. Successful grant recipients will be required to submit an end of year report on their organisations activities including specific details of how the grant aid has been spent to include receipts or back up documentation in support of this.

8.HOW DO I APPLY FOR A GRANT

Application forms are available from RECEPTION, Tullamore Town Council, The Town Hall, Cormac Street, Tullamore, telephone (057) 9352470.

9.CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS

Fully completed signed application forms must be submitted either through the post or by delivering in person to :-

The Town Clerk, Tullamore Town Council, Town Hall, Cormac Street, Tullamore

By

4pm, 28th February, 2014

Late applications will not be considered under any circumstances.

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