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Guidelines for Applicants(2012/13)

Criteria

  1. The Community Chest will be available to community groups, residents’ groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprises in all areas of the borough. Groups receiving Community Chest grant awards will have to have an organisational bank or building society account with a minimum of two signatories. Applicants will also be required to provide a copy of their most recent statement of accounts for the “locally based body” to see.
  1. The Community chest is not available for private-sector profit-making enterprises to apply to.
  1. The Community Chest is not available to individuals.
  1. The Community Chest cannot support the activities of public sector bodies, for example school or social services activities. Religious activities will not be funded, but community activities of faith groups can be. However, community or voluntary groups affiliated to these bodies, for example parent teacher associations or church “friends of” societies, will be able to apply for the Community Chest. Applications from public sector bodies will only be accepted if it can be demonstrated that they are acting on behalf of, and with the support of, a voluntary or community group(s).
  1. Community Chest funding cannot be used to fund political activity, to promote personal objectives, or anything that is not consistent with Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council's corporate objectives
  1. Community Chest cannot fundactivities that are eligible and able to apply for a Sports Council grant(e.g. sports equipment or training), but can fund the running costs of sports clubs.
  1. Community Chest cannot fund overseas projects/activities.
  1. The Borough Council also operates other small grant schemes – please see attached information sheet.
  1. Examples of projects that have recently been funded by the Community Chest include:
  • Community transport.
  • Play equipment.
  • Village hall refurbishments.
  • Resident association newsletters and websites.
  1. Locally based bodies can apply for Community Chest funding, but not for their core operational costs - they can apply for projects under their remit. Any such applications are considered by the borough council’s Grants Assessment Panel that will make the decision.
  1. Any group receiving a grant should inform the Borough Council when considering disposing of its assets or when ceasing to operate. The Borough Council will then consider whether repayment of the grant will be enforced, and/or how the asset should be disposed of.

Guidance for Applicants

  1. “Locally based bodies” will considerapplications for grants for the Community Chestand make recommendations to the Borough Council who will make the final decision. In the parished areas of the borough this will mean the parish/town councils, and in non-parished areas of the borough such bodies will be community centre management committees or community forums. Therefore, applications in the following areas will be determined by the following bodies (subject to change):
  • Audley parish by the parish council.
  • Betley, Balterley and Wrinehill parish by the parish council.
  • Wards of Bradwell, Porthill, May Bank, Wolstanton by Marsh Hall Community Centre.
  • Chapel and Hill Chorlton parish by the parish council.
  • Wards of Chesterton and Holditch by Chesterton Community Forum.
  • Ward of Clayton by Clayton Community Centre.
  • Keele parish by the parish council.
  • Kidsgrove parish by the town council.
  • Knutton and Cross Heath by Ramsey Road Community Centre.
  • Loggerheads parish by the parish council.
  • Madeley parish by the parish council.
  • Maer and Aston parish by the parish council.
  • Silverdale parish by the parish council.
  • Wards of Seabridge and Westlands by Wye Road Community Centre.
  • Wards of Thistleberry and Town by Whitfield Community Centre.
  • Whitmore parish by the parish council.
  1. The Community Chest budget for2012/13 is £61,500. To achieve a good geographical, numeric and thematic spread of projects, themaximum grant supported under the Community Chest will be limited to £1,000.
  1. Each locally based body will receive a proportion of the Community Chest for allocation on a per head basis, though no body will receive less than £1,025 for allocation. The £61,500 will be split between locally based bodies, based on the population of the area. For further details about the allocation for any area please contact the Community Chest contact at the borough council.
  1. The locally based body will consider applications for grant aid and make recommendations to the borough council. The applications will then be checked by the borough council and, if they meet the criteria, payment will be issued.
  1. Locally based bodies will be expected to ensure that there is a reasonable benefit derived from the Community Chest across their geographical areas and between various groups of interest represented in their areas. The borough council, for its part, will monitor that this is happening.
  1. Grant applications must be submitted on the standard 2012/13application forms to the appropriate locally based body. Grant applications on application forms from previous years will not be considered.
  1. Applicants can apply for more than one grant for distinct and different projects, with each application considered on its merits. A total of grants exceeding £1,000 will only be supported in exceptional circumstances.
  1. Applicants can apply to more than one locally based body for projects that cover more than one area, although a total of grants exceeding £1,000 will only be supported in exceptional circumstances. Applicants cannot apply to all locally based bodies for borough-wide projects.
  1. Community Chest can fund both revenue (ongoing, such as rental and staff) and capital (one-off, such as equipment) expenditure. However, support by the Community Chest for revenue costs such as rent or insurance in one financial year will not ensure that such support is awarded in the following year, and applicants would be expected to demonstrate that they have considered, and preferably secured, such future revenue funding, should it be necessary, and in the case of capital grants, that they have considered any maintenance costs.
  1. Equipment funded with a Community Chest grant should not be kept in an individual’s house, garage or shed, and should be kept, as far as is reasonably possible, in a communal building, for example a Community Centre.
  1. Groups applying for Community Chest grant awards will have to demonstrate the support of or relevance for, people/communities who will be directly affected by the project, particularly local residents.
  1. All materials, resources and services to be sourced locally wherever possible.
  1. Funds will have to be spent within a year of the grant being allocated, unless the borough council agrees in writing to any variation.
  1. Successful applicants will also be required to return anevaluation form and provide evidence that the grant has been used for the purpose for which it has been given, failure to return this form and supporting evidence will disqualify future applications from being processed.
  1. Community Chest grant awards cannot be made to fund projects after events have been held or paid for.
  1. Initial Grant application deadlines will be set by the relevant locally based body. The borough council will aim to process successful applications and issue payments within 28 days.
  1. Projects which have been funded for two successive years will be required to take a break from applying to Community Chest for one years.
  1. Any final appeal against a locally based body’s decision will be heard by the borough council’s Grants Assessment Panel through the approved Grants Appeal Procedure.
  1. If you are unsure whether your organisation is eligible to apply, or which locally based body should be receiving your application, or for further information about Community Chest, please contact the Borough Council.

Contact details.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council – Sara Shuker, 01782 742457,

Locally based bodies – information correct as at 1st April 2012

Audley parish - Audley Parish Council, Clerk;

Betley, Balterley and Wrinehill parish - Betley, Balterley and Wrinehill Parish Council, Clerk,

Wards of Bradwell, Porthill, May Bank, Wolstanton Marsh Hall Community Centre,

Chapel and Hill Chorlton parish – Chapel and Hill Chorlton Parish Council, Clerk,

Wards of Chesterton andHolditch - Chesterton Community Forum, Chair,

Ward of Clayton - Clayton Community Centre, Chair, 8 Beechwood Close, Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 4EL.

Keele parish – Keele Parish Council, Clerk, .

Kidsgrove - Kidsgrove Town Council, Clerk, .

Knutton and Cross Heath - Ramsey Road Community Centre, Treasurer,

Loggerheads parish - Loggerheads Parish Council, Clerk,

Madeley parish - Madeley Parish Council, Clerk,

Maer and Aston parish – Maer and Aston Parish Council, Clerk, .

Silverdale parish – Silverdale Parish Council, Clerk, .

Wards of Seabridge and Westlands - Wye Road Community Centre, Secretary,

Wards of Thistleberry and Town - Whitfield Community Centre, Secretary, .

Whitmore parish - Whitmore Parish Council, Clerk,

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OTHER SMALL GRANTS INFORMATION

FUND/GRANT / MAXIMUM AMOUNT / CONTACT DETAILS / ELIGIBILITY / HOW DECIDED / OTHER INFORMATION
Small Grants / Maximum of £2,500 / Robin Wiles (01782) 742493
/ Community and Voluntary / Borough Council Grants Assessment Panel
Criteria & Guidelines / Replaces fund previously entitled “Non-priority grants”.
Concessionary Lettings / None / Write to Executive Director, Operational Services, Tel: (01782) 742507 or e-mail / Voluntary, Community and sporting bodies. / Executive Director, Operational Services’ recommendation for approval by portfolio holder. / Provides concessions for fees and charges for borough council properties and facilities.
Cultural grants / £1.500 / Delyth Copp or Theresa Mason,
(01782) 619705
/ Voluntary and Community / Borough Council Grants Assessment Panel. / Doesn’t award grants to individual artists.
Green grants / £250 / Write to Executive Director, Operational Services, Tel: (01782) 742507 or e-mail for an application form. / Community and voluntary groups, plus schools for environmental improvements / Officer recommendation endorsed by LSP sustainable development theme group.
Criteria and guidelines. / Only one grant per
organisation per financial year.
Homelessness Grants / None / Joanne Basnett (01782) 742451
/ Voluntary and Community / Borough council Grants Assessment Panel and Third Sector Commissioning Board.
Criteria and Guidelines. / Budget for 2009/10 allocated.
ASSOCIATED GRANTS
FUND/GRANT / MAXIMUM AMOUNT / CONTACT DETAILS / ELIGIBILITY / HOW DECIDED / OTHER INFORMATION
Sports Council / None / Geoff Durham (01782) 742222
/ Sports Organisations
Schools
Individuals / Sports Council Panel
Criteria and Guidelines. / Clubs/organisations only one grant per every two years. Schools/individuals every year.
Barracks Trust / None / Newcastle Community and Voluntary Support (01782) 629269
/ Voluntary & Community
Individuals / Barracks Trust Board of Trustees.

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