Big Society Grant Fund 2011/12
‘Helping communities to help themselves’
Leicestershire County Council has setup a ‘Big Society’ Grant Fund for organisations/projects who are able to develop ideas and initiatives which will help to deliver the Big Society at a local level.
The Big Society Grant Fund (totalling £340,000) is intended to support grassroots, community and voluntary organisations to deliver local projects which help to make the Big Society a reality.
The ‘Big Society’ Grant will make funds available for projects which:
- enable communities to identify and meet their own needs – “helping them to help themselves”
- provide the best local solutions to tackle local problems
- demonstrate local community commitment and involvement
- create active and empowered citizens
What sort of projects are we looking for?
In particular, we are looking to support the following projects:
- Workshops/training/consultation events for communities to discuss issues and agree priorities together
- Specialist support for the preparation of a community/parish/neighbourhood plan (or other community participation process) to identify community needs, resources and priorities
- Technical/legal advice on the most appropriate structure to establish and/or run a new community enterprise
- Specialist advice on running a specific service or facility e.g. a community shop, transport scheme or volunteer supported library service
- A feasibility study to establish the viability of a project, service or facility
- The development of a Business Plan to ensure the longevity of a project, service or facility
- Assistance with the purchase of public or private assets (for example advice, legal costs, feasibility studies) when they come up for disposal (community right to buy) or for community right to build projects
- Specific in-depth funding support e.g. assistance in writing a large funding bid
- Advice and support/training to help respond to tender/procurement processes
- Piloting a particular service or activity in order to establish its effectiveness and sustainability
- Set up costs associated with starting a project, service or facility (up to £15,000)
- Contributions towards larger capital projects will be considered (up to £15,000), although these must be part of a package of funding that demonstrates the overall benefit to the community, as well as sustainability of the project
- Training and development/mentoring/support for volunteers supporting a project or service
- Costs towards re-structuring, merging or planning processes associated with moving towards a different business model
Who can apply for funding from the Big Society Grant Fund?
Projects will be able to demonstrate their success in enabling local communities to help themselves.
The key principles to be considered when applying for a Big Society grant are as follows:
- Applicants need to operate a ‘not-for-profit’ business model, i.e. charitable organisation, social enteprise, community interest company, or any other organisation which re-invests any income back into the social aims of the group/community. Parish/Town Councils are also eligible
- The aims of the organisation will include meeting the needs of, and making a positive difference to, the local community
- Funding will only support the development of ideas for new projects/activities, or ways of providing old activities in a new or different way
- Evidence of need and of community support for the project must be demonstrated in the application
- It is generally expected that applications will be supported by the relevant local County Councillor(s). This support should be evidenced by a letter or email. For details of your local County Councillor, go to: http://www.leics.gov.uk/councillorindex.htm
- It is also recommended that your project is discussed with your local Parish/Town Council where relevant. We will also be looking for evidence that your project meets needs identified in a Parish Plan, where applicable
- Applicants need to have a bank account, with at least two signatories required
- Applicants requesting more than £1,000 from the Big Society Grant Fund should be a formally constituted voluntary or community group or registered charity.
- Applications from non-constituted groups for less than £1,000 will be considered but it is advisable to ensure your organisation is formally constituted if you are looking for funding from other sources as, in most cases, other grants/funding programmes will only accept applications from formally constituted organisations
- Applications for costs related to direct implementation of projects/activities will only be considered as part of a package of activity and if there is sufficient evidence that the project is needed and viable, and then only up to a total of £15,000. Applicants will otherwise be supported to pursue alternative funding mechanisms for implementation costs.
- Organisations with an annual turnover of over £500,000 or who are in receipt of (or have received) over £100,000 of public funding annually/or in the previous two financial years are not eligible to apply for funding from the Big Society Grant Fund
How will the application be assessed?
Applications will be considered by a small panel which meets every two months, until all the funds have been committed.
Applications will be assessed by giving due consideration to the evidence of need and proposed project outcomes demonstrated, in line with the eligibility criteria defined above.
Support and guidance will be available throughout the application process from Officers at Leicestershire County Council.
Please contact the Officers to discuss your application, and you will also be advised of the timescales for the next Panel meeting.
Application Form and Supporting Documentation
Application packs can also be requested by emailing bigsociety@leics.gov.uk or by telephoning (0116) 3057269
For further Information, contact:
|
Andy Hayes Community Projects Officer Better Places Team Leicestershire County Council Room 300B, County Hall Glenfield Leicestershire LE3 8RA Tel: (0116) 3057269 Email: andy.hayes@leics.gov.uk |
Noel Singh Policy Officer Policy & Partnerships Team Leicestershire County Council Room 300B, County Hall Glenfield Leicestershire LE3 8RA Tel: (0116) 3057020 Email: noel.singh@leics.gov.uk |
Page Last Updated: 31 January 2012
