To a significant extent, the Parish Council is limited by national law in terms of to whom and to what it can make grant awards. It is further guided by its own processes and priorities. This guidance below reflects both national law and the Parish Council's own priorities.
Who can apply?
Voluntary groups and societies, clubs, not-for-profit organisations, charities operating in the Holme Valley where the benefit will be for some or all of residents of the Holme Valley. Such groups would be expected to have a constitution.
Who cannot apply?
- Individuals
- Churches
- Fundraisers
- For-profit organisations
Furthermore:
- Regional or national charities are unlikely to be considered unless it is for a specific project in the Holme Valley where there will be obvious benefit to the Council’s area.
- Applicants for items or services that should ordinarily be provided by a statutory body (like, for example, the NHS or Department for Education) will not be considered by the current Council.
What does the Council give grants for?
- The Parish Council gives grants out that will pay expressly for specific things or services identified by the applicant. The applicant has to supply information on the breakdown of costs of their project for this purpose.
- Capital projects, such as the purchase of equipment, works to buildings, improvements to premises.
- The Council may support a community event, a festival or special event in commemoration which is held within the Holme Valley or clearly benefits the people of the Holme Valley.
Are there any criteria or conditions?
- The Council has various criteria which can be downloaded from the Council’s website, giving details about how the grant schemes operate.
- Grant recipients are expected to complete a Grant Evaluation Form after the project is complete, providing a report to the Council on how the grant has been spent. Since the grant is public money, receipts and invoices of expenditure are required to be kept.
- Details of the project may appear in the Council’s newsletter, or on its website.
- If a club has permanent bar premises from which it can raise an income, award of a grant will be at the Council’s discretion.
How much may be given from the Finance & Management Community Assets Budget?- At the discretion of the Council, up to a maximum of £5,000, having taken into account other sources of funding.
How much may be given from the Finance & Management Community Benefits Budget?- At the discretion of the Council, up to a maximum of £1,500, having taken into account other sources of funding.
How often are grant applications considered?- Grants applications are considered as a twice yearly cycle in the months of September and February at the meetings of the Finance and Management Committee and the Service Provision Committee. To allow time for processing or applications the closing dates are 31st August for the September meetings and 31st January for the February meetings.
- However, if community organisations experience an urgent need for funds, applications can be submitted outside of that cycle to a Committee or to full Council.
- Completed applications must be accompanied by all the documents listed on the grant application form.
How do I apply?- Application forms may be downloaded here or obtained from the Council’s office. Please read the list of criteria before completing a form, and remember to include all the accompanying paperwork that is requested.
- To cut down on waste, we prefer to receive applications in digital format (Word or PDF) though, of course, people can apply in paper if they so wish.