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.

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) are unlikely to be considered.

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.
• The Council does not normally give grants towards running costs, salaries or consumables through its Finance & Management Grants Scheme, but may consider it appropriate to do so through its Service Provision Support Schemes.
  
  

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 provide a report to the Council on how the grant has been spent; this report may be in person to the Council, or may appear in the Council’s newsletter, or on its website.
• Grants will not be payable to or for any commercial venture for private gain.
• 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 Projects and Events Budget?

• At the discretion of the Council, up to a maximum of £1,000, having taken into account other sources of funding.
• On projects costing up to £500, a maximum grant of 40% (i.e. £200) may be awarded, should the Council so agree.

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 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 July 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.
• As well as submitting your signed hard copy application, it would also be helpful to provide a copy of the grant application electronically (in Word or PDF) by email to the Clerk; it can then be distributed to the Chairman of the Committee and other Members before the meeting at which the application will be considered.
• Dates of all the full Council and Committee meetings will also be found on the website; Committee meetings are usually held every two months (or thereabouts) during the civic year. See the Committees (Meetings section) for details of scheduled and upcoming meetings.
• Applicants may attend the meeting when their application will be considered, in support of their application and in case any further information is required by the Council, though this is not required.