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Babergh's New Grant system comes into effect from April 2008. New application forms are now available from grants@babergh.gov.uk. Please read the following before requesting application forms. Forms are also available to download from this site, they are in pdf format, that means you will need to print off copies and complete them off line.
All applicants are strongly advised to contact Babergh Communities Together on 08453 706340 or marian.sedwell@bctsuffolk.org.uk where their staff will be happy to advise on other sources of grant funding. Babergh Communities Together can also advise on other organisational issues.
The aim of Babergh grant funding is to support a range of projects that deliver important services and projects that benefit our community and align with Babergh Corporate Objectives
We will consider all applications received; however, we are not always able to meet applications in full. In some cases it will not be possible for us to fund your project.
The questions on the application forms relate directly to our appraisal criteria, so it is important to complete the form as fully as possible.
Other than in exceptional circumstances money allocated MUST be spent within the specified financial year.
Retrospective applications are not eligible for grant aid and we will not grant aid anything where an order for works, services or supplies has already been issued.
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The application process is as follows:
- All completed application forms should be sent direct to the Community Grants Officer at the address shown on the application form.
- You will need to complete two separate forms
- The Community Grants Officer will check that applicants for grants have contacted Babergh Communities Together or other appropriate advisers to ensure other funding has been applied for where appropriate.
- The Community Grants Officer will obtain input from specialist/expert Babergh fficers on detailed matters during assessment
- The first tranch of applications will be assessed by Babergh officers during February each year. A bi-monthly assessment will be made during the remainder of the year if necessary to assess any other applications if there are funds available.
- Applicants will be advised as soon as possible after the assessment as to the outcome of their application.
Applications for grants to be considered in April 2008 should be submitted to the Community Grants Officer by 20th March 2008.
The closing date has now passed, once the current tranch of applications have been assessed notice will be posted here as to the status of the grants pot. This will be at the beginning of May 2008.
If you have any questions about completing these forms please contact the Community Grants Officer on 01473 825872.
Details of applications will be treated as confidential, but once grant aid has been achieved, the Council reserves the right to make public certain details, notably the name of the successful applicant, the nature of the project/proposal and the amount awarded.
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The applications will be assessed by reference to criteria that have informed the questions asked on each form. These involve identifying and aiming to meet a local need, your organisational capacity, financial considerations, alignment with Babergh’s strategic objectives and projected outcomes from the funding. It is therefore very important that you answer the questions accurately.
Please do not assume that we will pick-up supporting information from other sources. What is written on the form will be most important.
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MINOR GRANTS – grants up to £750
download a form here (pdf, 70kb)
A small grants pot has been set aside to fund applications up to £750 per project with a streamlined application process. Applications will be considered where the applicant can demonstrate the value of Babergh’s contribution to the project. Ability to demonstrate matched funding is preferable but not essential.
The grants fund will support capital and revenue projects. It is intended to support applications for activities and facilities provided by community groups within the district.
Example Eligible Activities
- Organising a community event
- Parish amenity/hedgerow planting, wildlife garden
- Playgroup equipment
- Delivering arts activity or increased opportunities for arts activity
- Setting up a pilot project
- Running a conference or seminar
Support will not be available for:
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general running costs related to existing projects or activities, maintenance, rent payments etc.
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revenue costs associated with on going running costs of playgroup, pre-school or out of school activities
- Activities promoting religious or political beliefs
- Goods or services bought or ordered before the grant is awarded
Eligible agencies
- Parish or Town Councils, Community Councils, Parish Meetings
- Sports or Recreation Clubs
- Voluntary Organisations
- Landowners – for countryside grants
INELIGIBLE AGENCIES - we cannot fund activities that are for religious or political benefit or organisations that run to generate a profit for distribution to individuals.
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COMMUNITY GRANTS – Grants above £750
download Community Grant form here (pdf, 75kb)
CAPITAL PROJECTS
The Council will only consider grant aid where the capital cost exceeds £750. The amount sought from Babergh must be matched at least on a pound for pound basis with local money. For example, if a project costs £40,000 and £20,000 has been received from non-local funding sources e.g. lottery, then a grant for £10,000 could be sought from Babergh provided £10,000 has been raised with local funding.
Funding for capital projects will only be considered where the finished project is available to all members of the community, whether this is open access or by hire charge.
Applications for capital projects will be considered on a merit basis, account will be taken of allocations made during the previous two years
We will always consider the additional life that capital funding will give a project.
DOCUMENTATION
For applications up to the value of £5,000 please submit the two part application form, we may ask you for further information later.
For applications above £5,000 please supply a copy of your latest audited accounts and a business plan. We may ask you to supply other information once an initial assessment of the application has been made.
REVENUE PROJECTS
The Council will consider applications for revenue projects that require at least £750 from Babergh. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate that matched funding has been sought from other sources, and priority will be given to those groups that already have matched funding.
ELIGIBLE AGENCIES
- Parish or Town Councils, Community Councils, Parish Meetings
- Sports or Recreation Clubs
- Voluntary Organisations
- Landowners – for countryside grants
INELIGIBLE AGENCIES - we cannot fund activities that are for religious or political benefit or organisations that run to generate a profit for distribution to individuals.
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This fund will be utilised for funding organisations on a longer term basis and will support operational/running costs as well as projects. A 3 year service level agreement (SLA) will be provided with close monitoring of outputs and outcomes. New applicants for core funding to Babergh will be expected to apply to the community fund in the first instance before being considered for core funding in subsequent years. Where existing legal agreements are in place these will be complied with where necessary.
ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES
The purpose of the Core Funding support is to assist the effective delivery and
improvement of services operating within Babergh that are needed by, and which bring direct benefit to local residents. Emphasis is given, in particular to those who are disadvantaged or experience limited access to fair and affordable services.
Core funding is available for the operational activities of the service, including
management, administration and overhead costs and delivery of services.
Applications can come from parish groups, community groups, registered charities, service providers, and voluntary bodies, companies limited by guarantee and individuals – anyone proposing to improve or establish a local service.
Applicants can apply more than once, provided the proposal is for the provision of different services.
LEVEL OF GRANT AID
Successful applicants will be subject to a 3-year funding deal set out in a service level agreement. There are no stated maximum or minimum levels of funding for core applicants.
To be eligible applicants must meet one or more of the following criteria: -
- Be a strategic organisation – a partnership body that Babergh needs to work with to deliver the Council’s Corporate Objectives
- Provide an important local service – an organisation that delivers Babergh’s Corporate Objectives or the Local Area Agreement
- Brings in additional funding from other sources
- Makes a significant contribution to delivery of Babergh’s Corporate Objectives
- Delivers key/core services on Babergh’s behalf
- Provides a service that the Council would otherwise have to provide
- Demonstrate a proven track record of delivery in Babergh funded by the Council
ELIGIBLE AGENCIES
- Voluntary and Community Organisations
- Local partnerships
INELIGIBLE AGENCIES - we cannot fund activities that are for religious or political benefit or organisations that run to generate a profit for distribution to individuals.
LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS (LSP) AND LOCAL AUTHORITY AGREEMENT (LAA)
Applicants for Service Level Agreements are advised to check the http://www.onesuffolk.co.uk/ website for details of the LAA. Details of targets and other strategic objectives can be found here.
The Western Suffolk Strategic Partnerships Community Strategy and the Babergh East Strategy can be found on the Local Strategic Partnership page.
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Monitoring forms for groups in receipt of a service level agreement can be downloaded here. This is in pdf format - it will need to be printed off and posted in to the community Grants Officer at the address below.
BUSINESS WORKSPACE GRANTS
This fund incorporates two main activities:
ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES
Workspace grants are available for the conversion of redundant buildings to form new employment workspace. The grant may be provided to a maximum of 25% of the costs of eligible works to a maximum value of £5,000 per project.
Discretionary rate relief is available as a top-up to statutory rate relief or as an entirely discretionary relief. Level of relief depends upon the type of activity being supported.
If you have any enquiries regarding Discretionary Rate Relief please contact Babergh Customer Services on 01473 825798.
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OBJECTIVES
To provide grant aid for schemes including those that:
• Protect or improve landscape character
• Protect or enhance biodiversity
• Provide quiet and low key public access
• Interpret features of local interest
• Involve the local community in improving their environment
The Countryside Fund is available to Town and Parish Councils/Meetings, local community groups and charities, and to landowners (where eligible, see below)
WHAT IS ELIGIBLE FOR GRANT AID?
A range of proposals may qualify:
• Tree and hedgerow planting
- in the open countryside
- to screen the countryside from existing development
- on important public open spaces ie. churchyards, village greens, playing fields
• Surgery to important trees in public open spaces
- ie. churchyards, village greens, playing fields, other green spaces, school grounds
• Suffolk Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group
- ie. schemes identified under Whole Farm Approach, Farm Biodiversity Action Plan or other FWAG proposals
• Suffolk Biodiversity Action Plan targets
- ie. pond management where Great Crested Newts are present,
- barn owl box installation
• Access to the countryside
- improvements to existing Public Rights of Way
- proposals covered by the Suffolk Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2006-2016
• Interpretation
- information boards and interpretation panels
- leaflets
• Community involvement in environmental projects
- Parish Tree Warden schemes
- Parish Plan proposals
- projects involving local volunteers, including on public open spaces
Grant aid will not be available in the following cases:
• schemes in private gardens, including land taken out of or proposed to be taken out of agricultural use
• where other, more appropriate grants are available
• where work has already been carried out
There are a number of requirements made in the offer of grant, such as:
• no work shall be carried out until a formal application has been made, the grant offer accepted in writing and the work carried out by an agreed date
• schemes where the grant is less than £100-00 will not be considered
• other grants must be declared at all stages of the application
• applicants are to maintain the finished scheme for a minimum of 3 years from completion
• the maximum grant payable is £750 in any qualifying instance
• the decision of Babergh District Council on any application is final
What is the rate of grant aid?
• grant aid will be 50% of the cost of eligible works up to a maximum of £750
• except in the cases of tree surgery and the hire of machinery, grant aid will not be available for labour costs
Other sources of grant aid
If your proposal is located within the following countryside management project areas, ie. Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley, Suffolk Coast and Heaths, or Greenways, you are recommended to contact them in the first instance to discuss your ideas, and to see if there are other, more appropriate grants are available elsewhere.
Click on the links above to get their contact details. Information regarding the extent of these countryside management projects in the Babergh District can be obtained from the Countryside Officer.
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The following key principles apply to the Babergh Grant Programme:-
- Grants may be applied for by organisations or individuals as appropriate in line with eligibility criteria
- Voluntary or community organisations who apply will only be considered if they:
- provide a service for the benefit of Babergh people;
- can produce evidence to show advice has been sought from a recognised source. e.g. Babergh Communities Together or Suffolk County Council’s external funding team.
Are a registered charity or have an agreed constitution, and is capable of obtaining from its own funds or other sources, the balance of the costs;
Are able to evidence suitable financial management.
Have an equal opportunities and health and safety policy or statement for
employees and volunteers;
Provide services which accord with Babergh’s own priorities (as expressed in the Council’s Corporate Plan), do not duplicate services already being provided or grant aided, and that will meet proven identified needs.
In the case of ‘start up’ initiatives, evidence of the need for the new service to be supported will have to be substantiated and reflect community demand;
in the case of existing services evidence of continuing need and threat of loss must be shown.
Can demonstrate the value of Babergh’s contribution to the funding of the project.
Have, or are intending to introduce an appropriate system for monitoring and evaluating activities and outcomes of the services to be funded.
In keeping with Babergh District Council’s Corporate Plan, applications will only be considered for activity in keeping with our Corporate Objectives:
Promote healthy living and reduce health inequalities;
Increase the supply of housing that local people can afford to rent or buy;
Maintain a safe, clean and sustainable environment;
Give easy convenient access to quality services;
Raise individual and community ambitions, and encourage active citizenship.
Recoverable VAT will not be grant aided.
Retrospective applications are not eligible for grant aid.
The inclusion of voluntary labour and or ‘in kind’ contributions towards the estimated total project costs will be permissible, provided such costs are clearly defined and costed.
All applications must be submitted on the standard application form together with supporting documentation as requested.
Where the application provides a facility or service that extends beyond the boundaries of the Babergh area, consideration will be given to the funding secured from neighbouring local authorities when assessing the level of Babergh support applicable.
Links to pdf versions of application forms are avaiable on this site - the forms need to be printed off, completed off line and posted or delivered to the community Grants Officer.
If you have any queries regarding your application please contact:
Community Grants Officer
01473 825872
grants@babergh.gov.uk
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This page was last updated on 15th May 2008
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