Grassroots Grants
"Grassroots" Grants is managed in Devon by Devon Community Foundation, Tiverton.
WHAT ARE GRASSROOTS GRANTS?
Grassroots Grants are funded by the Office of the Third Sector and will run from Summer 2008 to March 2011. Devon Community Foundation is delivering the programme in Devon, Torbay and Plymouth. A total of £1.4 million is available in grants for small community and voluntary groups meeting local community needs.
Grass Roots Grants have you applied yet?
Below just a few examples of groups to have received funding
Cullompton Rangers Youth: A grant of £1867 will help the club to buy new equipment and provide even more opportunities for young people from 5 - 15 to play football.
Soundart Radio Ltd: A grant of £4957 will help this community radio station based at Dartington to update its studio equipment and provide more training for volunteers. Over 70 people are involved in making local programmes, which feature local musicians and local issues.
Green Lane Herb Link is a small locally managed group that encourages a closer link between people and the countryside, especially disadvantaged groups of people. They maintain a medicinal herb garden, wild flower meadow, pond and wetland, hedgerow, orchard and pasture. They provide educational - environmental, arts and crafts, gardening - workshops and also a space where children and parents can explore the natural world at their own pace.
Project: They would like to install a wind turbine to provide a sustainable energy source. They would like to join Thrive, a horticultural therapy organisation and do training with them to enable Green Herb to develop their horticulural therapy work to put it on a more formal level so they can attract funding for clients from social services and other care bodies. They were awarded £1867.
Examples of others to have received funding:
Clyst Hydon Cricket & Sports Club
Book Relief UK
Broadwoodkelly Village Hall
Chittlehampton & District Playgroup
Seaton & District Club for the Visually Impaired
Green Lane Herb Link
Ilfracombe Youth Canoe Club
Low Carbon Exeter
Smeatharpe Allotments Trust
Tavistock & District Outdoor Education Forum
Taw Explorer Scouts
Age Concern Okehampton & Torridge
Combe Martin Senior Citizens
Plymouth Kurdish Community
Monday Luncheon Club
Trees for Health
WHO CAN APPLY?
Not-for-profit organisations which meet local community needs and have:
- been in operation for at least 12 months
- an annual turnover of less than £30,000 (taken as an average of the last three years)
- a local management committee and are volunteer run
- a governing document, such as a constitution
WHO CAN'T APPLY?
Statutory organisations, regional or local offices of national organisations, projects promoting political activities, commercial ventures, individuals, projects for the sole benefit of animals/plants, other grant making organisations. If in doubt about your eligibility please ring us before you apply.
HOW MUCH CAN YOU APPLY FOR?
A maximum of £5,000 over the 3 year life of the programme. This can be one grant or separate grants totalling £5,000.
ELIGIBLE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
- Is there an identified need?
- Is the group well established and effective?
- Is the project realistic and well planned?
- Will the project make a difference to the community, groups and individuals?
- Is the project value for money?
How long do we have to spend the grant?
You need to spend the grant in the financial year it is awarded (i.e. 1st April to 31st March). The year ends 31st March.
You can apply again for the next year providing the total of all grants over the 3 years of the programme is under £5,000.
WHAT WILL WE HAVE TO DO IN RETURN FOR A GRANT?
Successful applicants will need to keep a record of what their grant has been spent on and keep receipts for all expenditure and complete an end of project report form which will be sent to you with your cheque. Whilst your project is in progress you will need to make sure you are gathering the information you will need in order to complete the form. We will also visit a number of funded projects to see how you are getting on.
All funded projects must be concluded and the end of grant form completed and returned to the Foundation by the date specified in a letter which will be sent to you with your grant cheque. Please contact us for help if you encounter difficulties with your project.
TIMETABLE FOR APPLICATIONS
Applications are not complete until all necessary signatures and documents are received.
Fast Track: Grants of £250 for emergency purposes. Two working days turnaround (no closing date.)
Express: Grants of £250 to £900. Two week turnaround (no closing date.)
Standard: Grants of £901 to £5,000. Six weekly closing dates. Desicions are normally made within two weeks of the closing date.
Closing Dates for the Standard Grants (from April 2009)
7th September 12th October 23rd November
Applications to the Fast Track and Express programmes will be assessed within Devon Community Foundation. Applications to the main programme will be assessed by external panels of volunteer advisors and endorsed by the Foundation's Grants Committee. Cheques will be sent to successful applicants within 10 working days of a decision being reached.
Applications which are not complete will be held over.
CAN WE GET HELP WITH OUR APPLICATION?
Yes. We provide a free support service.
Please call us on 01884 235887 for a referral.
HOW DO WE APPLY?
On-line. You can access our application form via our website www.devoncf.com .
By email or post. We can send you an application form sent by email or post. Please ring Heidi on 01884 235887 or email grants@devoncf.com.
Universal Application Form Download a copy [ here ]
Universal Information sheet download a copy [ here ]
Universal Guidance notes download a copy [ here ]
Completed application forms should be returned to Devon Community Foundation, together with a copy of your group's constitution, accounts for the last 3 years and any appropriate policies. Grants are payable in advance. You cannot apply for a grant to cover costs and services that have already been bought, ordered or committed.
We actively encourage applications to be submitted on-line, but you will need to post pages on which original signatures are required, together with any supporting documents you are unable to send electronically.
Find out more at: [ www.devoncf.com ]
