Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council: Community Development Small & Technical Grant Aid Programme

Overview

Community development is a process where community members come together to find solutions to common problems and to take local actions (economic, social, environmental or cultural) to support community well-being. Part of this process is the positive change that takes place in relation to the number of people volunteering, the increased use of community buildings and the number of educational programmes being offered. The process allows the community to engage with each other and become more involved in local projects which not only improve the quality of life but by working together can bring real change to local communities.

What is a Community Development Project?

Organisations applying to this fund must have community development as a primary objective of their application. A ‘project’ is a series of activities with a common theme delivered within a defined start and end date. There should be a clear purpose to the activity and it should be based on sound community need. The activity should promote participation, involvement, progression and create a sense of community ownership and pride contributing in a positive way to the social well-being of the community.

Who can apply?

Only properly constituted community, voluntary & charitable groups can apply to the grant aid scheme and must be able to meet the following conditions. The group must:

• Be comprised of at least six members.
• Be democratically accountable through regular public meetings.
• Hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM).
• Be properly constituted and include a decision making process, and aims and activities that are acceptable to the Council.
• Be managed by a publicly elected committee; the office bearing positions of Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer must be held as a minimum.
• Demonstrate a fair and equitable ethos through their established aims and objectives in accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998).
• Demonstrate that proposed activities are not a duplication of other activities.
• Produce an annual statement of independently verified or certified accounts, or a bank statement for new groups only.
• Agree to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council's monitoring, evaluation, and training procedures if required.

Projects must take place between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, any activity outside these timescales will not be eligible for funding.

General conditions for funding

• All applications must be completed in full, submitted with any necessary relevant supporting information as requested and received by the closing date set out in the public advertisement otherwise they will not be considered.
• Payments will only be made by electronic bank transfer to an organisation’s bank account and not to any one individual.
• Grants will only be approved if the Council is satisfied that the applicant has the necessary expertise and resources to see the application through to successful completion.
• Groups seeking support from Council should have a minimum of £2M Public Liability and £10M Employers’ Liability in place or be willing to obtain this cover. These are Council’s minimum requirements. However, you are advised to contact your insurance broker to ensure that these levels are sufficient to cover the activities of your organisation. Use of inflatables, fireworks etc. may require higher levels of cover.
• Retrospective applications will not be considered. A minimum lead-in period of at least three months from the date of closing must be allowed for Council to consider applications and appeals.
• Grants will normally be released in two instalments with 75% of the grant being paid in advance of the start date subject to receipt of an acceptance form of the Council's formal letter of offer and the remaining 25% being paid on completion of both vouching of the first 75% and monitoring/evaluation forms. This will be detailed within the formal letter of offer. All awards will be 100% vouched.
• It is a stipulation of all successful grant applications that the Council and any other relevant funders’ logos appear on all publicity material during the duration of the grant and that the Council's support is acknowledged. If requested, applicants must attend press opportunities and participate in all media activities as requested by Council staff. All printed materials and use of the logo must be agreed and approved by Council staff.
• Post project the applicant will be required to complete the Council's monitoring and evaluation form, in order to demonstrate how the organisation met the criteria detailed in the application form.
• Council reserves the right to request further information or clarification on any request for support and to share information on support with other funders.
• To be eligible for funding you must have a child protection policy in place if your project involves, or may involve, children or young people under the age of 18 or a Safeguarding Adults policy if your project involves, or may involve, adults at risk.

Applicants should note that this is a competitive process and awards are subject to the availability of funds and may be subject to change.

Small Grant - Seeding/Activity Grant and/or Insurance

Rolling - Only one grant per year. £1,000

Supporting documents

Applicants will only need to upload documents if they have not applied for a grant on the Grant Manager system in the past OR if any of their documents have been updated or amended, for e.g. constitution or Memorandum and Articles.

A declaration will need to be signed to confirm that all documents are in place should they be requested by Council.

Eligible expenditure

• Room/venue hire
• Facilitation costs/Coaching/Training/Tutor costs
• Training / Capacity building costs
• Hospitality (small only - £10.00 maximum per head, per day)
• Advertising/publicity/newsletters/website development, maintenance and hosting (relating specifically to programme)
• Promotional material/banners/flyers
• Stationery/administration/essential office equipment (up to max. of £100, e.g. printer)
• Internet or telephone costs (account in applicants name)
• Transport hire
• Hire of entertainment (to include inflatables)
• Hire of infrastructural items (PA/electronic equipment/staging)
• Trips/entrance fees
• Travel relating specifically to project/programme
• Access NI checks
• Public and employer’s liability insurance
• Purchase of materials and essential small items of equipment up to a maximum of £500 per annum
• Volunteer expenses (up to a maximum of £10.00 per day: i.e. hospitality or travel to a meeting/conference/event). Proof of expenses will be required.

Large Grant Technical Assistance Grant

Rolling - Only one grant per year. £10,000

Supporting documents

Applicants will only need to upload documents if they have not applied for a grant on the Grant Manager system in the past OR if any of their documents have been updated or amended, for e.g. constitution or Memorandum and Articles.

A declaration will need to be signed to confirm that all documents are in place should they be requested by Council.

Eligible expenditure

• Consultancy fees (business plans / plans / feasibility studies / audits /options appraisals/economic appraisals/ environmental assessments, etc.)
• Statutory approval fees up to a maximum of £300
• Public and employer’s liability insurance
• Volunteer expenses (up to a maximum of £10.00 per day: i.e. hospitality or travel to a meeting/conference/event). Proof of expenses will be required.