Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council: COVID-19 COMMUNITY RECOVERY FUND GRANT AID PROGRAMME

Overview

There are two strands to this fund and up to a maximum of £4,000 can be applied for; £2,000 for each of the two strands as follows:

Community Recovery Programme - £2,000 e.g. programmes/initiatives to encourage the local community to re-engage following the Covid-19 pandemic such as capacity building, events, talks and tours.

Tackling Fuel Poverty Programme - £2,000 e.g. programmes/initiatives to help keep people warm over the winter months with the increasing cost of energy bills, targeting the most vulnerable including children and young people; carers; older people; people living with a disability and anyone who has lost income as a result of COVID-19.

Who can apply?

Community/Voluntary 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 (a copy must be submitted with the application).
• 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.

Events/projects must be delivered in compliance with relevant government and public health guidance and regulations.

General conditions for funding

• All applications must be completed in full, submitted with all necessary 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.
• Retrospective applications will not be considered.
• Grants will normally be released in full to the group prior to the start date of the event/activity.
• 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. In addition the applicant will be required to keep records of the numbers benefiting and any other relevant outcomes from the projects undertaken.
• 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 vulnerable adult’s policy if your project involves, or may involve, vulnerable adults.
• 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.

Covid-19 Community Recovery Fund Guidance

Eligible costs

• Room/venue hire
• Admission/entrance fees
• Transport for outings
• Materials for crafts
• Facilitators/speakers
• Small items of equipment hire/purchase (max £500)
• Refreshments/hospitality
• Volunteer expenses in relation to programme

Covid-19 Tackling Fuel Poverty Fund Guidance

Eligible Costs

• Electricity top-ups
• Gas top-ups
• Oil top-ups
• Coal
• Energy saving projects

Funding requirements:

Strict compliance with current government and public health guidance and regulations

Provision of prepared/cooked food must be undertaken by suitably approved person(s)