Ballymena Borough Council Community Grants Scheme

Overview

A budget of £125k has been ring-fenced for 2013/14 for grants through the Community Grants Scheme. The scheme provides funding for projects such as:

• Setting up of New Groups
• Equipment
• Promotion of New Long Term Projects
• Public Liability Insurance
• Audit of Community Group Accounts
• Events
• Civic Representation

To qualify for a grant under this scheme, applicants must be:

• A voluntary group, formally constituted with a current committee
• Be based in the Ballymena Borough Council area or provide a service that is of a clear and direct benefit within the Ballymena Borough Council area
• Have a bank account in the name of the applicant organisation

Community Groups

• Seeding / New Group: Maximum funding of up to £300.00 Groups making application for a seeding grant for a new group will be considered for funding to cover running costs for the first year which may include initial outlay costs and administration, up to a maximum of £300.00. In order to be eligible under this category groups should be established not more than 1 year.
• Equipment: 50% funding up to £2,000.00. Grants will be considered for the purchase of items of equipment that will promote and develop the work being carried by community-based groups. For example, the purchase of gardening equipment for environmental projects. Funding is not available for core items such as tables or chairs for community halls, computers or office furniture etc.
• Promotion of New Long Term Projects: 50% funding up to £500.00 Grants will be considered to help promote the running of community-based projects within the Borough. Eligible expenditures in this category are limited to advertising and marketing costs for that particular project.
• Public Liability Insurance: Maximum funding of up to £250.00. Financial assistance is available for groups when obtaining either annual or ad-hoc Public Liability Insurance. Groups applying for this category must be registered with the Council as a Ballymena based Community, Arts or Sports group.
• Audit of Community Group Accounts: Maximum funding of up to £300.00. Financial assistance is available for groups in having its annual accounts audited by a qualified accountant.

Sports Clubs

In order for Clubs to be eligible to apply for a grant, they must fall into one of the categories defined by SportNI as a sport.

• Seeding / New Group: Maximum funding of up to £300.00: Groups making application for a seeding grant for a new group will be considered for funding to cover running costs for the first year which may include initial outlay costs and administration, up to a maximum of £300.00. In order to be eligible under this category groups should be established not more than 1 year.
• Equipment: 50% funding up to £2,000.00: Grants will be considered for the purchase of sports equipment (excluding items of personal clothing/equipment, e.g. kit, gum shields) for general club use at a junior, senior or veteran level. The equipment must be directly related to the main activities of the group.
• Promotion of New Long Term Projects: 50% funding up to £500.00. Grants will be considered to help promote the running of sporting projects within the Borough. Eligible expenditures in this category are limited to advertising and marketing costs for that particular project.
• Coaching Courses and First Aid Training: 50% funding up to £1,000.00. Sports Clubs who wish to improve their coaching and first aid capacity through attendance at courses, seminars or conferences will be considered for grant funding.
• Public Liability Insurance: Maximum funding of up to £250.00. Financial assistance is available for groups when obtaining either annual or ad-hoc Public Liability Insurance. Groups applying for this category must be registered with the Council as a Ballymena based Community, Arts or Sports group.
• Grounds Maintenance Equipment: Maximum funding of 50% up to £10,000.00. N.B. Groups operating from Council-owned facilities are ineligible to apply under this category.Funding is available to voluntary sports clubs towards the purchase of new or second hand grounds maintenance equipment. Applicants in this category will be required to undertake a technical report on ground conditions detailing requirements for any ground maintenance equipment. 100% funding for this report is available up to a maximum of £3,000.00. The amount awarded for this report is included with the maximum grant of £10,000.00.

Arts, Culture & Heritage Groups

• Seeding / New Group: Maximum funding of up to £300.00. Groups making application for a seeding grant for a new group will be considered for funding to cover running costs for the first year which may include initial outlay costs and administration, up to a maximum of £300.00. In order to be eligible under this category groups should be established not more than 1 year.
• Equipment: 50% funding up to £2,000.00. Grants will be considered for the purchase of equipment that will promote and develop the work being carried by arts, cultural and heritage groups. The equipment must be directly related to the main activities of the group.
• Promotion of New Long Term Projects: 50% funding up to £500.00. Grants will be considered to help promote the running of arts, cultural and heritage projects within the Borough. Eligible expenditures in this category are limited to advertising and marketing costs for that particular project.
• Public Liability Insurance: Maximum funding of up to £250.00. Financial assistance is available for groups when obtaining either annual or ad-hoc Public Liability Insurance. Groups applying for this category must be registered with the Council as a Ballymena based Community, Arts or Sports group.

Events

• Major: 50% funding up to £5,000.00. Events with more than 2,000 people in attendance (competitors and spectators combined) N.B. Funding for the event will be reduced on a pro-rata basis if profit* exceeds £1,000.00.
• Medium: 50% funding up to £2,500.00. Events with more than 500 but less than 2,000 people in attendance (competitors and spectators combined) N.B. Funding for the event will be reduced on a pro-rata basis if profit* exceeds £500.00
• Small: 50% funding up to £500.00 Events with up to 500 people in attendance (competitors and spectators combined) N.B. Funding for the event will be reduced on a pro-rata basis if profit* exceeds £200.00
• Hire of Public Conveniences for Events: Maximum funding of up to £500.00. Groups may apply for funding towards the cost of hiring portable public conveniences for events throughout the Borough. Those applying for funding under the Events category are not permitted to apply for additional funding under this category.

MiscellaneousThis section is open to all eligible groups. Sports Clubs must fall into one of the categories defined by SportNI as a sport. Applicants may apply for one category within the miscellaneous section and one other category in another section of the scheme per financial year.

• Civic Representation: Maximum funding of £100.00 per representative up to £1,000.00 per group. The purpose of this category is to give special recognition to groups within the Borough who will act as effective ambassadors for Ballymena in their chosen activity. To be eligible under this category, applicants must be competing or representing at a national or international level. Funding is only available for participation at events outside of Northern Ireland.
• Promotion of Good Relations: This category will be available after 31 October 2013. In the intervening period please contact Council’s Good Relations Unit on 028 2566 0448 for information on the current Community Relations Grants Scheme.
• General Event/Project Grant – 50% up to a maximum of £300.00 Or Transport Costs – 75% up to a maximum of £150.00 for travel within Northern Ireland.

Funding is available for projects that bring people together from both sides of the community in one of the following ways: -

• a. To develop Cross Community contact and co-operation
• b. To promote greater mutual understanding
• c. To increase respect for different cultural traditions

Other Distinctive Projects: Funding up to a maximum of £500.00: Council, at its discretion, may consider grants for any project within its remit not covered by the other categories of this scheme.