Banbridge Grants for Community Groups

Overview

Making an application for a Community Support Grant

The purpose of the Council's Community Support Grant Aid Scheme is to support the work of local communities to become active and organised, informed, influential and sustainable.

Grant awards under the Community Support Programme are usually modest in size, although Council can assist with core support costs and partnership fund capital projects. Council reserves the right to allocate funding on the basis of need. Groups are not automatically entitled to a Community Support Grant and every application for assistance. Where appropriate, applicants will be referred to additional or alternative sources of support for Community Development work.
To qualify for grant aid from the Councils Community Support Grant Aid Scheme, groups must demonstrate that they are one of the following;

a) Community organisations such as community development groups, town or village committees, tenants associations,environmental groups, women's groups, regeneration groups, local networks or forums.

b) Groups/organisations which organise and/or provide an unique/valuable service within or impacts positively on theBanbridge District Council area.

Types of Grants Available under the Community Support Programme

Seeding Support Grant

A £100 seeding grant is awarded to newly formed groups/organisations that are properly constituted to assist with initial administration costs.

Community Development Grant

The Council may at its discretion, offer assistance to groups in order to support and encourage local community development and sustainability. The scheme is aimed primarily at local groups or organisations that are working collaboratively for the benefit of the wider community. Council may grant aid work that promotes community development and includes some of the following:

• Programming costs
• Capacity Building initiatives ie developing skills and confidence
• Information Days/Seminars
• Technical Assistance
• Community Education/Training ie Welfare Rights, Child Protection etc
• Purchase of small items of equipment

Community Economic Development: Banbridge Council are committed to the growth of the social economy in establishing an innovative and strong economic foundation for the district. This includes assisting community business initiatives in projects that meet gaps in current service provision and address TSN, particularly in areas where there is a specified need.

Core Funding: Annual Core Funding Grants are awarded to groups that assist the Council to deliver services, viz Banbridge and District Citizens Advice Bureau, Banbridge District Arts Committee, etc.

Events/Festivals: Constituted community and voluntary groups that wish to organise an event between can now apply to Banbridge District Council’s Community Festivals Fund .

The Council will support a range of cultural, sporting or music events provided they are held within the district and promote social cohesion and inclusion, equality of opportunity and good relations. Events should also promote a positive image of the district as well as increase visitor numbers to the area.

To be eligible for financial support, groups must be able to part fund their event and must not receive funding from another government programme.

Capital Support: Consideration will be given to groups/organisations applying for capital support, viz towards renovation/new build of community facilities. Projects of this nature will require wide community support and must compliment the priorities of the Council. It should be noted that Council will only consider partnership funding such projects, if the proposed facility and its location is acceptable to all sections of the local Community. Groups will be actively encouraged to seek Capital Support from other sources.

Making an Application for an Equality/Good Relations Grant

Banbridge District Council under its Good Relations Programme, has modest funding to assist groups in the promotion of Good Relations activities. Organisations seeking grant aid must be open to a full range of opinion, be inclusive and non party political. When thinking about making an application for funding, groups should consider whether any aspects of their project could have a negative impact on people that might have been excluded from activity in the past eg disabled people, people from different age groups, lone parents, people from different religious, political or ethnic backgrounds.

Making an application for a Grant towards Festivals/Major Events

Projects that may be deemed eligible for funding might include Community Festivals, Events that will attract large numbers of participants and/or visitors to the district. It will be the responsibility of the group to ensure that an entertainments license has been obtained if the group is holding an event at any venue in the district. You should check this with the owner of the facility.

Making Application for a Sports Development Grant

Under the Sport Improvement Grant Scheme two types of grants are available to eligible projects. The Major Capital Sports Project Grants offers grants equating to 25% of the capital value of approved works up to a maximum of £25,000 per award. The second grant is for Minor Capital Sports Project Grants which equates to 75% of the capital value of approved works up to a maximum of £10,000 per award.

Eligible projects for both grants include: new sports facilities, pitches, multi-use games areas (MUGA’s), buildings; professional fees related to a planned capital project; land purchase for playing pitches; floodlighting; changing accommodation; renovations or provision to promote enhanced child protection and/or disability access to playing areas and changing accommodation to enable greater participation in sport and physical activity.

In addition the following projects are included under the Minor Capital Sports Project Grant: renovation works that contribute to the development of sport and enhance the sports facilities/activities e.g. flooring, ground improvement works, lighting for training, electrical rewiring, plumbing and heating works etc.; gym equipment; development of a business plan.

There is a limited amount of funding and applications will be assessed against a set criteria. Please note, all projects must be completed by 31 March 2015. Any group or clubs interested in applying for a Sports Improvement Grant should contact Banbridge District Council’s Leisure and Development Services Department on T: 4066 0605 for further information or to request a grant application pack.

Making Application for an Economic Development/Tourism Grant

An example of a project that might be deemed eligible for funding under Economic Development would be an application from a community business to assist in an ecommerce venture; An example of a project that might be eligible for funding under Tourism would be assistance towards a tourist publication and events.

Economic Benefits - Tell us how your project will increase the skills of local people to access new jobs or how jobs in the area will be safeguarded. Will the project generate any income that will maintain or create jobs? Will any private sector investment be attracted to the area as a result of the project?

Your project might specifically target a particular group or geographic area. You should tell us who the beneficiaries of the project are, and how your project will benefit them. We will use this information to help us report on the grants we award and identify any gaps in our funding provision.