Heath and Reach Parish Council Grants Policy

Heath and Reach Parish Council is funded by the residents of Heath and Reach and therefore has only limited funds available to assist community organisations located and working in Heath and Reach for the benefit of the community.

Subject to funding being available, Heath and Reach Parish Council is committed to providing assistance and support to local community groups which are set up to promote community life for Heath and Reach residents. The Council’s financial support is provided by way of Grants, which are decided against criteria set by, and which can be amended from time to time by Heath and Reach Parish Council.

Heath and Reach Parish Council are committed to following best practice in grant giving in order to provide sustainable funding and support to voluntary and community groups, whilst providing value for money for local taxpayers and ensuring that public money is spent in a responsible manner.

In order for this Council to assess applications rationally and objectively, many of which will inevitably be totally dissimilar in content, it is both necessary and helpful to assess all applications received against a range of criteria. These are designed to be a general indication of need but are not exclusive and can be flexibly applied.

The Parish Council’s policy on community grants is based on the principle of promoting the development of partnerships, which encourage and enable local community organisations to deliver local projects to the residents of Heath and Reach. In general, the following principles apply:

• Assistance will be given based on need, merit, and contribution to the local community.
• Applicants must clearly show how any assistance given will benefit the people living in Heath and Reach, or will benefit the environment of Heath and Reach.
• Any assistance given will be subject to ongoing monitoring and subsequent evaluation of the outcome of the grant.
• Organisations should not make a presumption that funding will continue on a year to year

The Aims of the Council’s Grant Making Policy

Heath and Reach Parish Council provides grant funding to support the following aims:

• To enable local people to participate in voluntary groups and activities.
• To help the Parish’s voluntary groups to improve their effectiveness.
• To ensure the provision of services needed by the Parish’s residents, via the voluntary sector.
• To support organisations which meet the needs of people experiencing social and economic difficulties.
• To ensure that there is equality of access and opportunity for all Heath and Reach Parish residents to the services it provides and funds.
• To improve or enhance the local environment.
• To achieve value for money.

Heath and Reach Parish Council defines a voluntary group as a non-profit making organisation, set up and run by a voluntary, unpaid management committee.

The Grants Process

To apply for a Parish Council grant you must be a charity, community group or local voluntary organisation with a constitution and dedicated bank account, operating or providing a service to the community in Heath and Reach. All funding requests must use our electronic application form and applicants should provide all information requested.

The amount of money available for small grants varies each year, depending on the overall council budget.

Heath and Reach Parish Council particularly welcomes applications from small or newly formed groups and those that have not applied to us before.

Heath and Reach Parish Council uses the following criteria to decide on grant applications:

• Whether the group/project has followed our grants process and meets our requirements and grant giving policy.
• Level of benefit to Heath and Reach and the impact the grant will make.
• Evidence of a well-managed group including previous experience and track record.
• Financial sustainability and viability of group and/or project.
• Confirmation of whether funding has been sought from other sources and the level of such funding obtained.
• Evidence of compliance with previous grant award conditions.

Heath and Reach Parish Council will not fund the following:

• Organisations that do not provide a service to the community in Heath and Reach.
• General appeals.
• Statutory organisations or the direct replacement of statutory funding.
• Political groups or activities promoting political beliefs.
• Religious groups where funding is to be used to promote religious beliefs.
• Arts & sports projects with no community or charitable element.
• Medical research, equipment or treatment.
• Animal welfare.
• Projects that may take place before an application can be decided.
• Organisations that have a closed or restricted membership.
• Equipment or other costs that have already been purchased or incurred prior to the application being considered.

The application process

Groups must apply for funding using the electronic grant application form on the Parish Council Website.

The Parish Clerk can also provide assistance to any group having difficulties completing the grant application form.

Grant applications will only be considered if all sections of the form are completed and appropriate supporting information/evidence is supplied where requested.

All valid grant applications will be assessed and presented to the Council for consideration.

All applicants will usually be notified of Council’s decision within two weeks of the Parish Council meeting.

Payment timetable

Successful applicants for small grants will receive their award within one week of being notified of the outcome.

Grants will only be paid by bank credit transfer to the named organisation.

Monitoring and reporting requirements

If requested groups are to provide Heath and Reach Parish Council with written evidence of what the money has been spent on and the benefit it has brought to the people of Heath and Reach. Such evidence of how the money has been spent can include copies of invoices and receipts, plus attendance numbers, photos, press clippings, etc. where applicable. This information should be submitted within 1 month of the event/project end or by the end of March each year whichever is sooner, so that it can be reported at the Annual Parish Assembly Meeting.

General grant conditions

• Grants are awarded on an annual basis and an award made this year is not an indication that funding will be continued in other years.
• The grant can only be used for the purpose stated in the application and the Council reserves the right to reclaim any grant not being used for the specified purpose of the application. However, if a group wishes to change the purpose of the grant, they must seek approval by writing to the Council who will consider whether to approve the change.
• Applications for projects where the work has already been completed will not be considered.
• We will not support grants for the repayment of loans or cost of services, equipment or provisions in anticipation of a grant.
• Grants must be spent within 1 year of award. Any unspent monies left after this time must be returned.
• Organisations are responsible for ensuring that they are in compliance with all applicable legal and statutory requirements (including those relating to health and safety and equalities).
• Should for any reason the organisation disbands, or the project is not completed the Council may ask for all or part of the monies to be paid back.
• Acknowledgement of the financial support received from the Council is required on documentation and any promotional material, including websites.
• In order to receive payment organisations/groups must have a bank account into which grants can be paid; payments will not be made to private individuals.
• Only one application per year will be accepted from any organisation.
• All successful applicants must complete an evaluation form within the stated time periods.

Additional grant conditions may also be attached to any funding from Heath and Reach Parish Council, and these will be set out in the award confirmation letter.

Failure to comply with any conditions attached to a grant may result in the grant being repaid or affect future grant assistance.

The last day to apply for a Grant in 2025  ends on 1st December 2025.

• Policy adopted: 7th December 2020
• Last reviewed: 7th April 2025
• Next review: December 2025