Grants and Funding
For community support funding for the Kent area visit the
Kent 4 Community
Funding website.
Community Grants Fund
Are you a community or voluntary group delivering a community
project in the borough of Ashford? Have you identified a need to
develop or improve your facilities or the service you deliver? If
the answer is yes, you may be eligible to apply to the Ashford
Borough Council Community Grants Fund to help meet the costs of
your project.
The Community Grants Fund is a grant programme for
community projects in Ashford Borough and will help fund one-off
project costs that will involve and benefit local people.
You can apply if you are a non-profit making group or
organisation such as a community group, charitable organisation or
parish council.
What is Available?
## We are currently not accepting applications for
revenue funding ##
What are the Schemes Priorities?
We will look to support projects which:
- encourage broad participation and involvement of local
people
- provide evidence of need
- offer learning opportunities
- maximise available grant aid
- work in partnership with other groups or organisations
- enhance the environment
- benefit young people
- show innovation and creativity
What kind of Project does the Scheme Fund?
The scheme has previously funded projects such as the
construction and refurbishment of community halls, sports
facilities and play areas; equipment for projects for young people;
improvements to greens and open spaces and the production of
village design statements and community appraisals.
What doesn't the Scheme Fund?
We will not fund:
- ongoing core revenue costs such as salaries, volunteer
expenses, or utilities.
- schools, medical establishments or religious or political
groups for their primary purpose.
- projects where responsibility for funding lies with another
statutory organisation.
- projects which cannot show a clear financial need for the
grant.
- projects that have already been delivered, work that has
already been carried out or items that have already been
purchased.
- projects which only allow a proportion of the community
to benefit
What are the Conditions?
You must:
- have a constitution or set of rules showing your aims and
objectives
- demonstrate a sound financial footing, but also show a
financial need for the grant to take forward your chosen
project
- have a bank or building society account in your organisation’s
name
- provide statements in support of your project from your ward
and parish councillors if appropriate, and any other interested
party
- provide match funding to meet your total project costs. Whilst
an element of the required match funding can be made up of donated
materials or services and labour ‘in kind’, you must make an
appropriate cash contribution either from your own funds or other
fundraising. Parish councils are expected to make a cash
contribution towards projects which they support.
How do we Assess Your Project?
We look at:
- if there is evidence of need and local support;
- your skills as a group to manage your proposed project;
- the number of people gaining benefit;
- how well your project meets our priorities (see above);
- the extent of your partnership working and the involvement of
local people;
- how appropriate and realistic your budget is;
- if you have supplied all the necessary information (including
supporting statements, particularly from your Ward and/or Parish
Councillor where appropriate).
When are the Deadlines?
You can submit any Community Grant Fund application of £1,000 or
under at any time. We aim to inform you of our decision within one
month of receiving your application.
For grants of over £1,000 the deadlines for receipt of
applications are 31 March, 31 August, 30 November each year. We aim
to inform you of our decision within 8 weeks of the deadline.
If you would like to discuss whether your project meets the
funding criteria please email Michelle
Byrne, Cultural Services, Ashford Borough Council, Civic
Centre, Tannery Lane, Ashford TN23 1PL, or telephone 01233
330485.
This webpage was updated on
2/4/2010