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?

• Capital Funding - Up to £10,000 or 50% of total project costs for projects needing “one –off” capital funding, e.g. for equipment, furniture and fittings and building costs.
  Capital Projects Application Form 247Kb PDF
• Revenue Funding - Up to £1,000 for projects needing “one-off” revenue funding e.g. for training or event delivery.
  Revenue Projects Application Form 244Kb PDF

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 or work that has already been carried out.
•  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.