The Community Chest Fund is grant funding for voluntary and community groups/organisations to assist their projects/initiatives. The main criteria to be able to benefit from the funding is that the project/initiative objective is to tackle and help achieve reducing crime and disorder in line with the aims and objectives of the three year Crime and Disorder Strategy.

Applications

If you feel that your project/initiative could fulfil the criteria and benefit from funding then complete and return the attached form:

Download the Community Chest Application Form in PDF format - 59.7Kb

Once your application is received, the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) will assess it. This process is dealt with as quickly as possible, however, in some cases especially those requesting larger sums of money or when high levels of applications are received this process may take longer. However, in all cases it is hoped that an outcome should be decided within eight weeks.

Scale of Grants

The Community Chest has £20,000 a year to allocate. There is no minimum amount that can be awarded, however the maximum level is £5,000, but it is likely this amount will only be awarded in exceptional cases. For bids over £500 applicants will be required to provide evidence of match funding, this means that you will already have some money to put into the project or are able to fund raise.

Criteria of Grant

1. The grant must be used for the purpose outlined on the application.
2. The grant must be fully supportive of the Aims and Objectives of the Crime and Disorder Strategy. A copy of this can be obtained from either the Ashford Borough Council’s Website - or upon request from the administrator on the number or email address on the application form.
3. Copies of invoices/receipts must be submitted to the administrator by an agreed date as evidence that the grant was spent as outlined on the application form.
4. The purchaser must maintain an inventory of any equipment purchased using the grant.
5. All equipment purchased using the grant must not be sold or disposed of within five years of purchase without prior written consent from the CDRP.
6. Any funding may be withdrawn at any time if the conditions of the grant funding are not being adhered to either by withdrawing the assets or requesting the equivalent monetary value of those assets within a five year period from allocation of funds.
7. Six months following from a grant being awarded an update of the project’s progress, together with any problems encountered, should be forwarded to the CDRP. (A Feedback Form will be supplied if your application is successful.)
8. It must be accepted that successful bidders may be asked to attend a presentation whereby media publicity will be invited.
9. Any form of advertising/publicity of the project/initiative must include the CDRP logo. (The logo can be obtained from the contact details on this form.)

What will the Community Chest Fund?

The funding is provided to help meet costs incurred by organisations, etc when undertaking their projects/initiatives. This maybe in the form of initial costs when setting up a club; promoting an existing project; replacing old, worn out equipment, or undertaking training and associated costs, such as travel expenses, etc. It is always worth getting quotes and doing some research prior to the application being submitted to ensure that your application reflects your needs.

Payment of Grant

It is not necessary for groups to have a constitution to apply but the group should have agreed aims and objectives and have it’s own bank account. We pay the fund by cheque so details of the account name must be provided accurately on the application form. We cannot pay money into personal bank accounts.