Grants and Donations Policy
Grants and Donations Policy - adopted 12th September 2023
GRANTS AND DONATIONS POLICY
The policy defines Nocton Parish Council’s procedures for donation and grant making. For reasons of accountability it is necessary to formalise the application process to ensure access, openness and fairness to the many groups and organisations that we are asked to support. The policy is designed to make our process robust and user friendly.
Aim
To ensure that all our award making activity is;
Open
Transparent
Fair
Competitive
Supportive of local organisations
Background
Where a grants expenditure budget has been agreed by Nocton Parish Council, this will be the source of grants or donations from the Parish Council. Nocton 200 Club Funds will be the source of funds available for awarding grants and donations for applications from this source only - it will not be used for other grants and donations.
The 200 Club Funds are monies which are donated to the Parish Council by the Promoter of the Club under the proviso that they are only made available and used for the sole benefit of the Local Community. The 200 Club has made, and continues to make a valuable contribution to the life of the village and it’s residents, and the Council wishes to acknowledge this.
Grants are open to established voluntary or community groups, as well as new or informal groups of parishioners who are or intend by the date of application to become formally constituted. Where the source of funds available is that of the 200
Club and not the Parish Precept, this also enables organisations such as local churches to apply for funding providing that there is a wider community benefit.
Where a Member of the Council is a member of a group/organisation applying for funding, that Member must declare, in accordance with its Code of Conduct, an interest in the matter and refrain from voting. Advice may be sought from the Monitoring Officer in these instances.
Who is eligible to apply?
To be eligible for an award an organisation should;
Be established for charitable, benevolent, social, cultural, recreational, or philanthropic purposes.
Have a constitution, or set of rules, which define its aims, objectives, and operational procedures.
Have a bank account, with 2 unrelated signatories.
Be able to provide a copy of its latest annual accounts and/or most recent Bank Statement. Other information, such as a safeguarding and insurance policies, may be asked for.
However applications do not have to be from groups that already exist. Help will be given to new or informal groups of people who have come together to undertake new projects and priority will be given to those whose aim is to add value to the community, rather than applications for running costs.
In exceptional circumstances, individuals may apply for a grant from the Nocton 200 Club (for example where they have or intend to invest in something for the benefit of the community).
What can be funded?
The project should be something that makes the local community a better place in which to live, work or visit, or enhances the environment.
It should benefit people who live in the Parish and be commensurate with the expenditure.
Each group may only make one application per financial year.
Nocton Parish Council’s support should be acknowledged as appropriate on all publicity and promotional material including posters, advertisements, press releases and leaflets. Financial support can only be used for the purpose for which the grant is given.
Preference will be given to local groups.
The following are not eligible:
Support for private business projects.
Projects that improve or benefit privately owned land or property.
Projects that have already been completed or will have been by the time the grant is issued.
How will decisions be made?
Applications may not always result in a grant being awarded, as there may be more applications than there is money available. The Council also reserves the right to decline any application without giving reasons for its decision. However, all applications will be considered carefully. They will be assessed based on the following criteria:
General eligibility
Community Support
Value for Money
Environmental impact
Community Involvement
Impact on key local need
Feasibility
Likely effectiveness
Nocton Parish Council reserves the right to vary the application of this Policy in circumstances where significant economic or social benefit to the Parish is demonstrated.