Grants Policy

Grant Awarding Policy - please contact the Clerk if you would like an emailed copy.

Introduction to the Policy

A grant is any payment made by the Council to be used by an organisation for a specific purpose that will benefit the Parish, or residents of the Parish, and which is not directly controlled or administered by the Council. The Council awards grants, at its discretion, to Parish organisations which can demonstrate a clear need for financial support to benefit the Parish by:

• Providing a service,

• Enhancing the quality of life of parishioners,

• Improving the environment,

• Promoting the Parish of Farningham in a positive way.

Grant Application Process

1. The Clerk to the council will receive all applications.

2. Applicants will be required to complete an application form. All questions on the application form should be fully answered and additional appropriate information, which supports an application, should be provided.

3. In addition to the application form organisations will be required to provide the following supporting information. If the following cannot be supplied, please explain the reasons why:

• a copy of their written constitution or details of their aims and purpose,

• full details of the project or activity,

• demonstration that the grant will be of benefit to the local community within the Parish,

• the proportion or number of beneficiaries living in the electoral area,

• demonstration of a clear need for the funding,

• a copy of the previous year’s accounts or, for new initiatives, a detailed budget and business plan.

4. The Council will make the decision on which grants to award. All applicants will be contacted following the Council's decision.

5. The Council has a limited budget each year and guidance can be given to applicants as to how much money is likely to be available in a specific financial year.

Conditions of Funding

1. The organisation must be either non-profit or charitable. Applications will not be considered from private organisations operated as a business to make a profit or surplus.

2. Grants will not be made to individuals.

3. Grants will not be made retrospectively.

4. Applications will not normally be considered from national organisations or local groups with access to funds from national 'umbrella' or 'parent' organisations, unless funds are not available from their national bodies, or the funds available are in adequate for a specified project.

5. An organisation should have a bank account in its own name.

6. The administration of and accounting for any grant shall be the responsibility of the recipient. All awards must be properly accounted for and evidence of expenditure should be supplied to the Council as requested.

7. Ongoing commitments to award grants or subsidies in future years will not be made. A fresh application will be required each year.

8. Each application will be assessed on its own merits.

9. The Council may make the award of any grant or subsidy subject to such additional conditions and requirements as it considers appropriate. The Council reserves the right to refuse any grant application which it considers to be inappropriate or against the objectives of the Council.

10. Any grant must only be used for the purpose for which it was awarded unless the written approval of the Council has been obtained for a change in use of the grant monies, and that any unspent portion of the grant must be returned to the Council by the end of the next financial year in which it was awarded.

11. The Council may make the award of any grant or subsidy as it considers appropriate in the event of any unforeseen urgent event.

12. Nothing contained herein shall prevent the Council from exercising, at any time, its existing duty or power in respect of providing financial assistance or grants to local or national organisations under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, Section 137.

Application for Grant for Voluntary Organisations Local Government Act 1972, Section 137

Please note that this application will not be considered unless it is accompanied by a copy of the latest set of annual accounts showing the organisations income, expenditure and level of balances. If the organisation does not prepare annual accounts, copies of the bank statements covering the previous six months must be enclosed. If neither are available then the reasons why must be included.

1.	Name of organisation
2.	Name, Address and Status of Contact
3.	Telephone Number of Contact
4.	Is the Organisation a Registered Charity? (please circle)	Yes / No
5.	Amount of grant requested	£
6.	For what purpose of project is the grant requested?
7.	What will be the total cost of the above project?	£
8.	If the total cost of the project is more than the grant, how will the residue be financed?
9.	Have you applied for a grant for the same project to another organisation? If so, which organisation and how much?
10.	Who will benefit from the project?
11.	Approximately, how many of those who will benefit are parishioners?

You may use a separate sheet of paper to submit any other information which you feel will support this application or if there is not sufficient space above.

Signed…………………………………………………………………. Date……………………………….

If the grant is awarded, any funds that are not spent on the project described above MUST be returned to Farningham Parish Council.

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