Deadline: 6-Jun-25
The Blaby District Council is requesting proposals for its Community Grants Scheme to support the voluntary and community sector (VCS) to develop and strengthen community facilities and activities for the benefit of Blaby District residents.
Aims
- Capital Green Grants must contribute towards achieving at least one of the following key aims of Blaby District Council Climate Change Strategy 2020-2030:
- Reducing Carbon emissions and the impact of climate change
- Protecting the environment – creating space for nature and improved biodiversity
- Travel and Transport – increasing sustainable transport use and improving air quality
- Waste and Resources – moving to a circular economy ‘Reduce, Re-use, Recycle’
- Sustainable communities – increasing energy efficiency
- Behaviour Change and Education – delivering community initiatives
Priorities
- Applications for Everyone Active grants must contribute towards achieving at least one of the following health and wellbeing priorities:
- Access to physical activity so people of all ages and abilities can keep fit, healthy and are encouraged to be physically active
- Improving the health and wellbeing of local communities, including mental health
- Reduction of obesity
- Increasing participation in young adults
- Being inclusive and having a diverse programme
Themes
- The Community Grants Scheme funds projects that benefit the local community and deliver outcomes in line with at least one of the Council’s following Strategic Themes:
- Enabling their communities and supporting their vulnerable residents
- Enhancing and maintaining their natural and built environment
- Keeping you safe and healthy
Funding Information
- Capital Green Grants – up to £5,000 (20% match funding required)
- Large Capital Grants – up to £5,000 (50% match funding required)
- Small Capital Grants – up to £500
- Revenue Grants – up to £500
- Everyone Active Grants – up to £500
Eligible Projects
- Examples might include projects that:
- support their most vulnerable residents
- empower young people
- provide opportunities for people to participate in physical activity
- enhance physical and/or mental health and wellbeing
- reduce isolation or loneliness
- encourage community safety and cohesion
- enhance biodiversity in the district
- reduce carbon emissions
- reduce waste and increase recycling
- enhance leisure/recreation/heritage facilities that encourage visitors to the district
Ineligible Projects
- Projects that have already started or items that have already been purchased
- Projects with a total cost of more than £40,000 to deliver
- Applications that are contingent on another project/works for which all funding and consents are not already in place
- Projects/activities that support one specific political view or that show bias or risk damaging the Council’s reputation
- Professional fees that must be paid for prior to a project starting or stand-alone (for example, feasibility studies, planning application costs, legal fees)
- Activities/projects that are deemed the statutory responsibility of an organisation or for which other funding is made available for example, costs covered by school/academy, NHS or Parish/Town Council budgets
- Day to day maintenance or repairs
- Applications from Parish/Town Councils or Schools/Academies/Trusts
- Applications from, or projects that only benefit, an individual
- Applications from Patient Participation Groups
- Applications from Food Banks that are not affiliated with a recognised national network, such as the Trussell Trust, or an appropriate national body or a Parish Council.
Eligibility Criteria
- Their grants scheme is open to applications from a range of VCS organisations:
- Community groups, youth clubs and sports clubs
- Registered Charities
- Social Enterprises (such as Community Interest Companies)
- PTA/fundraising groups can apply for projects that are not deemed the statutory responsibility of the School/Academy/Trust
- Churches/Religious bodies can only apply for either capital grants relating to distinct community spaces/halls open to the whole community, or revenue grants that relate to community events/activities open to all, irrespective of faith
- Food banks will be considered if the organisation is affiliated with a recognised national network, such as the Trussell Trust, or has formal affiliation with an appropriate national body or a Parish Council.
Application Requirements
- To be eligible, organisations must have the following in place:
- A governing document (such as a constitution or Articles of Association)
- An equality policy/statement (if not included within the governing document)
- A child safeguarding policy and/or vulnerable adults’ policy (if applicable)
- A statement for each bank or savings account held by an organisation, showing the organisation’s name, account details and balance, and dated within three months of the application. Bank accounts must require the signatures of at least two unrelated people.
- The organisation’s most recent set of accounts showing all sources of income
- Three quotes for any single item or works costing £1,000 or more (if applicable)
- Evidence of any consents/permissions for the project to take place such as Planning Permission, Advertising Consent or Landowner Consent (if applicable). These must be secured before the application is submitted
- Where the project involves alterations to land or buildings, the applicant must provide evidence of ownership or a written agreement/lease with at least five years remaining (if applicable).
For more information, visit BDC.
