Deadline: 02-Nov-20
The Cornwall Community Foundation has recently announced Cornwall Women’s Fund to support community projects in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly where women and girls will be the main beneficiaries, and to inspire ambition and enable achievement.
The Foundation support local charities, community and voluntary groups and social enterprises in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The foundation award small grants to grassroots, front line, volunteer led organisations who are making a positive impact in their area. The aim is to overcome challenges of disadvantage, exclusion and poverty for all ages. The foundation welcomes applications from both new and established groups.
Examples of possible projects:
- To run a once weekly Mum’s and Baby’s group (also open to anyone who is pregnant) themed each week to guide conversation, from feeding and sleeping, to weaning and playing with baby.
- To bring the women in the local community together to ensure migrant women aren’t isolated or disadvantaged by not being able to fully communicate their needs or wants.
- To run weekly after school sessions focused on girls aged 12 – 16 and who have been identified as having low self-esteem and confidence. The project will deliver a varied and exciting programme which will be designed with the help of the group.
Funding Information
- The average grant award is £1,000.00
Fund does not Support
- Projects not benefiting people living in Cornwall;
- Profit making organisations;
- Groups with significant financial free reserves;
- Statutory/public sector organisations such as health authorities, schools, hospitals, parish and town councils;
- Contribution to endowment fund, payment of deficit funding or repayment of loans;
- Grant making organisations or bodies who fundraise or distribute grants on behalf of other organisations;
- Retrospective grants;
- Regional offices of national bodies if they are not independent i.e. you must have your own local accounts and management committee and benefit local people;
- Groups whose beneficiaries are not people;
- Projects that help only one individual;
- Groups that have had a previous grant which has not been managed satisfactorily or has not provided the relevant reporting;
- Projects intended to influence people’s religious choices or to promote a particular belief system;
- Churches and faith based organisations may still be funded provided that the grant benefits the wider community. Faith based organisations should clearly demonstrate their community engagement in their application.
Eligibility Criteria
Not for profit community groups or social enterprises (applicants don’t need to be a registered charity but the activities must be considered charitable) operating in Cornwall who has the following:
- Must have a recognised governing document e.g. Constitution, Articles which outlines the organisation’s objectives and it must have a Dissolution Clause
- Must have a minimum of three unrelated members on Management Committee or if applicants are a Registered Charity they must have three unrelated Trustees registered with the Charity Commission
- All details registered with the Charity Commission must be up to date if applicants are a Registered Charity or a Charitable Incorporated Organisation
- If applicants are working with children and/or people at risk, they must have a Safeguarding Policy in place, the foundation would expect to see the Safeguarding Officer’s named and contact details within this policy
- Must be able to provide up to date annual accounts for organisation
- Must have a bank account in the organisation’s name which requires two unrelated signatories for all withdrawals
- In date relevant Insurance Policies
- Equal Opportunities Policy
- A written reference from an independent referee could be requested by CCF at any stage of the application process
While they welcome an application from a CIC, they recognise that they differ from Registered Charities and other voluntary organisations, particularly as they do not have a voluntary governance structure, equivalent to Trustees. As such, our decisions will be based on our regular grant criteria, as well as the following:
- Have a social purpose outlined in the Articles
- Have at least three unconnected Directors, the majority of whom are not paid and have an asset lock clause that ensures funds and assets are transferred to a body with charitable objects in Cornwall on closure of the CIC
- Have an asset locked body which complies with CCF’s CIC criteria
- All documents registered with Companies House must be up to date and be the same documents submitted to CCF (including the asset lock)
- Have a system to ensure decisions on Directors’ remuneration are not taken by those Directors receiving remuneration
- Have a realistic in date business plan which includes a financial forecast submitted alongside the application
- Applications will be welcomed for start-up costs or for delivering a new or innovative project that will benefit the community as part of the organisation’s development and must include two independent written references. They will only normally offer a grant towards running costs within an ongoing project for the first three years of operation.
For more information, visit https://www.cornwallcommunityfoundation.com/grants/cornwall-womens-fund/