Model Grants Policy

SILK WILLOUGHBY PARISH COUNCIL – MODEL GRANTS POLICY

1.    Silk Willoughby Parish Council will make available money for grants – the total amount available may vary from year to year.

2.    Requests will only be accepted on the Council's application form, and with appropriate supplemental information supplied as requested.

3.    If requested, the Council will require a written report of how the money has been used within 6 months of the grant being paid.

4.    The report must  be given to the Clerk to the Council and will become a document which members of the public have a right to inspect under the provision of Section 228 of the Local Government Acts 1972 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

5.    Applicants may be invited to attend a Council meeting to explain the application to councillors.

6.    The Council will not normally make grants to organisations outside of the parish unless there are direct benefits to the parish.

7.    Recipients may be asked to acknowledge Council support on any promotional material.

8.    The Council will only consider one application per project in any one financial year, but an organisation may apply for funding for more than one project in the same financial year.

9.    Evidence of having a child protection policy in place may be requested, as part of the conditions of grant aid being awarded.

10.    Grants that run over a period of more than one year will not normally be considered. In exceptional circumstances, the Council may do so, if an application is supported by a robust business plan and evidence of need – if you wish to discuss the possibility further, please contact the Clerk in the first instance before completing a form.

11.    When evaluating an application, the Council will consider the following:
•    Does the Council have a legal power to incur expenditure on the activity?
•    Will all or part of the area, or some or all the inhabitants, benefit?
•    Has the applicant demonstrated initiative in fund-raising?
•    Has the applicant applied to other organisations/outside bodies for funding?