Grassroot Grants

Grassroots Grants are small grants intended to respond to the diverse needs of community organisations and be used to fund a wide range of activities. Locally, the Grants are administered through Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire (VANEL) in Grimsby.

Any questions about the grants and appliying for them, please contact Richard Wendel-Jones at VANEL on:

01472 231123
richard@vanel.org.uk

Announcements

Grassroot Grants are now closed.

Flyer and application forms

A flyer containing details about Grassroots Grants can be downloaded here (.pdf)

for grants up to £900. Select either .pdf (to print & return) or .doc

or for grants up to £5000. Select .pdf or .doc.

What Are Grassroots Grants?

They are small grants intended to respond to the diverse needs of community organisations and be used to fund a wide range of activities.

Examples of what can be funded include:

* the purchase of equipment, like a computer, oven, furniture, dishwasher

* the costs of putting on a local event or workshop

* contribution to rent costs (related to activities/service delivery)

* the cost of attending a conference or event

* training for volunteers

* additional activities to expand an existing funded project

* activities that support community activity

* activities that meet an identified need in the local community

* funding to support an organisation to achieve a quality or other standard relevant to their activities.

Who Are Grassroots Grants For?

The purpose of this programme is to support small informal voluntary and community groups and organisations, many of whom are dependent on volunteers to deliver their service.

The type of group or organisation that can be funded though Grassroots Grants will:

* be a not-for-profit, third sector voluntary or community group, active in their local community for not less than 12 months

* have an evidenced income of less than £30,000 per annum, taken as an average over the last three financial years (or over the life of the group if it is less than three years old), and net of any grants received through the Grassroots Grants programme

* be volunteer led (i.e. with largely volunteer based input)

* be connected with and/or meeting the needs of the local community

* have a governing document that has as a minimum the name, aim/purpose, objects, a dissolution clause for the organisation, a list of Trustees/Committee members, and Trustees/Committee member signatures.

* Groups and organisations do not have to be registered charities.

* The grants must be used for activity within local communities in North East Lincolnshire.

Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire (VANEL) can help groups create constitutions or terms of reference if required.

Who Are Grassroots Grants Not For?

The following can NOT be funded:

* statutory organisations, such as Local Authorities, Schools and the Police Force

* regional or local offices of a national organisation

* arms length public sector organisations that are controlled wholly or in part by, for example, a Local Authority, a Primary Care Trust or agencies of these organisations.

* any party political activity

* commercial ventures

* organisations that are for the sole benefit or relief of animals or plants. Grassroots Grants are for the direct benefit of communities of people only

How Much Funding Can Be Applied For?

* The funding (approximately £80,000 per annum) will be available to local organisations over a three year period from 1st August 2008 to 31st March 2011

* The maximum grant to a local organisation will be £5,000 and the minimum grant will be £250

* The are two levels of application: i) Grants up to £900 and ii) Grants over £900 up to £5,000

* For maximum flexibility organisations will be able to apply for either a one-off payment or a grant spread over a maximum of the three year period from 2008 to 2011.

* This means applicants can bid for £5,000 over the three year period (single application), or as a single one-off payment, or a number of grants (multiple applications over time) that total no more than £5,000 in the three year period from 2008 to 2011.

* An application could be entirely for capital purchases (e.g. computers, photocopiers, digital projectors etc), or equally all for operational costs (e.g. rent, stationery, telephone costs, activities etc)

How To Apply For Funding

Having decided what level of grant (up to £900 or up to £5,000) is required, complete the relevant application form and return to the address below. Decisions will be made within 3 weeks.

Application deadlines are:

2008 : 29th Aug, 28th Nov

2009 : 27th Feb, 29th May, 28th Aug, 27th Nov

2010 : 26th Feb, 28th May, 27th Aug, 26th Nov

2011 : 25th Feb

You can contact us directly as below for your application form or download them from this page.

Help And Advice

If have any queries about eligibility, how to complete the form or any other help or advice regarding your application please contact:

Richard Wendel-Jones
Grassroots Grants Manager
Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire

01472 231123
grassroots@vanel.org.uk

Additional Documentation

click here to download Grassroots Grant Expenditure form

click here to download Self Completion Questionnaire 1

click here to download Self Completion Questionnaire 2

Outside North East Lincolnshire?

If you are outside of North East Lincolnshire then you can still apply for Grassroots Grants from the Funding organisation for your area. Visit this webpage on the Community Development Foundation website and select your area of the country to find your funder.