Community Grants
Borough-wide and Local Area Committee community grant schemes
Annual borough-wide community grant
The Borough-wide scheme offers grants of up to £1,000, and priority is given to groups whose aims reflect our priorities of promoting health, prosperity, the environment, community development and community involvement, with a focus on doing more for less, for example, projects that help the community save money or make their money go further, like an upcycling project.
Who can apply?
Non-profit making community groups, voluntary organisations, trusts, friendly societies, social enterprises and community interest companies can apply provided that, in all cases, their objectives are charitable as defined by the Charity Act 2006. They can provide a service directly, offer advice/information or promote self-help and must have a wide community benefit and be open to anyone.
The group will need to have a constitution (set of rules), a bank account in its own name (which requires at least two signatures on each cheque) and a set of accounts. The group will also need to have adequate insurance and ensure that appropriate checks are carried out on staff and volunteers if they work with vulnerable groups.
What can the grant be used for?
- Purchase of equipment or materials
- Contribution towards running costs
- Funding specific projects
- Development of the organisation.
For 2021, we are prioritising funding for projects that help the response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those that support digital accessing of services and/or address digital exclusion.
How much are the grants?
There is a maximum of £1,000 per organisation for borough-wide groups.
When to apply
Borough-wide applications are now open. They will close Friday 29 January 2021, 12 noon.
How to apply
When applications are open an online Community Grants Application Form will be live. You will be asked to supply a copy of the most recent accounts and bank statement to support your online application. If your application is successful, you will be also required to supply a copy of the following:
- a copy of the constitution or other governing instrument;
- a copy of your equal opportunities policy/statement;
- a copy of your safeguarding policy (if appropriate); and
- equal opportunities monitoring information (optional).
If you require a hard copy of the borough-wide community grant application form, please email us.
Local Area Committee grants
The following Local Areas Committees (LACs) also distribute grants to charities and not for profit organisations within their areas, please note their committee-specific criteria and timelines.
LAC grants available all year round:
Bursledon, Hamble-le-Rice & Hound
Open all year round.
Chandler's Ford & Hiltingbury
Open all year round.
Groups should not apply if they hold more than one years running costs within their reserves and will need to explain why a grant is being sought and reserves are not being used, especially if reserves are significant.
You will be informed of the Local Area Committee’s decision following their next available Working Group meeting (on average every 6 weeks). Funding will only be received following the next Local Area Committee’s formal approval to release funding.
LAC grants with specific application windows:
Eastleigh
Usually open for applications November/December
Hedge End, West End & Botley
Usually open for applications November/December
Who deals with the local grants?
Once your application form has been submitted, the appropriate Local Area Committee will consider your application and you will be informed of their decision.
Community Buildings Grant
Places where people can gather are vital to communities. We want to support community groups to make their buildings more energy efficient costing less to run.
We will consider supporting any community project that results in a carbon reduction. In the past we have funded or match funded the installation of renewable heating systems, insulation and LED lighting.
Please download an application form and return it to us for consideration.
Equality Act 2010
In order to ensure the Council is complying with the Equality Act 2010, we are now seeking monitoring information from organisations who apply for our grants. Please could you complete a monitoring information form and send it with your application.
Please note: The information gathered will not be part of the application process.
The information will be used to develop a profile of the organisations which apply for grant funding. You do not need to supply this information but we will be grateful if you do.