Community Grants

Which organisations are eligible for funding?

You can apply for funding if you are a:

• constituted voluntary or community organisation or a
• registered charity or a 
• not-for-profit company, including Community Interest Companies where: the majority of directors receive no payment from the company, it is limited by guarantee* and has a suitable asset lock clause
• and are currently not in receipt of one of our Community Grants

*If the CIC is limited by shares, please speak to us before applying.

You also need to be a:

• a local organisation based and operating in Wiltshire &/or Swindon (this can include local branches of national organisations with your own management committee based in Wiltshire or Swindon and bank account).

or

• an organisation based outside Wiltshire/Swindon that meets the following: 
  • applying for work in Wiltshire &/or Swindon
  • the majority of your other services are in counties neighbouring Wiltshire/Swindon
  • have worked collaboratively with local people to identify need and the best way to address issues
  • have a good understanding of other services in the area you propose to serve and not duplicating support already on offer

Your organisation must have:

• an active Voluntary Management Committee or Directors or Trustees of at least three people who are not:
  • related to each other or in a long-term relationship
  • living at the same address 

• a constitution appropriate to the size and structure of the organisation
• a safeguarding policy in the name of the organisation, that is regularly reviewed and updated and with a named safeguarding lead
• an equalities policy in the name of the organisation

Safeguarding and equalities policies should reflect current legislation and the activities and scope of your organisation. Further guidance on safeguarding and equalities is available here.

Your organisation needs the following financial arrangements and documents:

• a bank account in the name of the organisation with two signatories who are not related to each other
• an appropriate level of reserves for the size and nature of your organisation. We would expect your unrestricted reserves to represent less than 12 months running costs
• financial records or accounts showing income, expenditure and reserves for the most recent financial year
• a financial plan or budget showing this year's expected income, expenditure and reserves.
• a recent bank statement – we will need this to be able to pay you your grant if you are awarded

If you don't have some of the documents mentioned above, please talk to us for further advice. New organisations who do not have some of the above in place may be able to apply through another charitable organisation.

What can I apply for and how much?

How much can I apply for?

You can apply for a grant for 1, 2 or 3 years of £750 to £5,000 per year.

The maximum amount towards capital costs is £5,000.

You can apply for a grant for:

• continuing something you are already doing
• new activity

You must plan to start spending the grant within 6 months of when it was awarded. 

What costs can the grant pay for?

• any reasonable costs for your organisation or project including:
  • core or running costs
  • project and activity costs
  • capital costs (buildings and equipment) you cannot apply for a grant towards building or equipment costing more than £5,000 unless you already have most of the difference between £5,000 and the total e.g. if the building works will cost £20,000 you must have almost £15,000 before you apply

Who must benefit from the grant?

Most of the people who benefit from the grant must 

• live in Wiltshire or Swindon

• be on low incomes. You might find our report on need in Wiltshire and Swindon helpful. You can access it here. 

What we do not fund:

• money to individuals or families
• activities which duplicate an existing service
• general arts or sports projects with no significant community or charitable element
• one-off or sponsored events
• the advancement of religion
• medical research and equipment
• animal welfare
• party political activities
• running costs for pre-schools
• general curriculum-based work for schools and/or activities that don’t target programme specific priorities

Who we don't fund:

• individuals
• schools
• statutory bodies such as city, county or parish councils or health institutions
• charities that operate nationally
• companies limited by shares