Supporting Communities Grants

Which organisations are eligible for funding?

This fund is seeking applications from small community groups or organisations such as social groups, sports clubs, youth groups (including uniformed organisations), village halls, support groups etc.

A larger organisation based in Swindon or Wiltshire may be able to apply for work that takes place in the listed parishes.

Although Parish Councils cannot apply in their own right, they may be able to host an application for a new group that does not have the following requirements in place.

You don’t have to be a registered charity, but you will need to have a few key things:

• a formal structure and governing document stating how the group is run (see below for more details on eligible structures) *

• an active voluntary management committee with at least three people who are not:

 -  related to each other or in a long-term relationship

-  living at the same address

• a bank account in the name of the group or organisation with at least two signatories who are unrelated individuals
• less than 12 months typical annual running costs in available funds
• financial records or accounts that can show us what your income, expenditure and remaining funds were for the last full financial year
• a budget showing this year's expected income, expenditure and available funds
• a recent bank statement
• a Safeguarding Policy and an Equalities Policy in the name of your organisation that shows how you keep people accessing your group safe (especially children and adults at risk) and how you ensure you are welcoming to all members of the community. Further guidance is available here.

If you don't have any of the documents mentioned above, please talk to us and we will help.

In some circumstances e.g. for a new group, it may be possible to apply through another charitable organisation or a Parish Council who have agreed to host the application. If a grant is awarded, the host organisation will need to sign and ensure adherence to the Terms & Conditions and manage the grant funds through their bank account.

*Your structure can be any of the following:

• a constituted voluntary or community group
• a registered charity
• a not-for-profit company or Community Interest Company that is limited by guarantee (with a minimum of 3 Directors the majority of whom receive no payment)
• local branch of a national organisation with a local management committee based in Wiltshire or Swindon and your own bank account

What types of projects are eligible for funding?

You can apply for a grant to:

• continue the work your organisation already does
• pay for a new activity

This can include:

• core costs – e.g. (but not only) volunteer costs, staff salaries, training, insurance, utilities or premises costs
• projects costs – e.g. (but not only) additional staff salaries or volunteer costs, training, equipment/materials, insurance or venue hire
• capital costs (buildings or equipment) - if the cost of the project is more than the grant, you must have already secured the balance of funds required when you apply to us

What we don’t fund:

• money to individuals
• parish councils
• one-off or sponsored events
• projects which duplicate an existing service
• the advancement of religion
• medical research and equipment
• animal welfare
• party political activities