Community Action Grants - cash for small groups with big ideas

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Are you a group with a great idea to improve your local community? Do you need a small amount of money to make it happen?

Dozens of clubs and groups are benefiting from our Big Society community funding schemes.

We have already boosted dozens of groups with our £250,000 Community Action Grant fund launched last summer offering 'small groups with big ideas' up to £1,000.

So far £122,299 has been handed out to boost 156 local groups − and applications are now being invited for the fourth round which closes on 27 April.

All the information about who is eligible and how to apply is on this web page.

The Sports Action Grant fund is now open for applications. Sports clubs and community groups promoting healty and active lifestyles should visit Sports Action Grant (opens in a new window) for further information on how to apply.

Who can apply?

We can consider applications from small, local charities, community and voluntary groups, or social enterprises.

Groups must be formally constituted. This means you must have a bank account with at least two independent signatories as well as a governing document/list of governing members and a set of rules.

If you are a group of people coming together for the first time to apply for a grant, you need to set up a constituted group. You can get help to do this from your local Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) (opens in a new window).

Community Actions Grants cannot be awarded to statutory or profit-making organisations, schools or individuals.

What type of projects can get a grant?

Local community groups know what is needed in their area. We would like to fund a wide range of different projects from many different types of organisations.

Based on successful applications from the first bidding round, below are a few suggestions of the types of projects we will fund. It is by no means a full list.

  • Setting up a community litter picking group

  • a local food fair or festival

  • an arts or local history project

  • setting up a club for carers

  • promoting a community website

  • supporting vulnerable groups

  • protecting the local environment

  • developing a community space

  • a grow your own project.

We're looking for evidence that the projects you put forward are sustainable in the longer term.

What can a grant pay for?

  • Buying and hiring equipment

  • hiring a venue (but not ongoing venue hire)

  • play equipment

  • training fees e.g. for volunteers

  • materials for your project

  • new publicity costs for your project e.g. to recruit volunteers.

We ask that where possible you support Derbyshire businesses by spending your grant on goods and services from local suppliers.

A Community Action Grant cannot pay for:

  • Promoting religious or political beliefs

  • buying land or buildings

  • running costs, for example utility bills, council tax, rent and insurance

  • ongoing staff costs, for example wages and personal expenses.

  • consumables

  • projects outside the adminstrative boundary of Derbyshire.

How to apply

Firstly please read both 'Information to help you apply for a Community Action Grant' and 'Community Action Grants Frequently Asked Questions' in the related documents section of this web page.

You can then choose to apply by:

  • email
    Use either the Word or PDF application form in the related documents section of this web page and then attach the completed form to an email and send to: policy@derbyshire.gov.uk

  • Post
    Use either the Word or PDF application form in the related documents section of this web page and complete electronically or by hand. Then post to:

    Community Action Grants
    Derbyshire County Council
    Policy and Research
    Room 33
    County Hall
    Matlock
    DE4 3AG

If you would like a printed copy of the application form please telephone Call Derbyshire on 08 456 058 058.

When can you apply?

You can apply anytime until 14 December 2012. A panel will consider applications approximately every three months.

The deadlines for each panel are 27 April, 27 July, 26 October and 14 December in 2012.

Related documents

The following documents are in Portable Document Format (PDF). You can download the PDF software for free from the Adobe website (opens in a new window)

The following document is in Word format. You can download the Word software for free from the Word viewer page (opens in a new window) of the Microsoft website.

Also on our website

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