There has been a decision at the December Cabinet Meeting that in 2009-10, North East Lincolnshire Council will make £150,000 available for community groups in North East Lincolnshire to deliver projects to improve the area’s appearance and build on the success of local initiatives such as ‘In Bloom’.

In particular, it will contribute to delivering the Council’s strategic aim of ‘improving the quality of the built and natural environment’ by engaging our community to work together to help ‘provide a high quality environment for all’.

Funding Available

Scheme 1 – Grants (up to £500) Available through Ward Funding Scheme.

The total amount of funding available through this scheme will be £84,000. The smaller wards of Wolds, West Marsh and Waltham will each have available a total of £4,000/ ward for allocation to projects which meet criteria for funding under this scheme. All other wards will have an allocation of £6,000.

Scheme 2 – Grants (over £500 and up to £2,000) Available from Central Pot

The total amount of funding available to fund larger projects will be £66,000.

What the funding can be used for

The money is available for area-based projects that improve neighbourhoods. It is for activities which add value to or complement current projects, initiatives or services. The money can not be used to support existing service delivery. We are particularly interested in projects that will promote sustainability and bring together communities.

Type of projects we could fund include:

• Environmental improvements to community facilities
• Environmental improvements to footpaths
• Environmental improvements to local waste ground
• Improvements to local green spaces (parks, gardens, allotments, play spaces)
• Provision of facilities for young people e.g. youth shelters
• Sustainable community planting projects
• Promoting community energy saving initiatives
• Containers for floral displays
• Tacking waste and litter problems at a local level

We expect projects to be of a permanent nature and creating a lasting legacy for the local community. We can only fund time-limited projects up to a maximum of 6 months from the project start (end date of September 2010 latest). In order to deliver within these timescales applications must be accompanied by evidence that the applicant has secured any necessary permissions to enable the work to proceed and projects should not be dependant upon receiving other grant funding which could cause delays to the start of the project. We cannot fund:-

• On-going revenue commitments
• Top-up funding for existing/continuing work
• Projects outside of North East Lincolnshire
• Projects that cannot demonstrate that the necessary permissions will be achieved within the appropriate timescales
• Labour costs – We expect labour to be provided through volunteers/ staff already working for the organisations.
• Projects that can attract funding from other funding streams already available in the area e.g. Parish Council Precepts, Fair Share Funding, Worklessness Funding, Leader Funding, Neighbourhood Engagement Activity Funding

The money is available to community groups working within North East Lincolnshire. Groups must be properly constituted voluntary, community or neighbourhood based organisations.

How much can each organisation/group bid for?

Any group/ organisation may apply for a single award up to a maximum of £500 for Scheme 1 projects and up to a maximum of £2,000 for Scheme 2 projects. A group/ organisation may submit more than one application, however no more than one award will be given to a single organisation within a specific ward area. Organisations may be awarded more than one award if submitting projects for different wards.

Assessment Process and Criteria

Applications under Scheme 1,

projects up to £500 will follow the existing application process for ward funding, i.e. applications supported and agreed by Elected Members for the Ward and administered through the Chief Executive’s office. However, applications will need to be submitted on the designated form for this Community Pride Scheme.

Applications under Scheme 2,

projects over £500 and up to £2,000, will need to provide more information about their project on a different application form and projects will be assessed on the basis of:-

• Eligibility of the organisation/ group to apply for this funding
• Eligibility of the project/ activities in line with what we have said we will fund
• Demonstration of the need for the project in your neighbourhood/ ward.
• The applicant organisations will be responsible for the project management and delivery of successful schemes, Consequently the Council will be looking for applications that demonstrate clarity of both planning and delivery of projects.
• Systems for collecting, monitoring and assessing the impacts of the project and for reporting and sharing this information
• Sustainability – what the longer term legacy of this project will be and if there are future revenue implications
• Where projects involve working with vulnerable members of society, such as children, young people or vulnerable adults, we will also consider what measures you have in place to safeguard their wellbeing.

Grant Payments under both schemes, will be available in advance, but all spend must be evidenced

Monitoring of Projects

Scheme 1 – Projects will be monitored as for the existing process for allocation of ward funding.

Scheme 2 – Before the project starts, the applicant will sign an agreement which sets out the obligations on the two parties. This is important as the way in which the money is used will be subject to inspection and audit and your monitoring plans will help us ensure that your project is progressing along the right tracks. An account of all monies spent must be provided within 30 days of completion of the project. If grant money is not spent as agreed in the project submission, then the Council will recover any monies in accordance with the agreement.

Application Process and Timescales

The money will be available to spend on projects to be delivered by the end of September 2010 at the latest.

Interested groups/ organisations should complete the appropriate application form for Scheme 1 or 2. All sections of the application forms must be fully completed as incomplete applications will not be considered.

Scheme 1 submissions, accompanied by a copy of the group/organisation’s constitution, should be forwarded to:-

The Chief Executive’s Office,
East Lincolnshire Council
Municipal Offices
Town Hall Square
Grimsby
DN31 1HU

Applications must be received by 15th March 2010 for processing within the 2009/10 financial year.
Funding may be carried over to the 2010/11 financial year, but all projects must be completed and funding released by September 2010. Applications received after the 15 March will be processed following the May 2010 elections.

Scheme 2 submissions, accompanied by a copy of your last annual accounts (audited where there is a requirement for your organisation) together with a copy of your constitution, should be sent to:-

 The Policy and Partnerships TeamNorth

East Lincolnshire Council

Municipal Offices

Town Hall Square

GrimsbyDN31 1HUThe closing date for receipt of applications is 26th February 2010 and the Council will aim to commit to projects by the 14th March 2010