The High Peak Environmental Projects Grants Fund is a grant aid scheme available to voluntary organisations and community groups in High Peak. Funding should be used to make environmental improvements within your organisation or through the services you provide.
The key aim of the fund is to help small groups to reduce their environmental impact. Applications to the grant scheme must reflect one of the strategic priorities of the Council, which is to protect the environment.
Scoring sheet for grant applications. Scores are out of 5, 1 being the lowest.
| Name of Group | Project title | Grant to Costs Ratio | Energy | Water | Waste | Transport | Biodiversity | Outcomes Identified | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Voluntary/community and non profit-making groups and social enterprises can apply for a grant from the fund. This criteria will include schools, church and parish groups. Commercial organisations will not be able to apply.
Support and guidance are available from the Council to help you with your application. Please contact Environmental Policy Officer Bill Purvis, at High Peak Borough Council – call 0845 129 7777, or 01298 28400, extension 4480, or email customer-services@highpeak.gov.uk.
Successful applicants will demonstrate the following:
The fund will be open for applications from Thursday, May 15, 2008, until the end of March 2009. The Council expects to see grants allocated equally across the four main geographical areas of the Borough. The criteria used for making decisions on grant applications are shown in the table above.
Decisions on the allocation of grants will be made monthly, based on analysis of the criteria for assessment, carried out by officers. Each grant will be approved by the Executive Member for the Environment.
The Executive Member will consider any appeal against a funding decision. Appeals can only be considered on the basis that the assessment criteria have not been properly applied.
High Peak organisations can apply for both capital and revenue funding to help with the costs of running a particular project, to purchase equipment or improve facilities. Applicants will need to demonstrate that their project is financially viable and sustainable. In all cases, a project budget will be required, with appropriate contingency planning arrangements.
We will not fund political or religious activities, and we will not retrospectively fund equipment or works, or activities and events that have already taken place.
Applicants will need to provide evidence of their organisation’s commitment to equal opportunities. This may include the production of an equal opportunities policy or statement, or a plan of how equal opportunities will be incorporated within the project.
Organisations that either have membership for young people under the age of 18, or vulnerable adults and/or provide activities involving young people, should provide a copy of their Child Protection Policy, or show how they are working to implement such a policy.
Further help and advice on Child Protection can be obtained from Cultural Services, or High Peak CVS.
All applications will be subject to the availability of funds and the criteria set at the time they are received.
High Peak Borough Council reserves the right to amend the criteria for the Community Fund and the level of funding at any time following consultation.
Applications for the Environmental Projects Grants Fund will be assessed against the fund’s general criteria, as outlined in these guidance notes.
When assessing your application, we will look at:
A score sheet will be used to score each application and the total score will determine whether a project is successful. A copy of the score sheet is shown above.
In the event of an application being rejected, a letter will be sent to the applicant, explaining the reason(s) for rejection.
All applications will need to demonstrate that their project provides value for money. The assessment matrix identifies the criteria used to assess this, that is, leverage (environmental fund grant compared to other funding sources) and outcomes achieved.
These can be measured by ensuring appropriate monitoring systems are in place such as satisfaction questionnaires and attendance registers.
Applicants will be required to complete a self-monitoring form upon the completion of a project. This will include a copy of the activities final accounts for the project or copies of purchase invoices.
Any organisation receiving support from High Peak Borough Council should acknowledge this on any literature specific to the project that has been funded, in press articles, or at the premises. Support received as strategic partners, or for core costs should be acknowledged in promotional literature. The Borough Council will provide copies of logos and, if appropriate, a plaque indicating the Council’s contribution to the project.
If a grant is not fully utilised, the Borough Council reserves the right to amend the grant awarded. Where the grant has been issued before a project is completed, any surplus funds must be returned to the Borough Council. The grant must be used for the purpose specified in the application. If not, you will have to repay High Peak Borough Council immediately.
If you require any advice and/or assistance with your application, please contact High Peak Borough Council's Environmental Policy Officer Bill Purvis, on 0845 129 7777, or 01298 28400, extension 4480.
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