When setting our budget this year (2007-2008) we made provision for the distribution of £100,000 of capital grant aid through the Community Partnerships Scheme. This is available to voluntary and community sector organisations operating within South Derbyshire.

What is the Community Partnerships Scheme?

• The Community Partnerships Scheme has been developed to provide support, advice and grant funding to community projects in South Derbyshire.
• It encourages self-help, joint working relationships and the fulfilment of community aspiration.
• It is designed to assist community groups to attract external funds such as lottery money to South Derbyshire.

What do we offer?

• We offer an initial meeting to discuss your project.
• We offer advice on how best to develop your project, where to get other funding, and how to improve your applications
• We offer cash grants to support the total capital costs related to the delivery of your project. The scheme does not offer help towards day to day running (revenue) costs which are ineligible.
• Grants will normally be between 5% and 25% of total project cost, with a minimum award of £1,000 and a maximum award of £25,000. The level of support offered will depend upon a number of factors outlined in more detail in the scheme’s guidance notes. Only in exceptional circumstances will grants be offered in excess of 25%.
• Organisations will normally only be allowed to receive one grant in any financial year.

What type of projects do we support?

• We will support a wide variety of capital projects providing that they benefit communities within South Derbyshire.

Typical examples include:

• sports, arts, heritage, environmental and other community projects,
• the provision of new community buildings or refurbishment / improvement of existing community buildings,
• the purchase of major items of equipment, such as musical instruments, minibuses etc., N.B. individual items must cost a minimum of £4,000 to be eligible
• purchase of land, N.B. With an application for grant towards the cost of the acquisition of land or buildings, the authority may take advice as to the value of the property and grant will not be given on expenditure in excess of the price recommended by an approved valuer.
• access improvements to buildings, particularly for people with disabilities.

Further Information and Applying

How Applications Will be Dealt With
Application forms are considered by a panel of five councillors who make recommendations to the Housing and Community Services Committee who have the final decision on awards.

If a project is supported the applicant will be advised of the amount granted and conditions.

If you are a community group or voluntary organisation then please see Resources for voluntary groups for more information.

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the information contained in the guidelines, or a potential project, then please contact us.

Contact Details
South Derbyshire District Council
Leisure and Community Development
Civic Offices
Civic Way
Swadlincote
Derbyshire
DE11 0AH

Telephone: Contact the Partnership Development Officer at 01283 228741
Online:online enquiry form
Email: grantsinformation@south-derbys.gov.uk

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