How to apply for a grant

Trustees meet 3 times a year to consider applications, usually in spring, summer and autumn.

The next Trustee meeting will be held on Monday 17th July 2017.  The deadline for receiving completed applications for this meeting is now closed.  The date of the autumn meeting will be decided at the summer meeting and published on this website.

If your application is for funding under £1,000 this can be processed outside of scheduled meeting dates and usually within 4-6 weeks.

Due to a large number of applications received on or near the deadline date, it is not always possible to process these requests in time for the Trustee meeting, especially if these applications are incomplete.  It is therefore advised to send your application well ahead of the deadline date.

In order to support and assist you with your application, the Trust Secretary recommends that you send in your application well in advance of the deadline of your funding requirements (please allow 3-4 months, taking into account the Trust’s meeting schedule above). The Trust tries to be flexible as they can but are not able to consider applications if they arrive immediately before a scheduled meeting.

If you wish to discuss your funding application before submitting it, we do welcome telephone or e-mail enquiries.

We cannot accept or consider applications from individuals,  organisations that do not have an identifiable project within our beneficial area or retrospective funding applications.

A signed letter of application should be submitted to the Trust Secretary at the address given in right hand panel, and must contain the following information.

• The name and address of your organisation
• Its registered charity number. (If not registered, you will need to provide the name of a registered charity or local infrastructure organisation and its charity number that has agreed to act as a cheque handler)
• The name and position of the person making the application.
• What type of organisation you are, whom you serve, and how you benefit the community.
• The number and age range of people who benefit from your services or activities.
• The length of time you have been established and where you are based.
• How you are organised and managed.
• How many trustees/committee members, staff/volunteers you have.
• What relationship, if any, you have with similar or umbrella organisations.
• Your main sources of funding, income/expenditure and reserves.
• A title and brief description of the project you are currently fundraising for, who will benefit, where and when it will take place, the overall cost.
• How much you would like the Trust to consider and when the funding is required.
• What difference you aim to achieve with a grant from the Trust.
• Which other funding bodies you have approached and the response you have had.
• The financial contribution of your organisation and/or its members.
• Whether or not you have applied for Lottery funding.  If not, please explain why.
• Please provide a copy of your latest Annual Report and Accounts or, if you are a new organisation, your governing document, minutes of your most recent meeting and a copy of your latest bank statement.
• We may need to contact or visit you regarding your application, so please provide a daytime contact telephone number and, if possible, an email address of the person making the application.

Please download a copy of this checklist to help you complete your application: Download Checklist