Capital Grants to Voluntary Organisations

Shetland Islands Council
Capital Grants to Voluntary Organisations

GUIDELINES


1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 These guidelines are intended to assist organisations which are thinking about applying to Community Development of the Community Services Department, for grant assistance under the Capital Grants to Voluntary Organisations - scheme.

2. WHAT ARE THE AIMS OF THE SCHEME?

2.1 It is Council policy to continue to support initiatives from community groups and organisations by every means at its disposal and by application of all resources available from local and national agencies.

3. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

3.1 To be eligible for a grant an organisations must:-

* Be established for charitable, benevolent, social, cultural, recreational or philanthropic purposes.
* Have a constitution, or set of rules, which define its aims, objectives and operational procedures.
* Be able to provide a copy of its latest annual accounts and most recent bank statement. Accounts to be checked and signed by a person independent of the group
* Have a bank account operated by a minimum of at least two joint signatories.

4. WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE?

4.1 Capital Grants to Voluntary Organisations - This scheme is available to all voluntary organisations, which are undertaking capital projects. Example projects are as follows:

  • Sports Field
  • Changing Rooms
  • Public Halls
  • Youth Centres
  • Community Centres
  • Village Clubs
  • Marinas
  • Breakwaters
  • Piers and Slipways
  • Arts facilities
  • Community Museums
  • Interpretative Centres

5. WHAT LEVEL OF GRANT ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE?

5.1 In general, the levels of grant assistance, which may be recommended to either, or a combination of both, Shetland Islands Council or Shetland Islands Council Charitable Trust is a grant of up to a maximum of 75% of total project costs.

6. IS THERE A MINIMUM OR MAXIMUM SIZE OF PROJECT THAT CAN RECEIVE GRANT ASSISTANCE?

6.1 A capital project must have a total project cost of £3,000 or more before it can be considered for grant assistance.

6.2 Although all capital projects will be considered for grant assistance, it should be noted that the maximum grant available is £100,000 and that it is only in exceptional circumstances that this amount of grant assistance will be awarded.

6.3 With reference to the above points please note that no provision for VAT will be allowed in grant assistance on projects costing in excess of £50,000. This figure to include the cost of land acquisition, statutory consents, professional and legal fees but exclusive of VAT.

7. HOW WILL GRANTS BE PAID?

7.1 If an organisation is successful in being awarded a grant from either or both Shetland Islands Council or Shetland Islands Council Charitable Trust, then 50% of the total grant allocation will be paid when the organisation returns the completed acceptance docquet. The remainder of the grant will be paid in instalments on receipt by Community Development, of the completed SICECS1 forms, which are sent to organisations with the acceptance docquet.

8. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

* Your organisation must raise and contribute a minimum of 10% of the project costs. However as an incentive to obtain external funding from outside Shetland towards your project, then the local contribution can be top sliced if your organisation is successful in obtaining such funding. e.g. On a £120,000 project the local contribution if no external funding was achieved would be 10% of £120,000 (i.e. £12,000). If however external funding of £40,000 was achieved the local share would be reduced to £8,000 (i.e. 10% of £80,000). This proposal would only apply where it did not conflict with the requirements of other funding agencies towards your project.

* If the project for which you are requesting Capital Grant assistance costs £10,000 or more and your organisation is successful in obtaining a Capital Grant, then your organisation will not be eligible to reapply for Capital Grant assistance from Shetland Islands Council for a period of 3 Years from the date of the letter of offer for this grant.

* For projects costing below £10,000 then successful applicant organisations can reapply for Capital Grant assistance in subsequent years provided only one grant is awarded per financial year.

* Prior to the beginning of each financial year a priority programme of proposed capital projects is presented to the Community Services Committee of Shetland Islands Council for consideration by elected members, prior to consideration of individual projects. Accordingly, if your project is not on this priority programme then your project cannot be considered at this time and your organisation should contact the relevant officer of Community Development to discuss your project and request a Capital Grant Proposal Form.

* Because a great deal of public money is involved there are a number of strict conditions, which have to be met.

* It can often take a number of years to actually get the grant - but you can actively use this time to fund raise your share of the costs, employ a design team and have plans drawn up, comply with any legal conditions and obtain planning permission. On this point please note that a Feasibility and Design Grant Scheme is available to assist with the appointment of professional consultants.

* Your organisation should make every effort to obtain additional sources of funding for the project. For advice on eligibility, or contact information for external sources of funding please consult with officials of Community Development.

* Please note that no further applications for grant assistance under this scheme will be considered until all previous capital projects have been fully vouched.

9. GENERAL INFORMATION

It is important that organisations should consult with officials of Community Development prior to completing the application form, as this will provide an opportunity to discuss all relevant points and reduce the necessary time required for completion.