Frequently Asked Questions

Community Grants Programme

 

Fareham Borough Council has a Community Grants Programme which provides a programme of Grant Aid that is designed to support and assist voluntary groups, clubs and organisations in actively providing community, play, sport and leisure opportunities within the borough.

• A Guide for Applicants
• Grant Application Form (314 Kb)

To complete the Grant Application - please print the form off, complete and return via normal post to:

Leisure and Community Division
Fareham Borough Council
Floor 3
Civic Offices
Civic Way
Fareham
Hants
PO16 7AZ

For advice and if you have any comments or queries regarding the Community Grants Programme please contact the Community Development Officer on 01329 236100 or e-mail customerservices@fareham.gov.uk.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for a Community Grant?
Not for profit community groups and voluntary organisations.
Non-commercial, recreational/sports clubs, societies and schemes.
statutory organisations supporting Fareham residents
Sports competitors representing the borough.


Applications from national and regional organisations will only be considered if their project is shown to have direct benefit for the residents of Fareham.

What are grants available for?
Grants are available to support voluntary groups and non-profit making organisations that operate within Fareham and provide direct benefit to local residents. The Council is particularly keen to support organisations that work with minority groups in the community, as well as new groups and organisations which seek to meet a community need not previously addressed or established.

Applicants should be aware of the Council objectives. Overall priority is given to first time applicants and projects that support and relate to these aims:

Strong and inclusive communities - to support the people and communities within the Borough enabling them to take a full part in society
A safe and healthy place to live and work - promoting a safe and healthy Borough
Protecting and enhancing our environment - to protect and enhance the local environment for current and future generations
Leisure for health and for fun - to help meet the social and recreational needs of the Borough
Maintaining and extending prosperity - to promote economic success, making the best use of both local resources and those available to the Borough
Balanced Housing Market – providing good quality housing with a range of dwelling types to meet social needs.
A Dynamic, Prudent, Progressive and Best Practice Council – aiming to achieve excellence in all the services we provide.
There are currently three main areas of focus within the new Community Grants programme.

Community buildings
Children with disabilities
Young people and reducing anti-social behaviour.

What have grants been awarded for in the past?
The types of grants that have been awarded in the past include those that:

provide or develop facilities for children and young people;
develop and enhance the community’s use of public meeting places and social facilities which are accessible and available for hire by the community at a reasonable cost, this could include the development of new groups or activities which meet local need;
support sports and recreational opportunities, for example through the funding of coach training and young / better training schemes;
support groups who wish to undertake improvements to the local environment, supporting nature and sustainability,
contribute to the reduction of crime through safety initiatives, this includes projects which seek to reduce the effects of crime in the community;
develop the skills of those involved in the running and work of voluntary organisations;
provide social or other facilities for groups and individuals with special needs.

Who decides about awards?
Applications are initially assessed by Council officers who review the application form to check that the form is fully and accurately completed. The officer will also check to see that the application supports the Council’s objectives (see ‘What are grants available for?’).

The completed application is then sent to the local Ward Councillor/s for comment. Following this consultation a report is presented to the Executive Leader for consideration and final decision.

When can I apply for a Community Grant?
You can apply at any time. There are no closing dates for applications. Only one grant may be awarded in any financial year (April – March). Applications will take approximately 8-10 weeks to be considered.

What won''t the Council fund?
The Council will not fund or support the following:

retrospective grants, therefore applications are unable to be considered for:
events that have already occurred
equipment that has already been purchased
building works that have already commenced or been completed.
the repayment of loans that have been secured in anticipation of grant funding.
the cost of services, equipment or provisions booked in the anticipation of an award.
trips, holidays and expeditions.
the purchase of computer equipment.
the activities of political organisations.
the activities of religious organisations unless for wider community benefit.
recurring running costs.

How can I get an application pack?
in person from the Civic Offices
by telephoning 01329 236100
emailing customerservices@fareham.gov.uk
or by downloading a Community Grant Application Form

Where can I get help with completing my form
If you have any queries, problems or require assistance with completing your form you can contact the Community Development team on 01329 236100 or Fareham Community Action on 01329 236100