SMALL GRANTS FUND

South Pennines LEADER Small Grants Fund (update : Small Grants Scheme now open again)

HOW DO I APPLY FOR A SMALL GRANT?

If you have a small scale project please contact Ruth Hair to ensure that your idea is suitable for LEADER funding. It is important that you understand from a very early stage what will be required of you as a project manager and what you must do to be able to claim your grant. You should therefore read the guidance in the application pack very carefully and discuss anything you are not clear about with Ruth Hair. You can access the application pack here online.

WHEN CAN I APPLY FOR A SMALL GRANT?

You can apply for a Small Grant AT ANY TIME (update : Small Grants Scheme now open again) as the application does not have to wait to go to the Local Action Group (LAG) meetings, it is dealt with electronically by a sub group of the LAG. You will receive a small grants decision within 14 days of submitting your application.

WHAT SORT OF PROJECTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING?

In general the South Pennines LEADER programme is looking for projects that are MULTI-OBJECTIVE, DISTINCTIVE, INNOVATIVE, involve WIDE PARTNERSHIP WORKING, represent GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY and those which leave a LASTING LEGACY for the South Pennines LEADER area. The projects that apply for funding in excess of £2000 from the LEADER programme will be assessed on this basis and will have to compete with the large number of demands upon the Programme. As such, the two stage process devised for accessing LEADER funding is quite rigorous and is not suited for small scale projects.

The small grants fund is therefore designed to enable smaller projects to have access to LEADER funding. It is recognised that smaller projects often act as the starting point for larger initiatives and can therefore represent great value for money in terms of the achievements they can bring. The small grants fund is thus designed for those groups who have an idea that they want to try out or a local scale project that, whilst it is innovative, exciting and involves good partnership working, may not by virtue of its scale be regarded as a distinctive legacy project for the whole of the South Pennines.

Projects that are eligible for LEADER Small Grants funding MUST seek to meet at least some of the objectives, outcomes and priorities of the LEADER programme. They can be “pilot” or “seed” projects that will lead to something increasingly sustainable in the long term. They must have a tangible long term outcome that helps us to promote and enhance the local area.

We do NOT fund;
• general community festivals or events. Events that we have funded have been strongly related to our key themes or are pilot projects that will hopefully develop into strong self-funding community initiatives.
• revenue requests for annual running costs for events or groups.
• “in bloom” type of activities that are annual events – we are looking to fund capital improvements to the environment which have a longer lasting impact.
• sports equipment or activities for local sports clubs

IN SUMMARY THE GRANT FUND IS;

• available for projects that require grant funding from £500 up to £2000, representing 50% of the total project cost;
• available for projects that seek to meet at least some of the objectives, outcomes and priorities of the LEADER programme;
• has a one stage application process that will be decided by a sub group of the Local Access Group on receipt of the application;
• open for business throughout the year.

EXAMPLES OF SMALL GRANT PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED TO DATE;

Leader priority :realising the unexploited potential of recreational use of the area’s cultural heritage;

Saddleworth Tourist Bus : provision of a bus from train to Dove Stones in summer 2010 on an experimental basis to manage the recreational pressure on this key gateway site.
Huddersfield Canal Society Family Fun Day : To host a family fun event on the canal to celebrate the heritage, history and role of the canal and launch the bi-centenary celebrations of the canal in September 2011
Ilkley Moor Events & Learning Programme and environmental projects : promoting the recreational, cultural and heritage use and potential of Ilkley Moor.

Leader priority : creating a collective voice and cultural image for the South Pennines;

Holmfirth Film Festival : to develop and host a short films festival, linked to Holmfirths unique historical connection to Bamforth films, focusing on community and culture of local area.
Reflections of Holme : to promote creative writing in the Holmfirth area about local landscape and culture.
Holme Valley Sharing Memories : creation of a unique textiles based art installation in the Pheonix Centre celebrating the history of the woollen industry in the Holme Valley.
HEADS Handmade parade 2009 : Festival with outreach workshops linked specifically to South Pennines biodiversity

Leader priority : promoting sustainable community facilities;

Slaithwaite Community Hall boiler : Installation of new heating boiler to improve the community facility.
Allotments Rainwater Harvesting System : to install rainwater capturing equipment for use on a community allotment.
St Mary’s Gardening Club : enabling the community to use school grounds as a growing space with educational opportunities asssociated with gardening.

Leader priority : Improving the Historic Public Realm;

Hebden Bridge War Memorial : restoration of the memorial site as a town centre environmental improvement
Open Vista : woodland clearance at Slaithwaite Spa to enhance the vistas over the town from key vantage points and improve this community site.
Rishworth Gateway project : environmental improvements to a gateway site to the village.

Leader priority : Improving knowledge of our Heritage;

Agriculture & History in the Pennine Landscape : To gather original source material from archives not readily accessible to people for the production of course documents, improving knowledge of our local heritage.
Local History Archives : to preserve deeds and other original documents in archive collections, improving access to those who wish to consult them.