Community grant funding

Eligibility

The application must be completed by the requesting organisation.

The following can apply:

• parish and town councils
• charities
• community and voluntary groups
• clubs
• not for profit organisations

School PTAs, ‘Friends of’ groups, health charities and religious bodies can also apply for funding where projects evidence that they benefit the wider community, and support the strategic aims, objectives and priorities of the council.

Private businesses, individuals and for-profit organisations are not eligible to apply.

Criteria

Applications for revenue and capital funding will be considered. Applications need to demonstrate that funding will be used to support the Council’s priorities outlined in the Corporate Plan:

Community Priority: 

• Shaping local communities so that they have the facilities they need in the future  
• Maintaining safe, clean, and attractive neighbourhoods 
• Supporting community life, leisure and shared spaces 

Family Priority:

• Promoting better health and wellbeing for all 
• Stronger community networks that prevent crises before they happen 

Prosperity Priority: 

• Celebrating our heritage and culture and promoting tourism and our town centres 
• Protecting and enhancing our countryside and local environment 
• Making the most of our natural assets 

In addition to the priorities listed above, applications must address positive outcomes for one or more of the key priorities set out in the Health and Wellbeing Strategy: 

• Children and young people
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Keeping active
• Financial resilience
• Smoking and vaping

Guidance

Organisations are required to declare 12 months unrestricted funds and if these are held, a valid explanation is required.

For the financial period 2026 to 2027, grants distributed will be up to a maximum of £5,000. Any applications received over £5,000 will be rejected.

What can be funded:

• core running costs (heat and light, insurance, rent or premises costs, office costs, etc) - Applications for core costs only would not be able to apply for management and/or salary costs as detailed below
• programme or activity costs which are directly relevant to the application - This can include a percentage of management and/or salary costs to run the project which should be no more than 20% of the total project cost. 
• projects or activities that support positive climate and/or environmental sustainability
• travel and transport costs associated with events in Northamptonshire
• travel and transport relating to the activity in the application, either in North Northamptonshire or within 60 miles of the applicant’s main address
• hire or purchase of equipment for meeting project needs, including sports equipment
• venue hire (excluding hire of group’s own premises) relating to the application
• technical assistance (where third-party support is required to meet the project outcomes)
• festivals and events within North Northamptonshire
• capital costs
• publicity, marketing but not political lobbying; or
• volunteer expenses, including volunteer training costs

What can't be funded:

• projects based and or delivered outside of the North Northamptonshire Council boundary
• organisations that hold more than 12 months unrestricted operating costs within their assets, unless a good reason can be demonstrated
• activities which are discriminatory, political, or are classed as religious conversion
• activities where there is statutory funding provision available
• costs that can be claimed back from elsewhere (e.g. VAT)
• costs that are not auditable (e.g. cash payments unsupported by an approved financial system)
• costs towards banking charges or repayment of debt
• payments made to individual members of the applicant group or organisations that have a personal financial interest
• retrospective costs (activities already completed or costs incurred before the agreement of funding)
• programmes or activities which are considered the core activity of national or regional government, government departments or an arms-length body, such as health or education
• gifts and prizes
• alcohol
• employee salaries in full, including on-costs, except as a percentage as specified above (Item 4.6.1.1 of the community funding policy) and where individual funding streams may have their own set of priorities/criteria such as the Augean Fund. 
• political lobbying
• staff training or facilitation costs
• works to facilities that are or should be subject to an insurance claim
• applicants cannot apply for additional funding towards existing projects or activities which have been grant funded by the council within the last 12 months
• Organisations that have benefitted from three consecutive years of community funding (discretionary) grant awards will not be eligible to apply for a period of twelve months.
   

The following conditions apply for successful applicants:

• funding awards are paid upon receipt of a signed grant agreement, annex and accompanying documentation
• your organisation will need to comply in accordance with the provisions of and principles of the Data Protection Act 2018 -  Information about how the Council processes personal data can be found on the community funding privacy notice
• this grant is not transferable between projects and organisations
• a grant is awarded on the basis of information provided in the application. Should this information be found to be misleading or in the event that the supported project is cancelled, the council will be entitled to be repaid the grant monies
• applications must be for a non-profit making purpose
• it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure they have all relevant consents and permissions in place (i.e. planning permission, DBS checks, and licenses). A grant award does not give permission to proceed with any work without the correct statutory authorisation.
• successful grants awarded must be spent within 12 months of the award and must meet/comply with the grant arrangements
• applicants cannot apply for additional funding towards existing projects or activities previously grant funded by the council within the last 12 months
• successful grants awarded must comply with appropriate monitoring systems, including a final report and any relevant documentation such as receipts
• applications made for funding requests over £5,000 will be rejected