The Community Investment Fund is designed to support specific community projects or activities taking place within one of the five growth areas of the Richmondshire area:

• Colburn
• Hipswell
• Leyburn
• Richmond
• Scotton

Applications from outside these areas are also encouraged.

For this round of funding, we have a total allocation of £120,000. Applications will be considered on a quarterly basis and the scheme will close following the allocation of the total funds available.

A timetable of meetings where bids will be considered is included in the application form.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for this scheme, applications should be for no less than £1,000 and no more than £50,000. When an application is requesting £5,000 and above, a business plan must be provided.

For 2022 the following rates of intervention will apply:

1. For projects between £1,000 - £20,000 applicants can apply for up to 70% of total eligible project costs;
2. For projects between £20,001 and £30,000 applicants can apply for up to 60% of total eligible project costs;
3. For projects between £30,001 and £50,000 applicants can apply for up to 50% of total eligible project costs.

CIF monies cannot 100% fund single items of expenditure within a project. The percentage of grant that is awarded to your project is applied across all items of project expenditure that are deemed eligible to ensure that match funding can be clearly evidenced and provide a clear and transparent audit trail.

Please note - applicants will be required to demonstrate the need for the 70%, 60% and 50% of the project cost sought through the Community Investment Fund. Applicants will be required to demonstrate which other funding streams they have accessed and secured to support the delivery of the project.

All eligible organisations are required to have a constitution/evidence of governance which should accompany the application. Generally, it is expected that the funding will be spent on tangible projects such as community facilities and infrastructure improvements however revenue projects will be considered providing the applicant can demonstrate the wider social benefit to the project taking place.

The organisation must have been solvent for a period of two years at the time of the application and where appropriate have a good track record with Council accounts e.g., business rates. An internal credit check will be completed as part of the process – grants will not be offered to organisations which do not meet these criteria. The bank account details provided must be in the organisation/business name and not of a personal account. Bank accounts for community organisations should require two signatories.

Projects which have already started may be considered for funding support and will be reviewed on a project-by-project basis, for example an application for phase two of a bigger project. Repeat applicants will be considered on a project-by-project basis and may be subject to a review of the first project’s success.

Organisations who already receive core funding from the Council will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applications from public bodies such as schools or the MOD will be considered where the applicant can demonstrate a social benefit, however a Dual Use Agreement may be required to ensure the wider community can also benefit from the project.

Applications for improvements to facilities which are for exclusive use by the same organisation, for example a sports facility, will be considered where there is a tangible and demonstrable wider social benefit.

The EU State aid rules no longer apply to subsidies granted in the UK following the end of the transition period, which ended on 31 December 2020. However, the United Kingdom remains bound by its international commitments, including subsidy obligations set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) with the EU. With regard to the Relevant Period, any subsidy given under Article 364(4) and any subsidy given under Commission Regulation (EU) No 1407/2013 (the De Minimis Regulation) should be taken into account. More information is available on the GOV.UK website

All successful grants must be claimed within 12 months of the offer letter date and successful applicants must provide quarterly progress updates post approval and grant offers will be subject to a six-month spending review.

Grants awarded are only paid following the production of an associated invoice and receipted invoice or financial statements showing the item has been paid. The Council reserves the right to withdraw the grant where spend is not in line with the offer made.

Approval or refusal of a grant is at the discretion of The Council who will consider all applications received on a quarterly basis, notifying the applicant once a decision has been reached.

Ineligibility and exclusions

• Applications from churches or religious affiliated organisations will not be considered, however applications from organisations utilising religious premises will be considered where the applicant can demonstrate an inclusive social benefit to the project.
• Applications from political / pressure groups will not be considered.
• General day to day running costs for example, staffing, rent or utilities will not be eligible.
• Only invoices/receipts dated after the offer of a grant will be accepted as proof of expenditure and grants cannot be claimed retrospectively.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered until all information is presented.
• Applications to fund the purchase of a vehicle will not be considered.
• Where information is not provided within 28 days following the request for further information, the bid will be rendered null and void and the organisation must then re-apply to be considered.

 

The Council funds cannot be used to cross match against each other.  Applications from eligible organisations for projects that have been awarded funding under other Council schemes, such as the Area Partnership Funding Scheme, will not be eligible to apply to the Community Investment Fund with the identical project.

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Use this form to:

• Apply for Community Investment Fund grant scheme
  

What happens next?

After the application deadline, applications will be reviewed by the Business and Community team and reviewed by the Grant Panel.

Once a decision on your application has been made, you will be notified by email whether it has been successful or denied.

What you'll need to provide:

• Contact details of the individual completing the application
• Business details
• Project details including timescales (upload project plan if applicable)
• Community benefits to the project
• Project outcome/beneficiaries
• Project evaluation
• Project sustainability
• Project finances (grant amount applying for,
• Upload business plan (if applying for more than £5,000)
• Upload a copy of the business’s constitution/evidence of governance
• Description of items wanting to purchase
• Upload a minimum of three quotes per item intending to purchase
• Upload a copy of the project’s cashflow forecast
• Match funding sources
• Organisation last two-year accounts, and provide a copy of your last year's accounts
• Bank account details

Supporting documentation can be uploaded in the final section of the form

Your privacy

The information you provide on this application form will be used to facilitate your application for the Community Investment Fund scheme. The information will only be disclosed to individuals who require it to complete your request. Please be aware that your information may be passed to the council's Counter Fraud Service and/or the Police if we suspect any fraudulent activity. For more information about how we use your personal data please see the Council’s Privacy Notice on our website.