Small Grants Fund

The Small Grants Fund provides smaller amounts of funding for projects between £1,000 and £10,000. Projects can get grants which focus on:
 
A. Small Business Creation and Growth Grants
B. Strengthening Local Communities Grants
C. Connecting People and the Landscape Grants
 
 
How to apply - Please follow the steps below to apply.
 
1. Check eligibility
Check whether you are eligible for funding by visiting the Eligibility webpage. If you have any queries about eligibility please contact us and we can advise you.

2. Attend a Free Funding Workshop and chat with one of our Project Development Workers
Making it Local has two Development Workers called Hattie Winter and Nicola Buckingham. They are here to help develop and advise projects. Speaking to them will not affect any decisions on your project. 

Attend a funding workshop to get some helpful tips on filling in your application and what makes a good project. Please visit our events page for details.

3. Submit an Initial Project Outline (IPO)

Download an Initial Project Outline form from below, fill it in and send it to us at anytime. We only require a summary at this point about your project idea, so we do not need vast pages of detailed information. This will allow us to glean some information about what your project plans to do and whether your project hits our programme objectives. Once submitted a Making it Local Development Worker will contact you in about two weeks to discuss your project. If they feel your project is eligible they will invite you to submit a Full Applicaiton Form. 
Download
 
4. Submit a Small Grants Application Form
If you have been invited to submit a Full Application please download an Application Form. To help you complete these forms please download the Application Guidance Note and the Project Guidance Costs. This form needs to be submitted by one of the deadlines below before 12 noon.
Application deadline
(must be received by 12noon)
Decision making meeting date for small grants
(£1,000 - £10,000)
Decision making meeting date for large grants
(£10,000+)
20th September 2010
2nd November 2010
16th November 2010
18th October 2010
1st December 2010
14th December 2010
15th November 2010
11th January 2011
18th January 2011
17th January 2011
23rd February 2011
15th March 2011
14th March 2011
27th April 2011
17th May 2011
16th May 2011
23rd June 2011
Date to be confirmed – July 2011


5. Application Appraisal stage
Once you have submitted your application it is sent to our external appraisers who appraise your application form. Then your application is submitted to the Small Grants Panel who makes a decision on your project.
Download 
Small Grants Appriasal Guidance (PDF)
Small Grants Appraisal Form (Excel) 

6. Project Decision
Approved-if you have reached this stage and have had your project approved by the programme – congratulations!!!!!
Deferred- you may still need to do some work on your project
Rejected- we are sorry but your project will need to look elsewhere for funding

Please contact us if you any queries on how to apply