Sutton Bridge Solar Farm Community Fund

To support local charities, clubs, groups and organisations improving the lives of people living within Sutton Bridge.

Grants are available for practical projects that contribute to:

• Education and training
• Biodiversity and habitat conservation
• Vibrant, healthy, successful, and sustainable communities
• Promoting community spirit and encourage community activity
• Improving outdoor spaces
• History and heritage

Examples of fundable projects include:

• Education and training (costs relating to running workshops)
• Biodiversity and habitat conservation (species support – bats and bird boxes, habitat creation with hedges, woodland, fens, ponds, meadows etc)
• Vibrant, healthy, successful, and sustainable communities (projects that improve the health or education outcomes for families, reducing unemployment and raise household income, projects supporting the local economy)
• Promoting community spirit and encourage community activity (support for meeting places such as community centres, village halls, church halls etc.)
• Improving outdoor spaces (playing fields, public gardens, accessible woodland, etc)
• History and heritage (projects supporting cultural and heritage awareness, helping to restore local features in the area be it historic buildings, monuments, sites, parks or gardens.)

• Grants are for a maximum of £5,000 in any one year
• Applications for up to £10,000 towards large capital projects may be considered where prior approval to submit a bid has been given
• Closing date for receipt of completed applications and supporting documents 1st May annually.
• Decisions to be notified within eight weeks of closing date
• All funds to be spent within a year of receipt, or as otherwise agreed.

Applications will be considered from registered charities, constituted community groups or social enterprises.

A Church or Parish Council can apply, where there is a benefit for the wider community e.g. an application to cover the general maintenance costs is unlikely be considered, however costs for a kitchen/toilet area in a church would be considered.

School PTA’s may apply, however, the project should not be limited to curriculum hours, and needs to clearly demonstrate there is a wider community benefit.

The Fund is not meant to replace government or other statutory funding; in all cases therefore, the application must be for a project that is not eligible for central or local government or other statutory funding.

National or Regional organisations are unlikely to receive funding.

What cannot be funded

• Party Political or predominantly religious activities
• Individuals
• Statutory provision
• Animal welfare
• General contributions to large appeals
• Grant making bodies applying for funding to redistribute to others
• Retrospective expenditure or unsustainable deficits or loans

What supporting documentation do you need to apply?

• Constitution or set of rules
• A local management board or committee (names and addresses)
• A recent bank or building society account in the organisation’s name with at least two signatories.
• Up to date annual accounts or recent, annual income and expenditure account.
• Other relevant policies and procedures (vulnerable adults’ policy, equal opportunities)
• Quotes where applicable for items/work requested

Sutton Bridge