Page 23 - NAS Members Guide to Funding

And, if your association is thinking about looking for local government (council) funding, the above two funding routes can help and may even distribute some council funding. Additionally, it is worth following the specific funding route outlined below for local government funding.
CASE STUDY: “Community Foundation Funding to voluntary sector organisations such as your
xt few slides in the deck.
Route: Culmer’s Allotment Society in Broadstairs”
Instead of making endless searches for grant funders, Culmer’s Allotment Society saved time and energy by applying directly to Kent Community Foundation. The foundation helps local philanthropists to give to small charitable organisations across Kent and Medway. Kent Community Foundation matched Culmer’s funding application with The Amity Allotment fund (regional funder, apply via Kent community fund) which provides grants of up to £7,500 to encourage the expansion
of existing allotments or the creation of new sites throughout Kent. £1500 was awarded to Culmer’s Allotment Association to purchase a high-quality shredder. Natalie Smith, Director of Grants and
Impact at Kent community foundation said:“We know how important allotments are to bring communities together, preserve the environment and provide a fantastic area for wildlife. We were keen to support the Culmer’s application as their new shredder will reduce the amount of burning and reuse material as compost rather than sending it to landfill. If you know of an existing allotment in your area that needs funding, or you are interested in creating an allotment for your community we would love to hear from you.” By using a funding route, Culmer’s Allotment Association got straight to the right source of funding in their area for exactly what they wanted to do to improve their site.
Funding Route: Local Government (council) funding
• The council officer responsible for your council’s allotments may be aware of internal funding at the council which they can request to be spent on your site or paid directly to your association.
association.
• Your elected councillor may have been allocated an amount of council funding to award to voluntary organisations in their patch; elected mayors and ceremonial mayors often have similar funds.
NB: Never get too hung up on wanting ‘council funding’, if it is not happening in your area at the moment or
if there is a lack of traction from current staff and elected officers, concentrate instead on other sources of funding, e.g. trusts, foundations, businesses, national lotter y.
With any funder : Don’t sweat the small stuff, if it is not working out then look elsewhere.
CASE STUDY: “Help and guidance from a Council Grant Officer: East Side Allotments in Swansea” “The priority was apparent to anyone and everyone: we needed to do something about the paths at East Side Allotments. Or rather the lack of them. The slopes up through the plots were muddy ravines and a serious accident waiting to happen. A local councillor put the secretary in touch with the grant officer at Swansea Council. With the grant officer’s guidance, the association applied for a church in Wales community grant of £5,000. In March, £2,000 was paid into the allotment bank account on condition that it was spent on building paths. The money was used to buy in
total 20 1-tonne bags of chippings, 150m of 100mm x 20mm timber, 50m of 40mm x 15mm timber, 40 paving slabs and four rolls of weed membrane. We also got
• Your council may have a funding officer whose time is either available to the council officer responsible for managing allotments or available directly to your association. This officer’s time is worth its weight
in gold: they are funding experts and usually have
access to funding databases detailing external funding
available only to councils and funding only available
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