Page 5 - NAS Members Guide to Funding

• You may need to tweak the original idea a few times to get everyone onboard before moving on to the next stages. However, this will actually help strengthen the idea because it becomes communally owned. Spending time on getting this right can save your association problems in the long term.
Talk to your site neighbours associations in your region that have had success with
xt few slides in the deck.
• Being a good neighbour is positive promotion of the allotments movement.
• Neighbours might want to help with your association’s idea in various ways or put you in touch with people, businesses and organisations who can assist.
• Grant funding may be withdrawn if the site neighbours do not know what is happening and then object later in the process.
Ask your landlord for input and approval
• Initially, expect to talk informally about what the idea and plans are. Then expect to be asked to provide information in writing, followed by updates.
• If your landlord can see that the association has majority approval from members and acceptable to site neighbours, they will likely be more inclined to agree.
• Your landlord might be able to offer forms of support (e.g. donations of materials and services, or introductions to companies). This is another reason to keep them informed from the start.
• Grant funding will not be awarded without landlord approval.
Follow established good practices
• Most ideas have already been tried and tested on allotments in the UK. Aim to talk with and visit some local/regional allotment associations who have done
a similar idea. You can also use the case studies in this guide.
Put the above guiding principles in position at the start of your journey to remove obstacles from your path to funding success!
similar to what your association wants to do. Meeting and listening to other associations will save you the most time in the entire funding process.
• The Allotment & Leisure Gardener magazine contains
examples of funding success stories. Your NAS
regional committee can help put you in touch with
ESSENTIALS
• If you choose to apply for grant funding, some items of paperwork need to be in place. Do not let this put you off! There is a section in this guide which lists these essentials [see Part 6]. NAS has a wealth of experience in this area and is here to help your association.
• Written permission from your landlord.
• Confirmation from the council that the plans do, or do not, require planning permission.
• Remember: Every allotment site is different and has its own special uniqueness. This includes your site’s history, the plants grown and the people who grow them. This is actually one of the most attractive things about allotments to tell funders about. Hence, when applying for grant funding it is essential not to copy or mimic exactly what other sites have done. Let your own allotment community’s ideas shine through. Your site is amazing and funders want to hear about it!
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