The Broken Cross community benefit fund is operated and administered by Lesmahagow Community Council. The decision making panel consists of elected & co-opted members of LCC plus additional members appointed by LCC as required. 

 

Area

The Fund shall be distributed for the benefit of, and use within, the Lesmahagow community council area and not beyond.

Applications from outwith the area will only be considered if they can demonstrate that the majority of benefit will flow to the Lesmahagow CC area.

 

Eligible applicants

•         Constituted not for profit community groups, clubs and associations

•         schools (via parent councils) for non core projects

•         locally based registered charitable organisations may apply. 

•         Applications from non-constituted groups will be considered if supported by an existing constituted group (which may include the community council)

•         Applications from individuals will not normally be considered unless invited for a specific purpose 

•         An application may be made jointly by more than one party.

•         A party is permitted to make more than one application to the Community Benefit Fund (please note that the panel may prioritise applications from bodies that haven’t applied previously)

 

Grant Purpose

The Community Benefit Fund shall be used to provide funding or grants to projects which support and promote at least one of the following causes:

•         environmental

•         renewable energy

•         energy efficiency

•         sustainable development

•         charitable

•         educational

•         community, sport and recreation

•         general community amenity schemes

•         projects in line with local community action plan / local place plan.

 

The Fund cannot support the following:

•         Acquiring or assisting in the acquisition by any party of any part of the land upon which the Development is constructed; any other land owned in the vicinity of the Development owned by the landowners of the land upon which the Development is constructed; or any other land which may result in a negative impact on the Development.

•         Funding an objection to, or objecting to, or concurring with or assisting any other person in objecting to the Development or any other wind farm developments; planning policies or legislation in connection with renewable energy; or planning policies or legislation that would prejudice the consenting to, or operation of, the Development.

•         Proposals that would benefit individuals personally

•         for the promotion of any specific political or religious purpose

•         to replace funding for projects already funded through the public sector

•         Projects that are clearly and fundamentally against the interests of energy conservation, energy efficiency or renewable energy.

 

Grant Limits

•         The maximum grant available will be £25,000 except in exceptional circumstances agreed and approved by LCC and the developer.

•         There is no minimum grant value however an element of the fund shall be operated as a small grant fund and applications for grants up to £2,000 will follow a light application process.

•         Revenue costs – the fund will not normally support ongoing revenue costs for any organisation unless it can be demonstrated that these help deliver a capital project.  Applications to support general running costs will be limited to 2 years and will only be granted on an emergency basis.

•         Applications to cover salary costs will only be considered where these are time limited and specifically to deliver a project or asset.

 

 

Application process

•         The fund is open all year round however the panel shall assess applications quarterly as a minimum with deadlines for each assessment window advertised in advance.

•         Small grant applications (£2,000 or less) should apply via the light application form. This is equivalent to the REF Micro grant fund process however note that grant review requirements are more comprehensive.

•         For larger applications eligible bodies should submit an EOI in the first instance. Once assessed they will then be invited to move to a full application.

•         Decisions shall be communicated within 2 months of the application deadline advertised.

•         Grants shall be paid electronically in line with payment terms agreed on a case by case basis. Small grants will be paid in advance.

•         Grant funds should be used within 12 months of grant approved date unless an extension is approved in writing.

•         All grants will be subject to grant assessment and evidence of spend including receipts and invoices.

 

Expression of Interest - Grants greater that £2,000:    Broken Cross EOI

Broken Cross small grant application (grants up to £2,000)