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BAVO Social Enterprise Small Grants Scheme 2014/15
Guidance notes for applicants
Please read this carefully – it may help you to produce a good application.
Background
BAVO Social Enterprise Small Grants Scheme is funded by Bridgend County Borough Council.
This grant scheme supports third sector organisations that have ambitions to develop into
economic sustainable organisations i.e. voluntary sector and community organisations, charities,
social enterprises, guarantee based community interest companies, co-operatives and mutuals
provided all profits generated are redistributed into the community.
The purpose of the programme is to build sustainable and vibrant communities through the
development of community economic activity and social enterprises. The grant is aimed at
supporting and developing sustainability within the third sector.
You will need to ensure that your application meets all the requirements as applications that
meet the priorities (described below and overleaf) will be viewed more favourably than those that
don’t. It does not however, guarantee your application will be successful. You also need to
ensure that it is the most suitable funding stream for your needs.
Grant scheme priorities
The funding priorities for this grant are to support third sector organisations that:

Contribute to local priorities and sustainability;
The grant must contribute towards achievement of local priorities and needs as well as
building income generation capacity in the voluntary sector to address its long term
sustainability.

Encourage active citizenship
The grant will support projects which promote volunteering and active communities with
services being provided on a more local level, better suited to local needs.

Partnership working
The grant will support organisations that are seeking opportunities to develop innovative and
collaborative type projects that include sharing of resources and/or partnership working to
make best use of limited resources.
Eligibility criteria
This funding supports three levels of applicants:
Level 1: Capacity Funding
Funding to support applicants who are not ready for the South East Wales Community Economic
Development (SEWCED)investment or are seeking small scale investment. Capacity fund grant
to help organisations be in a more positive position to generate income and develop services and
activities that will contribute to their long term sustainability.
Level 2: Match funding
Funding to support applicants who are seeking funding from SEWCED and intend to use the
grant award as match funding.
Level 3: Development and growth funding
Funding to support existing social enterprise who are seeking additional funds to support their
business development and growth; this may also include SEWCED applicants.
What does the grant fund?
The grant is available to support revenue, capital costs or a mixture of both.
Here are some examples of the types of eligible costs that the grant will support:
Revenue:
Staff
Training
Volunteer expenses
Essential project running costs
Marketing
Professional fees (legal, technical, audit)
Business planning
ICT consumables
Insurance
Lease/rent of property
Feasibility studies
Capital:
Purchase of equipment
Purchase of ICT hardware/software
Purchase of land and buildings
Building refurbishment
Environmental improvements
If you have any queries as to whether your costs are eligible or not please call BAVO,
T: 01656 810400 to seek clarification.
Who can apply?
Community groups, charities and social enterprises that are able to demonstrate that their project
will benefit communities in Bridgend County Borough can apply for financial support providing
they have:

A governing document or a set of rules that have been signed or adopted and the requested
policies (please see application form for the types of policies that are requested);

A bank or building society account with at least two joint signatories;

Recent annual accounts or statement of income and expenditure (audited or signed as
approved by a senior person from the group);

An up to date business plan or project plan that shows the potential to generate or are
currently generating income to enable their organisation to become more sustainable in the
future, reducing their reliance on grant support.
Applications from new groups are welcome. New groups will need a governing document or a set
of rules and the appropriate policies. If a new group cannot provide a set of accounts for the last
year, we will need an estimate of income and expenditure for your first year. If your group doesn’t
have a constitution and the appropriate policies, you can contact BAVO on (01656) 810400 for
guidance and support to develop this documentation.
Applications are assessed competitively to ensure that the available funds can help the most
deserving projects.
If you require funding for a building or to develop land, you must be its legal owners or be able to
demonstrate security of tenancy (usually with a lease) in the long term.
Funding can only be awarded for future projects/events – it cannot be retrospective. Projects
should not be started or equipment ordered etc. until after any award has been made.
How much money is available?
Grants may be awarded for up to a maximum of £5,000.
The budget for your project should be accurate and realistic, as grants cannot be increased after
approval. The panel will expect to see two comparable quotes for all items under £2,000 and
three comparable quotes for all items over £2,000.
The amount available for a computer or laptop is capped at £500 and printers at £100.
How can I apply?
Your application, either hard copy or electronic, must be made on the appropriate form. It is
available on request from our office or can be downloaded from BAVO’s website
www.bavo.org.uk (Funding News section). You must submit one copy, signed by the applicant
on behalf of the group/organisation (for which they must be an authorised representative) and by
another person involved in leading or managing the organisation / group who is supporting the
application.
Your application must also be accompanied by other evidence we have asked for e.g. copy of
governing documents, policies, annual accounts and your most recent bank statement. Please
refer to the checklist on the back of the application form.
Your application can be submitted at any time, but we have several closing dates throughout the
year and the deadlines are shown at the bottom of the application form.
Only one application from your organisation / group can be considered in any one round.
If your application is successful then, as a general rule, no further applications will be considered
for a period of one year.
If your application is refused, for whatever reason, it CANNOT be resubmitted. BAVO does not
have the capacity to hold appeal panels.
How will my application be assessed?
We estimate that there will be a great demand for this grant programme so it is important that
you make your case as well as you can in your application form.
We will assess the information you provide in order to answer the following questions about your
project:
1.
Is yours a properly constituted and well-managed voluntary or community group?
2.
Does your application meet the stated priorities of the grant scheme (as listed in this
guidance document)?
3.
Is there clear evidence of community benefit?
4.
Is there demonstrable need for the proposed project, and does it avoid duplication with
similar projects or facilities?
5.
Will the proposal provide good value in relation to the amount of grant money requested?
We will want to see some financial evidence/forecasting e.g. cash flow forecast to support
your funding application.
6.
Is there a firm timescale for the use of the grant requested?
7.
What will the lasting benefits to the community be?
If you want to make sure your application is considered quickly, you are advised to make sure
ALL the paperwork and attachments are completed and submitted for the Grant Panel meeting.
Applications that do not have all the relevant paperwork will NOT be submitted to panel.
Is there a separate process for applicants seeking match funding?
No. The application form provides space for you to tell us what additional funding our money will
secure. You must attach to your application evidence of the support to be given by the other
funding body, or full details if you are awaiting the outcome of any application to another fund.
However, we will not release successful awards until the match funding has been confirmed. You
should be as realistic as possible when indicating the time-scale of the project.
Will my applications be treated in confidence?
Your application will be discussed by our Grants Panel (a minimum of two BAVO Trustees and
one BAVO Officer). We may need to discuss your application with your independent referee.
Information about successful applications will also be used in publicity.
What are the terms and conditions of the grants?
If your application is successful, you will be offered a grant subject to accepting the conditions in
the offer letter.
You will have to nominate authorised signatories before the grant can be claimed. You must
provide information on the progress of the project. This includes submission of copies of receipts
etc.
You will also have to sign a declaration that the grant has been spent as intended. We may visit
you to monitor progress.
Please note:
BAVO supplies audit trails to Bridgend County Borough Council for this grant scheme.
If you do not send us your receipts for the full grant expenditure, you will be ineligible to apply
for further grants from the scheme and may be required to repay the money.
When will I know the outcome of my application?
You should receive notification of the Panel’s decision by post a few days after the panel date.
Please do not ring us for the outcome or progress of your application within the normal
timeframe we work to as we do not have the resources to cope with these enquiries.
However, the number of applications submitted is beyond our control, and very large rounds may
take longer for us to process and assess. We will try to keep you informed if this is the case.
If your application is unsuccessful we can explain to you why. However, if demand is great this
may simply be because there is not enough money although we will try to explain how we
prioritised. Prioritisation will be based on your application meeting the assessment criteria (as
described above).
Requirements after a grant has been awarded
Under the terms and conditions of this grant scheme, BAVO is required to account for the money
awarded.
You will be asked to provide us with the following information:
1.
A breakdown of actual expenditure - by this we mean itemised details of
expenditure.
2.
Copies of receipts for purchases made – please do not send originals as these
cannot be returned. You will be expected to provide us with a breakdown of actual
expenditure.
3.
A signed declaration of your acceptance of the grant with all the accompanying
terms and conditions as described above.
Contact
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your application with our staff please ring BAVO on 01656
810400.
2014/15 application deadline:

Friday, 27 February 2015 at 12 noon
February 2015
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