Council Grants

The Town Council budgets a set amount each financial year to give as grant aid in support of local initiatives

The maximum amount of Grant Aid to any one organisation or project is £1,000. Exceptionally the Council will consider applications for funding of more than £1,000. Such applications should be submitted prior to 1^st October in the year prior to which funding is required, in order to be considered in the Council's annual budget (for funding for 2023/24 this has been extended to 31st October 2022).

The Council's Clerk has delegated power to review applications, request further information, give advice and refuse applications that do not meet the Grant Aid criteria. The Clerk will refer applications to the Council's Full Council meetings on a monthly basis for decision. Applicants will be notified of the date and time of the meeting and be given an opportunity to address the meeting on the application. The decision will normally be made known to the Applicant in writing within seven days.

Grants will only be considered for projects and proposals which will enhance the quality of life of the people served by the Town Council. Applications from bodies outside the town boundaries may be granted where the proposals show a distinct benefit to the residents of the town.

Grants will normally only be considered for new / start up organisations and/or projects and/or one off events that meet one or more of the following criteria: The organisation/project or event

• goes some way to filling in gaps in existing provision
• is innovative and exciting
• considers the needs of disadvantaged individuals and groups
• takes positive steps to promote a healthy environment
• promotes equality of opportunity and access for all

Grants will be considered for organisations/projects and events that can either show match funding is available, either through own resources or other grants and that the organisation/project/event is viable without further recourse to Council funding.

The Council will not normally

• fund general running costs of organisations
• support applications from organisations which then go on to make donations to other charities and groups
• give more than one grant in any one year to the same organisation
• give a grant to an organisation that receives an annual grant from the Council

In 2022/23 the Town Council awarded Annual Grants to the following organisations -

Fleet Arts

Citizens Advice

Derbyshire Community Transport

Derbyshire Unemployed Workers Centre

Belper North Mill Trust

Belper Early Years

Blend

Belper Leisure Centre

Belper Youth Sports Festival

Belper Meadows Cricket Club

To find out more about obtaining a Council grant, read the grant policy document below and then return the application form and other required documents to the Town Clerk.

The Council will require all applications for an Annual Grant (Service Level Agreement) by 1st October. However, this has been extended until 31st October 2022 for all applications for 2023/24.

The Town Council also gives non monetary assistance to voluntary organisations and groups. The Council loans out equipment/market stalls/prints posters and other literature and occasionally gives staff support.

Any organisation wishing to use Council equipment and / or staff time must make a request in writing giving as much detail about the equipment required, what it will be used for, the dates of use, why the equipment cannot be provided by the organisation and the community benefit.

Requests should be sent to the Town Clerk, Belper Town Council, The Butts, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 1HX and emailed to clerk@belpertowncouncil.gov.uk.

The Council's Clerk has delegated power to review requests, request further information, give advice and accept/refuse requests that do not meet the criteria

Requests will only be considered for projects and proposals which will enhance the quality of life of the people served by the Town Council.

The Organisation will be required to insure the equipment loaned and collect and return the equipment.

All successful requests MUST recognise Belper Town Council's assistance at the event or in their literature and publicity using the wording "Supported by Belper Town Council" together with the Town Council's logo.

In 2020/21 the Town Council assisted the following groups as follows

• Belper Arts Trail - free use of Memorial Gardens for the trail
• Well dressings - moving and setting up Well Dressings
• St Peters Church - free use of gazebos

From April 2018 the Town Council became the administering authority for the Herbert Strutt Charity. Applications for financial assistance are welcomed. See Herbert Strutt Charity.