Grants
This page is mostly my note file, but anyone interested can join in the game of multiplayer notepad.
Contents
General
We do need to be careful not to crosslap grants, eg if two grants are ... granted, and both allow provision for roof overhaul, one or both may demand a refund of that part, whereas if one is for roof and the other 'maintenance', we then have money for the roof and say fixing the lift. The lottery in particular seem militant about this aspect!
In practice this means we need to be as nonspecific as we can get away with on any given grant application, to allow flexibility on what we spend it on. Especially problematic given that we have no idea when we'll hear back about any of these, and we can't stagger applications by up to three months, using the lottery timeframe as a basis.
Specific Major Items
We should get quotes for the roof, in terms of both free consultancy, and showing that we have done research & retrieved numbers. Some committees will prefer to tick a number next to a problem rather than think about material costs and whether we can do it ourselves.
The lift is a good example of this. It's probably not something we can repair, and getting a number to it would be a good idea, especially as that could be covered by a number of possible grants. However I have absolutely no idea who we'd approach for quotes on that? I'm sure the landlord would be more than happy for us to do/arrange the repairs for him if we could, but would he potentially contribute, as with the ventilation?
The Lottery
Most of the really good lottery grants are Scotland specific, but Awards for All is UK wide and a viable option. Base success rate is 65% for applications under £5k, but considering their application volume and that our application is entirely within their stated goals, I have high hopes of success, so the issue becomes demonstrating that to their satisfaction in a small volume of words.
Apparently they use a point system internally. This page, while energy specific, shines light on their process near the end of the document; https://www.cse.org.uk/thesource/download/advice-on-making-an-application-for-a-community-based-energy-project-to-awards-for-all-340
More on what they look for:
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/er_eval_explaining_the_difference.pdf
Useful reading on the process: https://knowhownonprofit.org/how-to/how-to--guide <-- very handy
https://bigblogscotland.org.uk/2017/11/28/success-rates-autumn-2017/ (Scotland seem a lot more open about their info)
https://bigblogscotland.org.uk/2017/10/23/applying-for-funding-the-ultimate-guide/ (Scotland again, but same principles apply)
https://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2011/mar/21/perfect-funding-bids
Core tangible requirements for lottery funding: https://bigblogscotland.org.uk/2015/07/15/getting-your-group-ready-to-apply/
Intangibles are the problem. Mostly need to demonstrate need, emphasise the problems solved, community planning and involvement, and such.
If needed we can also demonstrate 'match funding' by using volunteer time, which we have in spades.
We can also phone or email them for advice pre-application, since they're the experts, free advice! Email turnaround is 'up to ten days'. Phone might be better...
The initial funding application has 10 budget sections, which we should utilise as best we can. Exact figures show thought and calculation, so we want to avoid round numbers - this is one of their criteria; planning, not guesswork!
They seem to want a clearly delineated 'project' with clear, clean objectives, start and end dates, and metrics we can use to indicate success. I'm currently thinking 'Makerspace Revitalisation Project'. 'Fiscal kick up the arse' was a close second option.
Initial thoughts for categories:
Lift Repair (low hanging fruit) Main Room Essentials (carpet, lighting) Workshop Roof Materials (membrane, wood, insulation. could make this an umbrella and cover ventilation too?) Other Construction Materials (ply, wood. initial thoughts are for rafter shelves, but leaving it ambiguous allows for general stock usage too) Workshop Equipment Tools and PPE Electronics Equipment
Less certain:
Dust Filtration (maybe air filtration?) Supplies and Consumables (whatever we can justify as 'house kit'. core essential supplies seem well within their remit - eg 'stationery' is fine) Kitchen Equipment (oven? might be worth just getting that ourselves tbh)
In the future, the lottery Communities grants seem to be under applied for; look at the Scotland statistics on that, 100% success rate as a result! Our version of that is currently offline until April but it looks like we again meet core criteria. This one is £10K plus however, so probably not too useful until we need to annex naughty sheep. https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/reaching-communities-england
Menshed
We seem to meet criteria, but the Asda/walmart affiliation bothers me a little. Apparently we'd have 'promotional obligations', whatever Asda decide that means. We do not need to rename ourselves to a Menshed by the looks of things.
Misc Notes
1. Focus on how you’ll spend this grant (not just on your group’s history, or your current work) It’s useful to give a short summary of what your group does at the start of your application. However, most of the form should be used to discuss what you will actually spend this specific grant on! We get a lot of applications that don’t do this. Instead they give us extensive information on the organisation’s history and general activities. But we mostly need to know what you will spend the grant on, why you want to do this, and what impact this will have. 2. Tell us how you know the community wants this We also get a lot of applications for projects that sound great, but where it’s not clear if they are a priority for the local community or the people involved. The best applications provide a range evidence that the local community or users of the project have had their say, and evidence of how this has been used to develop the idea to meet their needs. Some groups tell us about focus groups they’ve run, community consultation events or surveys. But sometimes its as simple as telling us that you’ve had a chat about the project with the people who are likely to be involved or affected, and used their view and suggestions to develop your plans.
CAS etc
https://www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk/support/your-organisation/funding/ We should see what this can offer (our area officer is Jayne). If someone chases this let me know, I'll get to it when I can otherwise.
The Unspecific Grant
What is needed for this 'up to £1,500' nameless grant? Can we try to define criteria so we can shoot for it?
Assuming it needs to take the form of an email with summarised budget headings, I'll tot up the Wishlist into categories. For reasons of overlap mentioned above, and frankly as we don't really know what the exact criteria actually are (if any!) this should be left as vague as we can get away with. If they ask for more information or breakdowns then it's easily provideable, and at least then we'd know what they actually want from us.
Workshop Tools and Equipment [this one is what it says on the tin, but what articles specifically is infinitely flexible] Main Room Tools and Equipment ? [title unsure. thinking this is electronics T&E but could also cover anything from a 3D printer to a PC] Essential Materials [intention is for core stock, but could cover building materials for rafter shelves etc] Maintenance and Improvement [intention workshop roof, but could flex to just about anything if something else later covers that specifically. Examples are carpet, lighting, oven, heck even the lift]
Overheads. [I have no idea if the grant can help with this? My feeling is not; many seem to want a static shopping list and an easy success metric, not 'threw money at and nothing changed']
Suffolk CF
http://suffolkcf.org.uk/apply/grants/
Insert shortlist here.
http://suffolkcf.org.uk/grant-making-guidelines/ http://suffolkcf.org.uk/grants/fonnereau-road-health-foundation-fund/ http://suffolkcf.org.uk/grants/working-together-awards/ <-- this one pays retrospectively. Not overly useful unless we can get agreement in principle.
