Download - RuralActionEast.uk
Contents Introduction
• Rural Community Councils• Rural Action East
Overview of Landfill Tax Credit Scheme Biffaward Scheme
• Project criteria Application Process
• Finances• Expression of Interest• Full Application
– Assessment criteria
Rural Community Councils Network of independent charities
• One in each of six counties of East of England– Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex,
Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk
Considerable experience & sustainability• 10 to 85 years in our region
Whole county coverage• Community development services• Extensive network of out-reach workers
Specialised rural focus
Rural Action East Regional umbrella organisation
• Members are six county RCCs Autonomous charity Entrust Enrolled Environmental Body Regional representation & policy development Management of regional projects
– Biffaward; ChangeUp; LSC Training; Comm Champ Fund; MTI
Facilitate RCC collaboration• Policy; Best practice; Research; Reports/Papers; Data
Landfill Tax Credit Scheme Introduced on 1 October 1996 Landfill site operators donates up to 6% of
tax towards environmental projects Regulator ENTRUST (HM Revenue &
Customs) Eligibility - A project must:
• Be within ten miles of a landfill site Variety of types of projects or Objects Each land fill operator has own approach to
LTCS, eg WREN, Virador, Biffa, etc
Object D: Quality of LifeFor the protection of the environment
or the provision maintenance or improvement of a public park or another public amenity
Public amenity is one that is:• Open for a minimum of two full days
per week, four evenings or twelve weeks per year, 104 days a year
Object E: EnvironmentFor the protection of the
environment, the maintenance, repair or restoration of a building or other structure, which is a place of religious worship or of historic or architectural interest• The project must also meet the
minimum access requirements
Object DA: Bio-diversityFor the protection of the environment and
the conservation or promotion of biological diversity through:
Provision, conservation, restoration or enhancement of a natural habitat
Maintenance or recovery of a species in its natural habitat• There are no access requirements. Work
can take place on private land
Grants Available Small Grants Scheme £250 - £5,000
• Small simple projects• Apply direct to Royal Society for Wildlife Trust
Main Grants £5,000 - £50,000• Major projects for community facilities: Recreation;
Sports; Lifelong learning; and Community development• Apply via Rural Action East
Flagship £150,000 - £500,000• Nationally or regionally significant voluntary sector led
regeneration or biodiversity projects• Discuss with Royal Society for Wildlife Trust
All need minimum 10% (cash) third party funding
Biffaward Aims Projects that show an innovative use of a
community amenity to enhance, maintain or introduce real community led social, economic or environmental improvements• An emphasis on sustainable communities• Capital funding
Type of projects supported:• village halls, skate parks, nature reserves, community
rooms, museum education rooms, voluntary sector led sporting facilities, internet cafes, green spaces, historic parks, provision for children and teenagers, community gardens, cemeteries and churchyards, civic spaces, species restoration
Funding CriteriaObjects D & E - Community Community benefit & engagement
• Involvement of & benefit to local community
Innovative & good practice• Expands existing services• Provides new services (lack of alternatives nearby)
Quality of life impact• Social &/or economic
Partnership Success measurements / outcome driven
Funding CriteriaObjects DA - Biodiversity Consistent & supplementary to other
initiatives• Consistent with county Biodiversity Action Plan
Holistic approach to bio-diversity• Conservation & promotion
Natural habitat• Provision, restoration, enhancement
Partnership approach
Eligible Applicants & Projects
Community Groups Local Auth – not statutory duties Sports & Social Clubs – free access? Discrete identifiable item(s) (capital) In combination with other grants, including
other LTCS, eg Biffaward + WREN Not Disability Discrimination Act Not buses Not running costs
East of England Organisations Royal Society for Wildlife Trusts (RSWT)
• National administrator on behalf of Biffa Waste Services plc• Small Grants <£5,000, fast-track process
Rural Action East• Entrust Enrolled Environmental Body• Formal Main Grant applicant on behalf of community
Regional Partnership• Regional Assessment Panel• Government Office, EEDA, Sport England, Royal Society of
Wildlife Trusts and Rural Community Councils Rural Community Council
• Out-reach support to Community– Application process– Project delivery
East of England Process Project Summary (Expression of Interest) Regional Assessment Panel
• Local knowledge & priorities• Consider, review and recommend
Full Main Grant Application• Administered by RSWT
National Biffaward Board• Decide & make award
Quarterly bidding rounds• Expect ~6 months from application to receipt of award
FinancesMain Grants
• Community can receive £4,545 to £45,454• Business case if project total cost >£50k
Not running costsFees
– Entrust 2% (additional funding from Biffaward)– Rural Action East 10%– Third Party Funding: min 10% in cash– Beware VAT
Application Success Criteria
Extent of demonstrated community need, eg
– Parish Plans, Mkt Town Health Checks, surveys, etc– Village Hall Advisor review– Deprivation, exclusion, loss of services
Involvement of community in implementation & sustainability
Value & benefit of asset provision or improvement
Sound finances / value for money
Grant Assessment Criterion #1
Project meets community need Beneficiaries
• Identified• Needs analysed
Relationship to other service provision• Gap; Additionality; Evidence based
Communications• Context of proposals• Exchange best practice
Correct response to need
Grant Assessment Criterion #2
Project Management Capacity to handle flow of funds Experience in managing similar projects Impact on staff numbers Clear & realistic project aims & objectives Project plan & exit strategy
• Ready to start (less than 6 months)• Complete (less than 2 years)
Grant Assessment Criterion #3
Budget Quality
• Complete, accurate, soundly based (~3 quotations) Projected income
• Realistically achievable Matched funding
• Secured (Biffaward may caveat offer on clarification)
Value for money
Grant Assessment Criterion #4a
Project Quality – Objects D & E Innovative & good practice
• Expands existing services• Provides new services
Community benefit & engagement• Involvement of & benefit to local community
Quality of life• Social &/or economic
Partnership Success measurements / outcome driven