Cost of Living Small Grants Application Form
About the fund
The Cost of Living Small Grants Scheme provides grants of up to £5,000 to organisations delivering projects that support residents experiencing financial hardship and cost of living pressures within the Braintree District.
The scheme aims to support practical, community-led solutions that improve financial resilience, increase access to essential services and help residents manage the challenges associated with the cost of living.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and will remain open until all available funding has been allocated.
Cost of Living Programme Objectives
Projects should contribute to one or more of the following objectives:
- To provide food security and access to essential goods across the district, making it easier for everyone to reach, including those living in our most rural areas.
- To help the most vulnerable by supporting community groups and organisations to do more. These groups are already doing some incredible work and are well placed to identify and support those who need help most.
- To enable physical and emotional health and wellbeing for anyone, especially young people, struggling to afford vital access to leisure activities and sports clubs.
Priority areas
Projects should contribute to one or more of the following objectives:
- Fuel and Energy Poverty
- Financial Resilience
- Food and Essentials
- Health and Wellbeing Access
- Winter Resilience
Small Grants – up to £5,000
Applications can be submitted at any time and will be assessed on a rolling basis. The scheme will remain open until all available funding has been allocated.
Who can apply?
Applications will be considered from:
- Registered Charities
- Voluntary and Community Organisations
- Sports Clubs
- Parish and Town Councils who are actively responding to the needs of vulnerable people in Braintree District communities
- Faith Groups
- Social and Community Enterprises
Applications will not be considered from:
- People applying for personal needs on an individual basis
- For-profit businesses
- Informal Groups
What can be funded?
Funding can support both revenue and capital costs where they contribute to the objectives of the Cost of Living Programme.
Examples include:
Capital Costs
- IT equipment
- Sports and leisure equipment
- Disabled access equipment or facilities
- Essential equipment required to deliver a project
- Promotional materials directly related to the project
Revenue Costs
- Staffing costs
- Volunteer expenses
- Venue hire and rent
- Project and activity costs
- Community events where the primary purpose is to support residents experiencing cost of living pressures
- New or existing projects (new projects are encouraged)
What cannot be funded?
The following will not normally be eligible for funding:
General Exclusions
- Retrospective costs (costs already incurred before a funding decision is made)
- Repayment of loans, interest charges or finance costs
- Recoverable VAT
- Contingency costs
- Fundraising activies
- General appeals for funds
- Endowments
- Statutory obligations
- Ordinary activities of a statutory body
Project Exclusions
- Purchase of alcohol
- Projects that mainly benefit an individual rather than the wider community
- Projects taking place outside the Braintree District
- Projects that do not primarily benefit Braintree District residents
- Projects promoting a political viewpoint
- Projects directly promoting a religious belief
- Projects that would be entirely reliant on ongoing grant funding
- CCTV projects
Grant Amounts
Grants of up to £5,000 are available.
Applications requesting smaller amounts are welcome.
Organisations may be asked to demonstrate value for money and provide a clear breakdown of proposed expenditure.
Process
Applications should be submitted online via the Cost of Living Small Grants Application Form.
- If you require a hard copy, please contact michael.graham@braintree.gov.uk
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and will remain open until all available funding has been allocated.
- The Council will consider existing provision and previously funded projects when assessing applications. Where similar activities are already being delivered within the same community, applicants may be asked to demonstrate how their project provides additional benefit or meets an unmet need.
- Applications will first be assessed against the eligibility criteria and will then be scored using the scoring matrix set out within this guidance.
- The Council may contact applicants to request additional information or clarification as part of the assessment process.
- Applicants will be notified of the outcome by email.
- Successful applicants will be required to sign and return a Grant Agreement before funding is released.
- Grant payments will be made by BACS.
- Funding must only be used for the purposes outlined in the approved application and Grant Agreement. The Council reserves the right to reclaim part or all of the grant where funding is not used as agreed.
Scoring Matrix
Applications will be assessed using the following scoring criteria. Each criterion will be scored from 0-5, giving a maximum possible score of 30.
Aims/Objectives (0-5)
The extent to which the project has clear aims and intended outcomes.
Monitoring (0-5)
The extent to which outcomes can be measured and evidenced.
Timescales (0-5)
The extent to which the proposed timescales are realistic and achievable.
Outline Costs (0-5)
The extent to which costs are clear, reasonable and represent value for money.
Risks (0-5)
The extent to which risks have been identified and appropriate mitigations are in place.
Identified Need (0-5)
The extent to which evidence has been provided demonstrating demand or need for the project.
Maximum Score: 30
Grant Conditions
- Funding must only be used for the approved purpose.
- Funding must normally be spent within six months of the grant being awarded unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Council.
- Successful applicants may be required to provide information on the outcomes achieved through their project, including details of how funding was spent and the benefits delivered to residents. Monitoring requirements will be determined based on the nature and value of the project.
- The Council reserves the right to request evidence of expenditure.
- The Council reserves the right to reclaim funding not used for the approved purpose.
