General eligibility criteria for central and local gateway grants

Your organisation must show that its activity will directly contribute to delivering one or more of our corporate objectives. These objectives are to make Lancashire a place where people can:

feel safe for example by:

• preventing crime and disorder and encouraging feelings of confidence
• making Lancashire a safe place to live and work

live healthy lives for example by:

• giving everyone in Lancashire the chance of better health
• promoting good health with children, young people and families
• helping people live as independently as they can
• making Lancashire a healthier place to live

get help when needed for example by:

• helping children and young people
• helping vulnerable adults, older or disabled people live as independently as they can
• providing information and advice to help people in a wide range of situations

learn and develop for example by:

• developing a love of learning in children, young people and families
• providing opportunities for people to go on learning throughout their lives

have jobs and a good standard of living for example by:

• developing the county's economy
• making Lancashire a place where business can grow and stay
• emphasising the importance of learning to the economy
• helping disadvantaged people get jobs and a decent standard of living

travel easily and safely for example by:

• making travelling in Lancashire as safe as possible
• encouraging people to use public transport.

enjoy a high quality environment for example by:

• making sure that activities take the long-term care of the environment into account
• helping revive run-down urban areas and isolated rural ones
• promoting Lancashire's heritage and culture
• following 'green' practices, to look after the environment now and for future generations.

In addition to the corporate objectives, applicants must satisfy the general criteria below:

• The activity will directly benefit, and have clear, positive outcomes for the people of Lancashire.
• The activity will directly contribute to meeting countywide or district specific issues as highlighted in this toolkit.
• Applications for funding in support of working directly with children or vulnerable adults will only be accepted from organisations with child/vulnerable adult protection polices AND full Criminal Records Bureau clearance for the individuals involved (see policy contained within this toolkit).
• The activity will help to build cohesive communities and promote social inclusion
• The organisation is committed to the principles of equality of opportunity. Larger organisations should have or be working towards an equal opportunities and inclusion policy.
• The organisation is committed to the principles of sustainability. Larger organisations should have or be working towards an environmental policy.
• The organisation is committed to involving service users in developing its activities and services.
• The application for funding represents value for money, as defined in our Code of Good Practice on Funding and is in line with the principles of the Compact and the Code of Funding. Where appropriate, the application includes a commitment to Best Value and seeks opportunities for other sources of funding, match funding and joint working.
• The organisation is a not-for-profit organisation.
• The organisation has a set of rules, constitution or governing code.
• Statutory organisations are not eligible to apply, for example parish and town councils.
• Any application that is unlawful or is contrary to county council policies and procedures will not be funded.
• The organisation has a bank account in its own name with at least two authorised signatories who are not related to each other.
• The minimum figure for applying to the scheme is set at £1,000; there is no maximum threshold.

Applicants are advised to consider the priorities of each of the directorates/service areas before completing their application.

The organisation has a bank account in its own name with at least two unrelated authorised signatories. For advice and help please see the section on opening a bank account.

Some directorates have individual requirements and conditions. It is important that you consider these before applying. Please see the glossary of terms for the meaning of some of the words used in these criteria