Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Can I apply for funding?
- How much can I apply for?
- What is the deadline?
- When will I know the outcome of my application?
- If my application is successful, when will I receive the money?
- What is 'the funding year'?
- What will the county council fund?
- Is there anything that the county council does not fund?
- Is the application pack available in alternative formats?
- Can you help me with my application form?
- What is the application process?
- Can you tell me about other sources of funding?
Can I apply for funding?
Have you checked the general eligibility criteria? If not, you need to check this before you begin completing your application. In addition to meeting ALL of the general eligibility criteria, you must also be able to show how your application contributes towards at least one of the county council's corporate objectives.
How much can I apply for?
There is no limit for how much you can apply for and we normally advise people to apply for what they need in order for their project or activity to be a success. However, if you are applying for a Green Partnership Award, you should bear in mind that grants for that are typically around £500 or less. You should also note that for larger, strategic grants, an average allocation is between £12,000 and £25,000.
What is the deadline?
Only strategic grant applications have a deadline. All applications for strategic funding must be submitted by no later than 21 December of the preceding calendar year. This is to ensure enough time is available for the proper processing and reporting of the application. Generally, the VCFS Cabinet Working Group meets once every 2 months and applications should ideally be submitted at least four weeks before the next meeting. To be sure, contact us and check.
When will I know the outcome of my application?
We aim to let applicants know about the outcome of their application as soon as possible after the decision has been made official by the cabinet member responsible for the budget. Usually this is within two weeks of the meeting of the VCFS Cabinet Working Group but sometimes, because of procedures that the county council has to follow by law, this takes a little longer.
If my application is successful, when will I receive the money?
Grants are usually paid in two equal instalments, one at the beginning of July and one at the beginning of January. July to June is the county council's ‘funding year'. If you are applying for a Green Partnership Award, payments may be made differently.
What is the 'funding year'?
The funding year is distinct from the financial year in that it starts on 1 July and ends on 30 June. This has been done in order that those organisations who received a multi-year funding agreement (for example £20,000 per year for three years) are certain to receive funding for at least the first three months of the financial year in which their agreement ends. This is designed to give an organisation enough time to find out whether they will receive continued funding once that agreement ends.
What will the county council fund?
The county council funds a variety of different initiatives and it is difficult to make a proper assessment until an application is actually submitted. However, if you take a look at the relevant information sections for each of the county council's directorates, they should give you at least an idea of what types of activity we fund. A broad rule of thumb is that the county council funds areas related to its core business and services.
Is there anything that the county council does not fund?
Again, this is difficult to answer directly. However, examples of activities that have been unsuccessful include medical and other health treatments (including holistic or alternative therapies); building work or renovation; sports activity; areas where county council provision already exists. The county council specifically does not fund faith (religious) activity (but does fund non-faith activity carried out by faith organisations), or activity not taking place within the county of Lancashire. If you're not sure, check with the us before you begin your application.
Is the application pack available in other formats?
The application pack can be produced in other formats, just contact us for more details.
Can you help me with my application form?
Yes. Although most questions can be answered over the phone or via email, Officers are available to meet with you if you feel it is necessary to discuss your application and give advice on how best to complete the form. Officers cannot advise you on how to be successful, only on how best to complete your form.
What is the application process?
Once your application has been received, officers in the directorate most relevant to your application assess the information that you have provided and produce a report. That report is then presented to the VCFS Cabinet Working Group, which consists of cabinet members. The cabinet members discuss the applications that have been presented and make recommendations, based partly on officer advice, on which applications to fund and which to not.
After that a further report is presented to the cabinet member who is responsible for the budget from which any funding might be paid. Once the cabinet member has ‘signed off' that report, the decision is official. It is only after this that officers can inform you of the decision.
Can you tell me about other sources of funding?
Contact us for some basic information on possible alternative sources of funding, but your best option is to contact your local Council for Voluntary Service.
If you are applying for a Green Partnership Award, click here: http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/grants/GPA/gpa.asp