Grant Funding - General Information
In considering applications for grant aid, Environment Wales will give priority to projects:
• which are working in partnership with other organisations;
• which are innovative or collaborative, and could be used as a model elsewhere;
• which encourage and support the participation of communities in local sustainable development;
• where a grant would raise the quality of work and achieve greater benefits for the environment;
• where a grant may increase the potential to raise income through a project
All project applications must have volunteer input and be able to clearly demonstrate how they meet with 1 or more of the 4 key Environment Wales goals on page 1.
Match Funding Requirement
Environment Wales can fund up to 75% of project costs. This means that at least 25% of costs must be met from other sources. Environment Wales recognises the importance of volunteer input to projects and records this as if it were a cash value (volunteer contribution is currently costed at £6.50 / hour). If there is sufficient volunteer time on a proposed project, smaller groups may use this contribution to make up the 25% match funding requirement. Larger groups will be expected to meet at least some of this requirement from other sources, which can include other funders, own resources or income-generation. Match funding can also be provided in-kind.
Limit on funding from Welsh Assembly Government Sources
Environment Wales is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, which is keen to encourage projects to secure support from a range of other sources. Groups need to demonstrate therefore that the total amount of funding for their project coming from Welsh Assembly Government sources does not exceed 75% of the total costs.
Other organisations providing funds that originate from the Welsh Assembly Government include the Countryside Council for Wales, Wales Tourist Board, and some WCVA grants including the "Volunteering in Wales" fund.
Capital items
In compliance with the Welsh Assembly Government's audit requirements, details of any capital items over a certain value purchased with grants from Environment Wales will be registered. At present, the threshold value is £1,000.
Grant Timeframe
Grants must be spent within the financial year in which they are awarded. Any sum left unspent at the end of a financial year must be reclaimed and returned to the Welsh Assembly Government. This money would then be lost to the voluntary sector. If there is a danger that you will be unable to use your grant before the end of the financial year, you MUST inform your Development Officer immediately.
The Application Process
If you wish to apply for Environment Wales funding, your Development Officer will be happy to talk through your ideas and to provide the necessary forms and guidance notes. Please allow time for discussion, and perhaps revision, of your application before it is submitted.
No application can be considered until it has been counter-signed by a Development Officer and is received at the Cardiff office along with all requested supporting information.
Training Support Grants
Applications for Training Support Grants are considered by the Environment Wales Co-ordinator. Applicants can expect to receive a decision within 20 working days.
Project and Pre-Project grants
Applications for Project and Pre-Project grants are considered by the Environment Wales Grants Advisory Panel. The Panel meets roughly every 5 weeks until funds are exhausted (as the Environment Wales grant year begins in April, with the first Panel meeting being held in March, funds are often completely allocated by December each year). Applications may be submitted at any time but must be received at least 3 weeks in advance of the Panel meeting at which they will be discussed. Your Development Officer can confirm the relevant deadline dates.
The Panel can approve, decline or defer applications. If an application is deferred - for example if more information is requested - it will be discussed again once all necessary details have been supplied and a decision will then be taken. Applications can also be ‘approved on condition' - for example if a crucial piece of information, such as planning permission, has been promised but not yet delivered. In such cases, the Co-ordinator can decide if the condition has been met and authorise the grant - there is no need for the application to wait until the next Panel meeting.
Applicants will be informed of the Panel's decisions usually within 5 working days of the Panel meeting.
Management grants
Applications for Management grants are considered annually. The deadline for applications is 31 October each year, with successful applicants being notified in early February, and receiving funding in April, of the following year.
Grant Payments
All Environment Wales grants are subject to WCVA terms and conditions, which are available from the Environment Wales Office and the WCVA website (http://www.wcva.org.uk/grants/dsp_grant_scheme.cfm?display_sitetextid=64&grantid=20). Project, Pre-Project and Management Grants are normally paid quarterly in advance. Training grants are always paid in arrears. Payment is made by BACS.
Reporting on Grant-aided work
As part of the grant application, projects submit targets that they hope to reach in the course of their grant-aided work. The targets measure:
• Number of volunteers:
• Number of volunteer weeks: (a volunteer week is calculated as being 40 volunteer hours)
• Number of jobs created or safeguarded:
• Other funding that the project is able to draw in: (in cash or in kind, from public or private sources)
Progress against these targets will be measured at two points during the year by your Development Officer. Grant recipients are also required to sign ‘Green and Blues' - Certificates of Expenditure and Targets - twice a year. The Green form asks projects to confirm that the grant is being spent in line with the original application, whilst the Blue form measures progress on targets.
NB: Targets are not requested or monitored for Training Support.