Who can apply?

Main Grants Programme (£10,000- £300,000*)

Voluntary and community organisations and groups

Most voluntary and community organisations and groups working to regenerate
coalfield communities are eligible to apply to us for funding this includes
statutory bodies such as local authorities. Please note that we process
applications from Parish, Town and Community Councils in the same way as
we process applications from voluntary organisations and community groups.
We may make grants to voluntary and community organisations and groups
including Community Interest Companies and Social Enterprises, providing
business plans are in place and the activity will not result in personal/private
benefit and delivers a recognised social benefit, if they have the following:

a constitution or a set of rules to show that the group is legally eligible to
receive a grant and entitled to run the planned project. The constitution must
also have an acceptable ‘dissolution’ clause, which guarantees that any
assets purchased with a grant from the Trust are kept for the benefit of the
community.
Have a bank or building society account in the organisation’s name, with the
signatures of at least two members of the group needed for each cheque or
payment. (Please note that it is good financial practice to make sure that
these people are not related).
Have up-to-date annual accounts (for groups that have been established for
more than 12 months), or a 12-month cash-flow forecast for new
organisations (less than 12 months old), which are presented and
audited/approved in line with Charity Commission guidelines and/or their
constitution.

Branches of voluntary and community organisations

We can accept applications from branches of larger organisations, including
national bodies, as long as the branch has:

Its own independent constitution and separate company registration number
from the national body (where applicable)
A bank or building society account in the name of the branch
Independent accounts in the name of the branch
A management board or committee which can operate independently of the
national body
Independent policies and procedures
No financial dependence on the national body

Statutory organisations

Statutory organisations include:

local authorities
health authorities, including health trusts
schools and further-education colleges
other organisations that receive public funds

Statutory organisations will only be supported when it is clear that there is no
other organisation within the community with the capacity to manage and
deliver the project effectively in the target area.

Who cannot apply for funding

The following are not eligible to receive support:
• Individuals.
• Private businesses.
• Organisations that we believe are in a poor financial position or whose
financial management systems are not in good order. We will base our
opinion on an organisation’s financial position and management systems, an
analysis of their accounts, other management information and interviews with
the organisation itself.
• Voluntary and community organisations and groups who hold ‘free reserves’
that total more than 12 months’ operating costs and who are not contributing
enough funds to the project. We will assess how much money the
organisation has available in free reserves using information from their
accounts. (Free reserves are the amounts of money an organisation hold that
are not restricted by any other funder for any other purpose and do not
include fixed assets i.e. the value of buildings).
• Organisations whose purpose is to raise funds for a specific project
• ‘Friends of groups’ where the end beneficiary will clearly be a statutory body.
• Organisations not established in the UK.
• Pigeon (flying) clubs.

Ineligible applications

Applications are not eligible for consideration by the Trust if:
• they do not meet our funding themes or charitable objectives.
• the project beneficiaries are located outside our recognised coalfield
communities.
• they are entirely or mainly set up to promote religious or political beliefs.
• the activity is a statutory responsibility, or a replacement for statutory
provision
• funding is to be used to exclusively draw down landfill tax credits.
• the activity shows a conflict of interest with the applicant group.
• it will result in individuals personal gain / benefit.
• previous grants have been unsatisfactorily managed.
• an organisation/group has previously received 6 years funding for the same
activity or more than one capital grant within a CRT funding period.

* In England the Main Grants programme is for grants between £10,000 - £ 300,00, in Scotland and Wales the programme is for grants between £10,000 - £100,000

More detail on who is eligible to apply is contained in our Main Grants Information Booklet or contact our regional office in your area.

Bridging the Gap Grants Programme (£500-£5,000 in England and £10,000 in Scotland and Wales)

Voluntary and community organisations and groups

Most voluntary and community organisations and groups working to regenerate
coalfield communities are eligible to apply to us for funding.
We may make grants to voluntary and community organisations and groups if
they have the following:
(This includes community interest companies and social enterprises providing
the activity will not result in personal / private gain and delivers a recognised
social benefit).
• A constitution or a set of rules to show that the group is legally eligible to
receive a grant and is entitled to run the planned project. The constitution
must also have an acceptable ‘dissolution’ clause, which guarantees that any
assets purchased with a grant from the Trust are kept for the benefit of the
community even if the group comes to an end or is ‘dissolved’.
• A bank or building society account in the organisation’s name, with the
signatures of at least two members of the group needed for each cheque or
payment (Please note that it is good financial practice to make sure that
these people are not related).
• Annual accounts (for groups that have been established for more than 12-
months), or a 12-month cash-flow forecast for new organisations (less than
12 months old), which are presented and audited/approved in line with
Charity Commission guidelines and/or their constitution.
Branches of voluntary and community organisations
We can accept applications from branches of larger organisations, as long as
the branch has:
• Its own independent constitution and separate company registration number
from the national body (where applicable)
• A bank or building society account in the name of the branch
• Independent accounts in the name of the branch
• A management board or committee which can operate independently of the
national body.
• Independent policies and procedures
• No financial dependence on the national body

Who cannot apply for funding?

The following are not eligible to receive support:
• Individuals.
• Private businesses.
• Statutory bodies.
• National organisations.
• Parish, town and community councils.
• Organisations with total income (from all sources) above £100,000.
• Organisations that we believe are in a poor financial position or whose
financial management systems are not in good order.
• Organisations whose purpose is to raise funds for a specific project.
• “Friends of Groups” where the end beneficiary will clearly be a statutory
body.
• Pigeon (Flying) Clubs.
• Organisations not established in the UK.

Ineligible applications

Applications are not eligible for consideration by the Trust if:
• they do not meet our funding themes or charitable objectives.
• the project beneficiaries are located outside our recognised coalfield
communities.
• they are entirely or mainly set up to promote religious or political beliefs.
• the activity is a statutory responsibility, or a replacement for statutory
provision
• funding is to be used to exclusively draw down landfill tax credits.
• the activity conflicts with the interest of the applicant group.
• it will result in individuals personal gain / benefit.
• previous grants have been unsatisfactorily managed.
• the project will take more than twelve months to complete.
• the grant request is for a contribution towards a larger project with costs in
excess of £100,000.

More detail on who is eligible to apply is contained in our Bridging The Gap Information Booklet or contact our regional office in your area.