Grant Policy 2026-2027

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General Grants
Policy & Procedure
Approved By the Town Council 19 December 2022
Reviewed and amended 23 March 2026
(for grants applied for and awarded in financial year 2026/2027)

(next review due March 2027)

This policy sets out the Town Council’s policy and procedure regarding the awarding of
grants

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Introduction
North Petherton Town Council has a small budget each year to provide financial support
to local organisations who have charitable objectives and operate on a not-for profit
basis; the support can be towards the cost of running the group, projects or events
provided that there is a clear, direct benefit to people who live withing the area covered
by North Petherton Town Council.
Note: in this context local means that the organisation is based within the North
Petherton Town Council area or that it provides services / activities specifically for
people who live withing the area covered by North Petherton Town Council.

Grants awarded through this process are drawn from a limited budget and are intended
to attract applications for limited amounts. Apart from in exceptional circumstances, only
one application from an organisation will be considered per calendar year.

The Town Council will need to be satisfied that the grant money will be used effectively
and that it is well managed; where external suppliers are being used multiple quotations
i.e. at least 2 and preferably 3 should be obtained.

If the application is successful, the Town Council will expect its contribution to be
acknowledged in all publicity about the project.

Town Councillors may wish to visit the project/scheme and the Town Council will require
written feedback at the conclusion of the project or after 12 months of receiving the
grant, detailing how the money has been spent and describing how the objectives were
achieved. Reports should be accompanied by supporting evidence where appropriate
failure to comply with this condition will result in future applications being rejected.

Who Can Apply?
Any organisation based in the area covered by North Petherton Town Council and/or
providing direct benefit to residents of the area covered by North Petherton Town
Council can apply to the Town Council for a grant.
Grants to national organisations will only be made to local branches where the grant can
be seen to directly benefit residents of the area covered by North Petherton Town
Council.

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Grant applications will NOT be considered from:
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Private business ventures
Other local authorities
Any political body
Pressure or lobbying groups

Grants are not usually awarded for money making or sales ventures but this may be
relaxed in exceptional circumstances.

The Town Council will consider making grants to voluntary, non-profit making groups
and organisations operating in its area in the following circumstances:
a. Where the grant will facilitate the provision of sports, recreational and
social facilities; (Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1976)
b. Where the grant will be in the interests of, or bring direct benefit to, the
area or its inhabitants (Sec 137 Local Government Act 1972); or
c. Where the grant represents a cost-effective way of providing a service
which could be provided by the Town Council or meeting one or more of
its policy objectives.
Grant applications will not normally be considered from organisations who have already
received a grant in the same financial year.

The Town Council requires any organisation applying for a grant to comply with the spirit
and letter of the law in respect of providing an equal and non-discriminatory service to all
those eligible for its services. Any evidence that this is not the case will disqualify an
organisation from being offered a grant, or of a grant has already been offered will result
in the offer being rescinded.

The law does not allow the Town Council to give grants to individuals.

What Can A Grant Be Used For?
A grant can be used for a project, activity, event, or service provision.

The Town Council would normally expect its grant to support a project rather than to
meet administrative expenses.

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Other than in exceptional circumstances the Town Council will not fund:
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Running costs
Projects which are properly the subject of statutory funding
Retrospective applications

How Much Money Can Be Requested?
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If the total cost of the project is less than £250.00 the grant application can be for
100% of the project costs
For projects costing over £250.00 the grant application should not exceed 50% of
the total cost of the project
Support for larger projects can be discussed outside of the regular grant making
process and such enquiries should be directed to the Town Clerk

How to Make a Grant Application
1. There will be two or three grant rounds in each financial year, the timing of which
will be determined by the Town Clerk, but there will be an period of at least 1
month from the application form being made available until the closing date for
the receipt of completed application forms. Any grant applications received after
the advertised closing date will not be considered during that funding round.
2. The Town Council will look at each application on its merits, but will expect the
application to show how the project / service will benefit the community. The
application should also show that reasonable efforts are being made to raise the
balance of funding and how value for money is being achieved..
3. Applications should be submitted on the Town Council’s grant application form
which is available from the Town Council office and the Town Council’s website.
Application Forms must be accompanied by the following documents and
information:
• the most recent audited or certified accounts including the balance sheet
• a copy of the organisation’s constitution or rules
• information that demonstrates the project / activity / event / service has
been sensibly costed and planned
• Evidence of how many people from the North Petherton Town Council area
are involved with the project or supported by the service and what
proportion of their membership / clientele that represents
4. Applications should be submitted electronically in a typed format unless agreed
differently with the Town Clerk.
5. If you are in any doubt, contact the Town Council office and ask for help or
guidance.
What Happens Next?

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All grants are considered on their merits, usually by the Resources Committee. Members
of the Committee will be provided with a copy of the grant application and supporting
documentation. The Town Council may request an organisation to attend a meeting to
make a presentation on the work of their organisation and / or their grant application.

Council and Committee meetings are open to the public and there is a section available
for public questions and statements.

Applications will be acknowledged, and applicants will be told the date of the meeting at
which it will be considered.
Organisations will be advised, in writing of the outcome of their application.

If a group or organisation decides that they would like to use the grant for any purpose
other than that specified on the application form then it must first obtain the consent of
the Town Council.

The Town Council reserves the right to withdraw the grant offer or to seek
reimbursement as appropriate in the event of an organisation’s failure to comply with any
conditions of an awarded grant.