Local Action in Cornwall

How to Apply for Funding

WEST CORNWALL LOCAL ACTION GROUP

HOW TO APPLY

West Cornwall Local Action Group will consider funding for projects which improve the quality of rural life in rural areas, to enable local communities to diversify and strengthen their local economy, and gain better access to services and the environment.

Download the leaflet which summarises [West Cornwall Local Action Group Guidance]


PROJECT AREA

West Cornwall Local Action covers the areas which were the districts of Penwith and Kerrier except for Camborne, Pool and Redruth. 

The focus for grant aid is for projects in the rural area or where the project benefits people from the rural area. 

PRIORITIES

•  The highest priority for grant is in the areas of the Land’s End Area Forum MCTI and the South Kerrier Alliance MCTI plan.
  
  
• The Group particularly welcomes project proposals and grant applications from smaller groups.  (Please see the separate leaflets for Small Grants for Business and Small Community Projects)

What can projects do?

To stimulate rural innovation and enhance access to the environment

• Support to create innovative and alternative activities related to the land
• Promote the development of co-operatives and social enterprises to support the rural economy
• Develop community involvement restoration of historic features and access to the coast and moorland environment

To encourage the provision of bespoke rural workspace and build enterprise in rural areas

• Development of business hubs/village resource hubs and workspace
• Small Grants for Business to assist micro businesses and social enterprises
• Invest in rural retail services in areas of poor provision.

To improve quality of life and access to learning opportunities in rural areas

• Invest in improved community facilities
• Small Community Projects grants to deliver Community Plans
• To develop rural transport solutions to improve accessibility.

To derive sustainable socio-economic benefits from rural tourism activities

• Develop links between tourism products and services and local food economy

Specifics about the grant scheme

• Grants can be up to 100% of the eligible costs for voluntary organisations or social enterprises. 
• It is desirable that the applicant finds some of the money needed for the project.
• Use other more appropriate sources of grant support if available.
• Grants are a maximum of 50% of eligible costs for private businesses.
• Applications from smaller community led organisations are particularly encouraged.

• The minimum grant investment is £1000.
• Have applied for legal consents before a full application is made
• It is unlikely that grants will be for more than 3 years. 
• Projects must end by September 2013.
• All projects will be asked to send regular reports on their results.

SMALL GRANTS SCHEMES        (please contact the Local Action Manager)

Small Community Projects with a total value of less than £30,000 may apply for grant aid to support community initiatives identified in the community plans such as Parish Plans or MCTi Plans. 

Small Grants for Business
The grant scheme is open to new or developing micro businesses and social enterprises with less than ten employees.  small grants for business


PROJECT ASSISTANCE
Contact Clare Leverton, West Cornwall Local Action Manager for help and advice.

Application process

You will need to complete the expression of interest form to tell us about your organisation and the project you want to do.
Expression of Interest Form

Please use the West Cornwall Local Action Group Guidance Leaflet to help you complete this form [West Cornwall Local Action Group Guidance]

Once you’ve completed the expression of interest form, send it by email

Next steps

Once you have sent back the expression of interest form, the Local Action Group Manager will assess eligibility. You may be contacted to supply further information or to give clarification on points.

The expression of interest is discussed at the Local Action Group meeting. These meetings take place regularly throughout the year, and it is important to get your complete expression of interest to us in good time before the meeting. The Local Action Group manager can advise you on the timescales.

A decision will be communicated to you after the meeting – either inviting the application (at which time an application form will be sent), deferring to allow further development work to be done, or rejecting.

If you are invited to application, you will then need to complete the application form that is sent to you, and return it to the Local Action Group Manager. It’s important for you to keep in contact with the Local Action Group Manager so that if you have any problems or concerns, they can be dealt with speedily.

Once you’ve submitted your application form, the project is then appraised, and papers prepared for a discussion at the Local Action Group meeting. In making its decision on funding, the Group will consider if the package proposed is reasonable considering the size, scale and scope of the project and the applicant, other funding available and risk. The Group will assess against fit with the Group’s Strategy and main RDPE priorities. This stage may take up to 6 weeks.

The Local Action Group members include local council representatives, private sector business, community groups and fora, voluntary sector representatives.

Are you completing the right form? The form on this page is for the main West Cornwall Local Action Group main fund.

Click on Small Grants pages or go to the map on our Home Page for details about the programmes for East Cornwall Local Action Group and Clay Country Local Action.