Grant application and eligibility guidelines

    Who we support
    We support local charities, community and voluntary groups and social enterprises in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We award not for profit community groups and social enterprises who are making a positive impact to the local people in their area. Our aim is to overcome challenges of disadvantage, exclusion and poverty for all ages. We welcome applications from both new and established groups.

    Who can apply?
    Not for profit community groups or social enterprises (you don’t need to be a registered charity but your activities must be considered charitable) operating in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

    Grant guidelines

    All applications received must be accompanied by copies of the required supporting documents listed below. To make the process as simple as possible, repeat applicants do not have to resubmit copies of their governing documents or policies if we have received these within the last three years unless revisions have been made, but up to date financial information will be required.

    • Constitution, Articles of Association or a set of governing rules which outlines the objectives of the organisation.
    • Confirmation you have a minimum of three unrelated members on your Management Committee or if you are a Registered Charity/Social Enterprise we ask there are three unrelated Trustees/Directors registered with the Charity Commission/Companies House.
    • Please ensure your details are registered with the Charity Commission/Companies House are up to date if you are a Registered Charity or a Charitable Incorporated Organisation
    • Safeguarding Policy and Procedures which should contain:
      • The name and contact telephone number for the organisation’s Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO)
      • Reference to the different types and signs of abuse.
      • The organisation’s reporting procedure for safeguarding concerns.
      • Reference to the organisation’s safe recruitment practices (e.g. DBS checks) for those working directly with children and/or adults at risk, including volunteers.
      • This policy should have been reviewed within the last 3 years and show the date of this review.
    • Most recent end-of-year accounts –
      • If your organisation has a large amount of unrestricted reserves, it may be given lower priority for funding, and we may ask to see a copy of your organisation’s Reserves Policy.
    • Bank statement no more than three months old clearly displaying details of the account name, number and sort code. We would also expect all signatories to be unrelated and live at different addresses.
    • Occasionally, we may require a written reference from an independent referee

    Sorry, we do not fund:

    • Commercial profit making organisations
    • Organisations with significant free reserves
    • Statutory/public sector organisations such as health authorities, schools, hospitals, parish and town councils
    • Contributions to an endowment, payment of deficit funding or repayment of loans
    • Grant making organisations or bodies who fundraise or distribute grants on behalf of other organisations
    • Retrospective grants
    • Regional offices of national bodies that do not benefit local people
    • Organisations whose beneficiaries are not people
    • Organisations or projects intended to influence people’s religious choices or to promote a particular belief system
    • The promotion of political causes