Funding Available

The Sustainable Development Fund provides funding that is classified as either a Small Grant or a Large Grant.

• A small grant is suitable for a project requesting between £100 and £5,000
• A large grant is suitable for a project requesting over £5,001

The criteria for applicants differ depending on whether you are applying for a small grant or a large grant. Most projects are awarded funding in the region of £5,000 to £30,000 in total, regardless of the duration of the project. Please also note that the same applicant or organisation cannot successfully apply for funding twice in any 12-month period. This is to ensure that the Sustainable Development Fund supports a range of applicants.

Small Grants

Small grants are suitable for projects that will make an immediate difference to the National Park. For example, this funding could be used for a community awareness event, for room hire, for a feasibility study, for an educational project, for a single piece of equipment, or for help with marketing local produce, etc. The key features are as follows.

• Projects must meet the three aims of the Sustainable Development Fund
• Although grants will normally be issued retrospectively, in exceptional circumstances a payment can be made in advance of the project taking place, with full evidence of spend being provided by the applicant at the conclusion
• Projects must start and be completed within 12 months of the date of issue for the grant

The Sustainable Development Fund can provide funding of either:

• Up to 50% of the total project costs if the applicant is from a profit-making business; or
• Up to 100% of the total project costs for all other applicants

If you are applying on behalf of a community-based organisation, you will also need to provide:

• A copy of your organisation’s governing document
• A recent bank statement

Funding decisions for small grants are usually made within 28 days. The funding decision may be made by the Small Grants Panel, if:

• At the time when you submit your Application Form, it is more than 28 days until the next meeting of the main independent Sustainable Development Fund Grants Panel
• The project is not of a strategic nature (a strategic project will cover a significant geographic area, and will affect many different people)

If the Grants Panel is due to imminently meet, or if your project is particularly strategic, then the funding decision for a Small Grant may be made by the main Grants Panel.

Large Grants

Large grants are suitable for projects that will not necessarily make an immediate impact, but will have longer-term benefits to the National Park. For example, funding for an expensive piece of equipment, for several pieces of equipment under the same project, or for a project that requires contracting specialists to undertake work (e.g. modifying a community centre to implement a sustainable initiative, like fitting new insulation and hiring someone to undertake the work), etc. The key features are as follows.

• Projects must strongly meet the three aims of the Sustainable Development Fund, with a high score across those three aims
• Although grants will normally be issued retrospectively, in exceptional circumstances a payment can be made in advance of the project taking place, with full evidence of spend being provided by the applicant at the conclusion
• From the date of issue of the grant, projects must a) start within 12 months, and b) be completed within 60 months
• For grants over £10,000, the Application Form must also be accompanied by a business plan (further details on writing this are included later in the Guidance Notes)

The Sustainable Development Fund can provide match funding of either:

• Up to 50% of the total project costs if the applicant is from a profit-making business; or
• Up to 75% of the total project costs for all other applicants

Where the estimated value of a proposed contract exceeds £10,000, it is the duty of the applicant to ensure that at least three alternative potential contractors are invited to supply quotations or tenders for the work or goods and the lowest of these tenders shall be accepted unless, in particular circumstances, there are good reasons for doing otherwise. In this event, the Funding Officer must be made aware of these reasons.

If you are applying on behalf of a community-based organisation, you will also need to provide:

• A copy of your organisation’s governing document
• A recent bank statement.

Funding decisions for Large Grants are usually made every two months by the Grants Panel.

What supplementary information do I need to provide?

Depending on how much you are applying for, and the nature of your business, you may also have to provide further supplementary information to support your Application Form. All of the supplementary information will be submitted to those making the funding decision. If you would like to include any letters of support for project, you may do so, but they are not a requirement. They will, however, be taken into consideration, but they will not be scored. It is very important that you do not disclose any sensitive information in the supplementary information, especially in the governing documents, the business plan, and the letters of support. This would typically include the names of individuals, telephone numbers, addresses, and email addresses. This information is of no-use to those making the funding decision.

Northumberland National Park Authority takes no responsibility for sensitive information that is included in the supplementary information. If details are included, then it is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure that those people referred to are aware that their personal information will be passed on to others as part of the project appraisal process.

Governing Document

If your organisation has a governing document, for example a Constitution, Terms of Reference, Articles of Association or a Memorandum, you should enclose a copy with your application form.

Bank Statement

If you're applying on behalf of a community-based organisation, you will need to provide a recent statement, that is, one that has been printed within the last three months of the date on your application form. The Sustainable Development Fund should be targeted at those that need the support most. If your organisation is particularly wealthy, this will undermine your case for receiving a grant, when a different applicant would benefit more from the limited help available. On the other hand, if your organisation is particularly in debt, and there is a risk that a grant will be offset against that debt rather than being used for the project that is outlined, then it is unlikely that a grant offer will be made until the situation is resolved.

Offer Letters

If you already have any funding offer letters from other funding distributors, please photocopy and enclose them with your application form.

Business Plan

A business plan is a written document that describes a business, its objectives, its strategies, the market it is in and its financial forecasts. It has many functions, from securing external funding to measuring success within your business. It is essential to have a realistic business plan when you’re applying to the Sustainable Development Fund. Please follow this link for some initial tips on writing your business plan.

How do I apply for a grant?

Please fill in the accompanying Sustainable Development Fund Application Form. This is available from Northumberland National Park Authority’s Community Enterprise staff. You should also submit your completed application form to them. They will then pass all the documentation to the Funding Officer, who will liaise with those making your funding decision.

Expert support and advice is readily available from Northumberland National Park Authority. If you want to strengthen your case for support, ask our trained staff for advice and see if they can read your completed application form as a critical friend, before it gets submitted for funding. Engaging with this level of support often makes all the difference.

Who will make the funding decision?

There are two separate groups that make funding decisions.

Small Grants Panel

The Small Grants Panel consists of five members of staff from Northumberland National Park Authority. The Small Grants Panel will not include any member of staff that has worked with the applicants on their application form. The Small Grants Panel will consider only selected projects of a non-strategic nature, requesting less than £5,000. Projects are numerically scored, and then a balanced discussion takes place to determine the funding decision.

Grants Panel

The main Grants Panel is entirely independent. The Grants Panel will consider every project requiring a Large Grant, and selected projects that require a Small Grant. The Grants Panel consists of ten members, including an impartial Chair, who does not have voting rights. Like the Small Grants Appraisal Group, projects are scored, and then a balanced discussion takes place to determine the funding decision. For a project to be approved, a democratic decision will be made by the Grants Panel, which must be in favour of support.

Once the funding decision has been made, the Funding Officer will write to the applicant with the result.

Do I have a right to appeal against the funding decision?

If, despite your best efforts, your application is rejected, the Funding Officer will write to you with the reasons for this. If you feel that you would like to appeal against the decision that has been made, please write to the Funding Officer at the address provided, outlining the reasons for your objection. The Appeals Panel will consider each case on an individual basis. There is no form for making an appeal.

If you've already got your idea and you're ready to make a start, then Contact Us to find out how to apply for funding.