Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director (Housing and Communities) detailing the applications for Small Community Grants.

Members received a report of the Corporate Director (Housing and Communities) which detailed the applications that had been received for Small Community Grants.

 

The 2020/21 Small Community Grants Criteria had been slightly adjusted to provide opportunities for those community organisations who had been negatively affected by COVID-19 to apply for assistance.

 

The report noted that Small Community Grants were limited to a maximum of £2,000 per application however the Board was able to increase this should they deem it appropriate.

 

There was £227,000 in total available during the financial year 2020/21 to be awarded through the grants process.

 

£175,034 had been ring fenced for the distribution of Annual Grants payments to those organisations awarded their grant during the 2019/20 awarding judgement period.

 

In 2020/21 there would be no Queens Jubilee Awards being distributed. These funds (£6000) would be moved into the Small Community Grants pot.

 

There was £52,366 available for the Grants Board to distribute to organisations that requested funding through the Community Small Grants fund.

 

Eleven applications had been received for the first round of Small Community Grants (Appendix 1) for 2020/21 financial year. A second round of funding would open later in 2020 prior to judgement early 2021.

 

A total of £21,815 had been applied for in this round of funding, however one organisation had submitted two applications. The Board were only allowed to support a maximum of 1 application per organisation in a 12months period, therefore, the maximum total Councillors were able to grant was £19,815.

 

The Council looked to support projects which helped achieve at least one of the following priority areas: maintain a safe and healthy community, protect and enhance the environment, meet the borough’s housing needs, help build a strong local economy, engage with our communities and provide value for money.

 

Herts Ability (application 1)

 

Herts Ability had applied for a grant of £2000 for the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to enable a safe re-opening of their centres in accordance with Government guidelines.

 

The Board agreed that Herts Ability was a great organisation and the grant would allow them to continue to provide their services in these difficult times. The Board commented that they were proud to have this organisation in Welwyn Hatfield.

 

The application was unanimously agreed and a grant of £2000 was APPROVED.

 

Herts Ability (application 2)

 

Herts Ability had submitted a second application for a grant of £2000 to help cover the cost of the rental and service charges at the Woodside Centre for the three months during the Covid-19 lockdown.

 

The Board considered this application alongside Herts Ability’s first application and decided that as they were only able to award one small grant application the former application was the more important of the two.

 

Councillor L.Chesterman advised that she may be able to consider making a donation to Herts Ability from the Hertfordshire County Council Locality Grant which would help fund the cost of the rent.

 

REFUSED the application.

 

Note: Councillor S.Markiewicz joined the meeting and resumed the role of Chairman

 

The Recover Team Ltd

 

The Recover Team Ltd had applied for a grant of £2000 to contribute to ongoing fixed costs, particularly rent of the premises, whilst the charity was closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

The Board commented that this was a great organisation doing some amazing work and that they were pleased to support them.

 

The application was unanimously agreed and a grant of £2000 was APPROVED.

 

 

Welwyn Garden City (WGC) United Reformed Church

 

WGC United Reformed Church had applied for a grant of £2000 for improvements to the Community Centre’s garden space to enable more groups to safely meet outside.

 

The Board acknowledged how inclusive the Churches community work was and how the Church provided community space for several different charities.

 

The Board agreed that the funds were to be given upon the condition that monies facilitated all members of the community, including those who did not share the religious ethos of the WGC United Reformed Church.

 

The application was unanimously agreed and a grant of £2000 was APPROVED on the condition below:

 

That monies facilitated all members of the community, including those who did not share the religious ethos of the WGC United Reformed Church.

 

Ultimate Football

 

Ultimate Football had applied for a grant of £2000 to modernise their website and increased advertising costs.

 

The Board were concerned that Ultimate Football was not a charitable group but recognised the diverse community work that was carried out including providing healthy activities and engagement with young people.

 

The Board agreed that the grant would be approved on the condition that Ultimate Football was willing to consider forming a Community Interest Company for future applications.

 

The application was unanimously agreed and a grant of £2000 was APPROVED on the condition below:

 

That Ultimate Football was willing to consider forming a Community Interest Company for future applications.

 

Breaks Manor

 

Breaks Manor had applied for a grant of £2000 for additional cleaning, repair and decoration of their premises.

 

The Board agreed that Breaks Manor was an excellent, well-known organisation. The Board had awarded them an Annual Community Grant earlier in the year and they had provided feedback.

 

The application was unanimously agreed and a grant of £2000 was APPROVED.

 

Citizens Advice Welwyn Hatfield

 

Citizens Advise had applied for a grant of £1975 to support staff and volunteers and reduce the risk from Covid-19 as staff return to the office.

 

The Board acknowledged the stupendous work of Citizens Advice.

 

The application was unanimously agreed and a grant of £1975 was APPROVED.

 

Mind in Mid-Herts

 

Mind in Mid Herts had applied for a grant of £1840 which would enable 10 people from the Welwyn Hatfield area to receive a tablet with internet access for three months, with training, to reduce loneliness and isolation during the current pandemic.

 

The Board agreed that it was a fantastic initiative.

 

The application was unanimously agreed and a grant of £1840 was APPROVED.

 

4^th Welwyn Garden City (WGC) Brownie Pack

 

4^th WGC Brownie Pack had applied for a grant of £2000 to cover annual subscriptions that would normally have been paid from the Brownie’s subscriptions.

 

The Board agreed that the Brownies was excellent for young people and could not speak more highly of the volunteers who gave up their time to do this work.

 

The Board noted that some important documents were missing from the application including safeguarding documentation. The grant would be approved subject to the necessary documentation being received and satisfactory by Friday 4 September 2020.

 

The application was unanimously agreed and a grant of £2000 being APPROVED subject to the condition below:

 

That the missing application documentation being received and satisfactory by Friday 4 September 2020.

 

6^th Welwyn Garden City (WGC) Methodist Brownie Unit

 

The 6^th WGC Methodist Brownie Unit had applied for a grant of £2000 to cover the yearly Census paid to Girlguiding UK, to cover rent, the girl’s badges and for activities.

 

As in the previous application, the Board acknowledge the excellent work of the organisation and the volunteers.

 

The application was unanimously agreed and a grant of £2000 APPROVED.

 

FK Dance Academy

 

FK Dance Academy had applied for a grant of £2000 to fund the cost of teachers and hire of the studio.

 

The Board agreed that FK Dance Academy delivered many of valuable youth diversion classes to young people and was well known to them.

 

The application was unanimously agreed and a grant of £2000 was APPROVED.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the 2020/21 Small Community Grants be awarded as set out in the table below:-

 

Organisation	Grant Applied For	Grant Awarded
FK Dance Academy	£2000	£2000
Recover	£2000	£2000
Mind in Mid-Herts	£1840	£1840
WGC 4th Brownie Pack	£2000	£2000
Herts Ability (Application 1)	£2000	£2000
Herts Ability (Application 2)	£2000	£0
Ultimate Football	£2000	£2000
WGC United Reformed Church	£2000	£2000
Citizens Advice	£1975	£1975
WGC 6th Brownie Pack	£2000	£2000
Breaks Manor	£2000	£2000