Agenda item

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

 

Fifteen applications had been received for consideration of Annual Community Grants. These grants were limited to a maximum of £20,000 per application, however, the Board was able to increase this should it be deemed appropriate.

 

£79,270 was anticipated to be ring fenced for the distribution of Annual Grants payments for financial year 2021/22.

 

The total value of all fifteen applications totaled £209,732.24 and exceeded the total funds available by the amount of £130,462.34.

 

Breaks Manor Youth and Community Centre

 

Breaks Manor Youth and Community Centre had applied for a grant of £20,000 to re-surface the Centre’s forecourt and the adjoining footpaths in tarmac.

 

The Board appreciated that the Center did a lot of good work, particularly with young people but the project did not meet the Grants Board priorities at the moment and the Annual Grants Awards did not fund capital programmes such as infrastructure costs.

 

REFUSED the application.

 

Welwyn Hatfield CVS

 

Welwyn Hatfield CVS had applied for a grant of £14,500 to fund all of their projects including a transport service, providing support, advise, training and development of projects, DBS checking service, volunteer recruitment and placement, telephone befriending project and a monthly newsletter.

 

The Board felt that the community cars provided a vital service at the moment and would like to award £4,500 to support the service plus an extra £450 towards the cost of volunteers and other services required to support the provision of the community cars.

 

AGREED a grant of £4,950.

 

Falcon Judo

 

Falcon Judo had applied for a grant of £3,296 for hall hire costs, 20 judo camp sessions, insurance costs, judo uniforms, covid-19 sanitation/cleaning, British Judo license for Special Educational Needs (SEN) children, safeguarding courses and website maintenance.

 

The Board awarded a grant of £970 to help facilitate children with Special Educational Needs. The Board also wanted to encourage Falcon Judo to apply for a Small Community Grant in February 2021.

 

AGREED a grant of £970.

 

Film School Deluxe

 

Film School Deluxe applied for a grant of £5,700 for equipment hire, cinema hire, location hire and the cost of freelance filmmakers working with young people.

 

The Board liked this project but felt that further information was required. The Board would encourage Film School Deluxe to apply for a Small Community Grant and a Youth Action Grant in February 2021. The Board also suggested that the University of Hertfordshire may be able to assist this project by providing expertise and/or equipment.

 

REFUSED the application.

 

11^th Welwyn Garden City Guide Company

 

The 11^th Welwyn Garden City Guide Company applied for a grant of £688.74 for garage rental for a year to store equipment.

 

The Board awarded a grant of £350 to cover half of the initial rent to enable the girl guides to raise funds to cover the rent for the rest of the year.

 

AGREED a grant of £350.

 

H’Arts in Mind

 

H’Arts in mind had applied for a grant of £14,640 to cover the cost of market stall fees, administration services and to help fund a Support Worker.

 

The Board felt that this was a worthwhile project, particularly in these difficult times, but there was insufficient information on costs and that the administration services cost was high.

 

The Board decided to award 50% of the Support Worker costs to ensure that the project received the expertise required dependent on receiving an acceptable breakdown of the administrative services cost.

 

AGREED a grant of £4,800.

 

Herts Boat Rescue

 

Herts Boat Rescue applied for a grant of £600 for 2, 50 metre floating lines.

 

The Board liked this project and recommended that Herts Boat Rescue apply for a Small Community Grant in February 2021.

 

REFUSED the application.

 

Home Start

 

Home Start had applied for a grant of £11,258 to fund staff salaries, volunteer Family Mentor travel expenses, resources, hall hire, refreshments, office costs and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) fees.

 

The Board thought that this was a great project but were concerned that it may be duplicating services being provided elsewhere.

 

The Board decided to award the full cost of hall hire, 50% of the staff salaries plus DBS fees after confirmation that the project was not duplicating services provided elsewhere.

 

AGREED a grant of £5,828.

 

Hertfordshire Practical Parenting Programme CIC

 

Hertfordshire Practical Parenting Programme CIC applied for a grant of £19,110 for venue hire, staff time for support groups and online group, administration costs, guest speakers, refreshments, advertising, website administration costs and one to one support for parents as required.

 

The Board liked the overall objective of the project but felt that the charges and costs were high. 

 

The Board decided to award the cost of the venue hire for support groups, 50% of staff time for support groups and £1,000 contribution to the administration costs.

 

AGREED a grant of £4,900.

 

Insect Biotech Solutions CIC

 

Insect Biotech Solutions CIC applied for a grant of £20,000 to pay for salaries, laboratory space, consumables, office supplies and travel expenses.

 

The Board thought that this was a brilliant idea but as there was a large deficit of available funding for Annual Grants 2021/22, and being a specialist subject, wanted to redirect this project to the Climate Change Sub-group for consideration to fund.

 

REFUSED the application.

 

Isabel Hospice

 

Isabel Hospice had applied for a grant of £19,575 to help fund a Rapid Response Senior Nurse, a Palliative Care Support Worker and a Rapid Response Nurse.

 

The Board appreciated the great work of this organisation and felt that it was a vital service for the Council’s residents particularly at these difficult times.

 

AGREED a grant of £18,234.

 

Northaw and Cuffley Lawn Tennis Club

 

Northaw and Cuffley Lawn Tennis Club had applied for a grant of £19,787 to help fund the repair and re-surfacing of their tennis courts and new fencing.

 

The Board liked the project but it did not meet the Grants Boards priorities at the moment and the Annual Grants Awards did not fund capital programmes such as infrastructure costs.

 

REFUSED the application.

 

Potential Kids Ltd

 

Potential Kids Ltd had applied for a grant of £17,613.50 to fund the salary for a Project Supervisor, equipment, resources, marketing costs, gas and electric costs, electrical points, building materials, a water point and steering group expenses.

 

The Board that this was an excellent project for children and young people. The grants awarded were unable to fund 100% of a salary therefore the Board awarded 50% of the salary for a Project Supervisor.

 

AGREED a grant of £13,238.50.

 

The Recover Team Ltd

 

The Recover Team Ltd applied for a grant of £15,964 for rental costs, utilities and insurance.

 

The Board appreciated the excellent work of this organisation.

 

AGREED a grant of £8,000.

 

Welwyn Hatfield Women’s Refuge and Support Services

 

The Welwyn Hatfield Women’s Refuge and Support Services had applied for a grant of £27,000 to help fund staff costs.

 

CouncillorL.Chesterman did not take part in the discussion or decision for this application by virtue of having information that may have influenced the decision.

 

The Board felt that this organisation provided a vital service, especially during this period of national lockdown when cases of domestic abuse had increased.

 

AGREED a grant of £18,000.

 

RESOLVED

 

That Annual Grants should be paid as follows:

 

Organisation	Amount Sought (£)	Amount Granted (£)
Breaks Manor Youth and Community Centre	20000	0
Welwyn Hatfield CVS	14500	4950
Falcon Judo	3296	970
Film School Deluxe	5700	0
11th Welwyn Garden City Guide Company	688.74	350
H’Arts Mind	14640	4800
Herts Boat Rescue	600	0
Home Start	11258	5828
Herts Practical Parenting Programme	19110	4900
Insect Biotech Solutions CIC	20000	0
Isabel Hospice	19575	18234
Northaw and Cuffley Lawn Tennis Club	19787	0
Potential Kids Ltd	17613.50	13238.50
The Recover Team Ltd	15964	8000
Welwyn Hatfield Women’s Refuge and Support Services	27000	18000
Total Grants Awarded		79270.50
Annual Grants Budget		79270