Criteria for Large Community Projects

Eligibility

You are eligible to apply for the YFS - Large Community Fund if you are/ or part of a:

• Voluntary or community organisation
• Registered charity
• Constituted group or club
• Community interest company (CIC)
• Social enterprise
• School or statutory body (including town, parish or community council)
• Local business

We do not fund

• Individuals
• Sole traders
• Political organisations or organisations which support political individuals
• Organisations that are aimed at generating profits primarily for private distribution
• Public sector bodies or private companies to carry out their statutory duties
• Organisations based outside the UK
• Applications made by one organisation on behalf of another
• Ongoing revenue costs, such as salaries or running costs
• Replacing any withdrawn funding from Surrey County Council or existing projects
• Projects that contravene any of Surrey County Council's agreed policies or priorities
• Projects that could be funded by other Council departments
• Paying for a consultant to make an application to the fund on the applicants' behalf
• Retrospective funding
• The purchase of land and/or property.

• Applications for funding must show that they are community-led and be able to evidence that the community has been consulted to demonstrate the need for the funding.
• Applications for funding must show that they will provide new or additional benefits to the wider community rather than to support existing services.
• Applicants are encouraged to implement measures to ensure the service it delivers are accessible and inclusive to all.

We strongly encourage applications from groups that

• Support vulnerable people or groups
• Support Equality Diversity and Inclusion including minority and marginalised groups
• Work in areas of higher deprivation within Surrey
• Have an environmentally friendly focus in addition to new or additional community benefits

Your Fund Surrey is looking for projects that can demonstrate that their idea is community-led, will leave a long-lasting positive impact and deliver wider community benefit.

Clubhouse/building renovations are within scope of the fund; however, we want to see how the project would benefit local residents beyond existing users and club membership. For example, a project may include a hall or meeting room space that will be offered to local community groups at an affordable rate to deliver different types of activities, meetings and initiatives.

Other applications might also be looking to improve their facilities so they can offer their service to a wider range of the population for instance providing access to facilities to a range of ages, gender, ethnicity and physical abilities.

How will the project be delivered?

Projects should have a clear project plan in place to show how the project will be delivered and demonstrate it necessary support needed to do so.

The application will be assessed by looking at the following information alongside all other documentation:

• Project plan – who will deliver and when
• Costs – fully costed with evidence (tender/quotes) - please refer to our procurement guidance [LINK]
• Management and maintenance plan
• Planning and permissions in place
• All other funding in place

Is there any additional help needed to run the project?

Proposals should highlight if there are additional people or volunteers that can be called upon, or money from other sources that can be used to make the project work.

The application will be assessed by looking at the following information alongside all other documentation:

• Finances – accounts, other funding evidence
• Quotes
• Constitution
• Partnerships and wider community support

What are the long-term benefits?

Please outline how using the funding will have lasting benefits, for at least five years going forward, explaining who will benefit and how they will benefit.

The application will be assessed by looking at the following information alongside all other documentation:

• Needs assessment
• Evaluation plan
• Community engagement
• Cash flow
• Management and maintenance plan

Please look at the Community Vision for Surrey 2030 for further information.

Does it make a positive difference to people's lives?

Show us how the project will make a positive difference to peoples' lives and the wider community. This could include improving people's health and wellbeing, the environment around them or helping people to come together.

The application will be assessed by looking at the following information alongside all other documentation:

• Support for project such as letters/emails
• Needs assessment
• Community surveys and other forms of engagement
• Have Your Say report

Has the environmental impact of the project been considered?

Show that the project will encourage sustainable practices and activity and that long term it won't have a negative impact on the environment.

Please find further support for this area of your application on the Your Fund Surrey application support webpages.

Is there wider community support?

Using the Commonplace platform, you will need to demonstrate that others in your community support the project idea and that it will benefit the wider community.