www.RuralActionEast.org.uk

Contents Introduction

• Rural Community Councils• Rural Action East

Overview of Landfill Tax Credit Scheme Biffaward Scheme

• Project criteria Application Process

• Finances• Expression of Interest• Full Application

– Assessment criteria

Rural Community Councils Network of independent charities

• One in each of six counties of East of England– Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex,

Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk

Considerable experience & sustainability• 10 to 85 years in our region

Whole county coverage• Community development services• Extensive network of out-reach workers

Specialised rural focus

Rural Action East Regional umbrella organisation

• Members are six county RCCs Autonomous charity Entrust Enrolled Environmental Body Regional representation & policy development Management of regional projects

– Biffaward; ChangeUp; LSC Training; Comm Champ Fund; MTI

Facilitate RCC collaboration• Policy; Best practice; Research; Reports/Papers; Data

Landfill Tax Credit Scheme

Landfill Tax Credit Scheme Introduced on 1 October 1996 Landfill site operators donates up to 6% of

tax towards environmental projects Regulator ENTRUST (HM Revenue &

Customs) Eligibility - A project must:

• Be within ten miles of a landfill site Variety of types of projects or Objects Each land fill operator has own approach to

LTCS, eg WREN, Virador, Biffa, etc

Object D: Quality of LifeFor the protection of the environment

or the provision maintenance or improvement of a public park or another public amenity

Public amenity is one that is:• Open for a minimum of two full days

per week, four evenings or twelve weeks per year, 104 days a year

Object E: EnvironmentFor the protection of the

environment, the maintenance, repair or restoration of a building or other structure, which is a place of religious worship or of historic or architectural interest• The project must also meet the

minimum access requirements

Object DA: Bio-diversityFor the protection of the environment and

the conservation or promotion of biological diversity through:

Provision, conservation, restoration or enhancement of a natural habitat

Maintenance or recovery of a species in its natural habitat• There are no access requirements. Work

can take place on private land

Biffaward Scheme

Grants Available Small Grants Scheme £250 - £5,000

• Small simple projects• Apply direct to Royal Society for Wildlife Trust

Main Grants £5,000 - £50,000• Major projects for community facilities: Recreation;

Sports; Lifelong learning; and Community development• Apply via Rural Action East

Flagship £150,000 - £500,000• Nationally or regionally significant voluntary sector led

regeneration or biodiversity projects• Discuss with Royal Society for Wildlife Trust

All need minimum 10% (cash) third party funding

Biffaward Aims Projects that show an innovative use of a

community amenity to enhance, maintain or introduce real community led social, economic or environmental improvements• An emphasis on sustainable communities• Capital funding

Type of projects supported:• village halls, skate parks, nature reserves, community

rooms, museum education rooms, voluntary sector led sporting facilities, internet cafes, green spaces, historic parks, provision for children and teenagers, community gardens, cemeteries and churchyards, civic spaces, species restoration

Funding CriteriaObjects D & E - Community Community benefit & engagement

• Involvement of & benefit to local community

Innovative & good practice• Expands existing services• Provides new services (lack of alternatives nearby)

Quality of life impact• Social &/or economic

Partnership Success measurements / outcome driven

Funding CriteriaObjects DA - Biodiversity Consistent & supplementary to other

initiatives• Consistent with county Biodiversity Action Plan

Holistic approach to bio-diversity• Conservation & promotion

Natural habitat• Provision, restoration, enhancement

Partnership approach

Eligible Applicants & Projects

Community Groups Local Auth – not statutory duties Sports & Social Clubs – free access? Discrete identifiable item(s) (capital) In combination with other grants, including

other LTCS, eg Biffaward + WREN Not Disability Discrimination Act Not buses Not running costs

East of England Biffaward Scheme

Main Grant Applications

East of England Organisations Royal Society for Wildlife Trusts (RSWT)

• National administrator on behalf of Biffa Waste Services plc• Small Grants <£5,000, fast-track process

Rural Action East• Entrust Enrolled Environmental Body• Formal Main Grant applicant on behalf of community

Regional Partnership• Regional Assessment Panel• Government Office, EEDA, Sport England, Royal Society of

Wildlife Trusts and Rural Community Councils Rural Community Council

• Out-reach support to Community– Application process– Project delivery

East of England Process Project Summary (Expression of Interest) Regional Assessment Panel

• Local knowledge & priorities• Consider, review and recommend

Full Main Grant Application• Administered by RSWT

National Biffaward Board• Decide & make award

Quarterly bidding rounds• Expect ~6 months from application to receipt of award

FinancesMain Grants

• Community can receive £4,545 to £45,454• Business case if project total cost >£50k

Not running costsFees

– Entrust 2% (additional funding from Biffaward)– Rural Action East 10%– Third Party Funding: min 10% in cash– Beware VAT

Application Success Criteria

Extent of demonstrated community need, eg

– Parish Plans, Mkt Town Health Checks, surveys, etc– Village Hall Advisor review– Deprivation, exclusion, loss of services

Involvement of community in implementation & sustainability

Value & benefit of asset provision or improvement

Sound finances / value for money

East of EnglandBiffaward Scheme

Project Assessment Criteria

Grant Assessment Criterion #1

Project meets community need Beneficiaries

• Identified• Needs analysed

Relationship to other service provision• Gap; Additionality; Evidence based

Communications• Context of proposals• Exchange best practice

Correct response to need

Grant Assessment Criterion #2

Project Management Capacity to handle flow of funds Experience in managing similar projects Impact on staff numbers Clear & realistic project aims & objectives Project plan & exit strategy

• Ready to start (less than 6 months)• Complete (less than 2 years)

Grant Assessment Criterion #3

Budget Quality

• Complete, accurate, soundly based (~3 quotations) Projected income

• Realistically achievable Matched funding

• Secured (Biffaward may caveat offer on clarification)

Value for money

Grant Assessment Criterion #4a

Project Quality – Objects D & E Innovative & good practice

• Expands existing services• Provides new services

Community benefit & engagement• Involvement of & benefit to local community

Quality of life• Social &/or economic

Partnership Success measurements / outcome driven

Grant Assessment Criterion #4b

Project Quality – Objects DA Consistent & supplementary to other

initiatives• Consistent with county Biodiversity Action Plan

Holistic approach to bio-diversity• Conservation & promotion

Natural habitat• Provision, restoration, enhancement

Partnership approach