Funding & Grants

 E.ON SUSTAILABLE ENERGY FUND  -  added 18.12.09

 Claiming Tax Back

How charities get started with Gift Aid

For halls, and their user groups, with particular funding needs it can be worth using various computerised tools to track down potential grant making trusts. These tools signpost possibilies only and do not guarrantee that any application made will be successful but at least they do help point you in the right direction.

If all funding and grant opportunities have been used up then you may consider applying for a loan to finance refurbishment or development work. This might be particularly appropriate as a means of bridging finance where builders have to be paid as the work is done but where funders are only prepared to pay on completion. Obviously one needs to be careful about taking on loans.

The Lottery funded 'Awards for All' scheme has been of great assistance recently to a number of halls in Dorset with smaller projects costing less than £25,000. They have funded disabled accessibity projects, hall rewiring and refurbishments, furniture and equipment, amongst others needs. The extart from their website below tells you more:

Introduction 

Awards for All England is a simple small grants scheme making awards of between £300 and £10,000.

 It should be understood that there are currently no major funding schemes available for improving existing halls or for building new ones. The best chance of making a ‘rebuild’ happen is if there is a site to sell which can thereby raise funds. It is essential to develop a long term strategy and detailed plan before starting on fundraising. This needs to be approached in a very business like way

Areas not administered by Dorset Community Action under the Capital Grants programme usually have their own arrangements:

Purbeck District Council, as a rule, may give 10% of total project costs. This should be negotiated directly with the Council. An approach may be made at any time of financial year

Here are some examples of good design principles that are encouraged in planning improvements to existing or halls or in the design of new halls:

Architectural