Call for Applications: Business and Active Travel Grants (UK)

Deadline: 23 November 2024

The Forest of Dean District Council is inviting applications for its Business and Active Travel Grants Programme.

Objectives

Key Objectives for Business Start-Up Grant
- Your application must clearly demonstrate the following which will form the basis of the assessment criteria:
  - How your new business will deliver three or more of the five identified outcomes (see previous)
  - How the success of your new business will be measured – how the business will produce economic results for the Forest of Dean and how you will measure this. Evidence that there is a need and/or demand for your business or social enterprise – reference to consultation results, market research, project / business plan.
  - The business’s lasting benefits to the local economy – what benefits are likely to come from the continuing existence of the business.
  - For projects that will run beyond an initial 12 months, how the organisation will ensure the sustainability of financial support.
  - How your business is not solely reliant on public funding – the application budget should illustrate how you plan to raise additional financial support or support in-kind to complement any grant funding.
  - If your project is eligible for other funding, how the Business Start-Up Grant will complement and add value to those other sources of funds.
Grant Objectives for Active Travel Grant Scheme (ATGS)
- The ATGS funded schemes should help support the wider FoD ATS Vision which is as follows:
  - The specific objectives of the FoD ATGS the applicant will need to demonstrate their proposed project will support are as follows.
  - Increase cycling, wheeling and walking in the local area for as many people as possible providing value for money and deliverability (25% weighting).
  - Promote inclusivity and road safety. Schemes should actively engage a diverse range of people from the local community in the design and delivery process, ensuring that the needs of all, including hard-to-reach and disadvantaged groups are considered. Schemes should, include appropriate road safety measures, where applicable, to ensure community-wide safe accessibility (20% weighting).
  - Be realistically deliverable and have an effective plan for mitigating and managing risks (30% weighting)
  - Schemes should protect, and where possible, enhance the natural environment and biodiversity (15% weighting).
  - Schemes should consider the sustainable sourcing of materials where possible. For example, re-using, recycling. re-purposing, using greener materials, evidenced by demonstrating that they are seeking quotes from FoD or neighbouring local authority suppliers first before widening their search for competitive pricing (10% weighting).

Funding Information

For Business Start-Up Grant
- There will be a maximum of £1,000 per application. Allocation will be agreed on projects at an appropriate scale and the ability to proceed to the implementation stage. The fund is competitive so applications need to be realistic, deliver results, demonstrate value for money and local economic growth potential. The panel reserves the right to consider any applications being submitted for funding outside the maximum range.
For Active Travel Grant Scheme (ATGS)
- The maximum funded amount (excluding match funding) is £15,000.

Eligibility Criteria

For Business Start-up Grant
- Any locally based new business or constituted social enterprise organisation can apply individually or in partnership. Applicants must be registered after April 2021 and be both located and registered within the Forest of Dean.
- Organisations can make more than one grant application, however only one application can be approved for funding.
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate match funding amounting to at least 50% of the project’s total cost to include cash and in kind elements
For Active Travel Grant Scheme (ATGS)
- Applications must come from a credible and relevant organisation that is based in the Forest of Dean District Council area.
- The AT project seeking funding should be principally located in the Forest of Dean District Council area.
- Applications for the grant will need to come from eligible organisations, including local businesses, charities, community groups, communities interest companies (CICs), or a limited range of Forest of Dean based, community focused statutory bodies, e.g. Parish Councils or schools.
- Match funding requirement is a minimum of 20% of the total project costs provided by the applicant. Note applicants can provide more than 20% match funding.