Community Panels and Community Chest Fund

Frequently Asked Questions

Membership of Panels FAQs

• Background to the Scheme
• Role of the Community Panels
• How do I apply to be a Panel Member?
  
• Deadline for submission of application forms
• Time commitment
• Selection process
• Make up of Panels
• Amount available to distribute
• Timeframes
• Conflicts of interest
• More information

Community Chest Fund FAQs

• What is the Community Chest Fund
• How much is available?
• Criteria
• Who can apply?
• How do I apply?
• What kind of projects can be bid for?
• How much they can apply for?
• Timescales and process for decision making
• Acceptance letter and conditions of award
• Using local suppliers where possible
• What happens if they receive funding and don’t deliver?
• Is funding up front or staged or on completion?

Membership of Panels

Background to the Scheme

Community groups are set to monopolise a £1M windfall thanks to the green efforts of the borough’s residents.

The scheme will see the groups given a share of the money the council saves through its recycling efforts, including all the recyclables collected from homes across Tameside. 

Role of the Community Panels

The Community Panels are responsible for recommending which applications from local community groups receive funding through the scheme. In coming to their decision the Panels consider the merits of each individual application against the awards criteria.

How do I apply to be a Panel Member?

Although we have now finalised our Community Panels places may be available in the future. If you would like to be considered for a Panel place when a vacancy arises, please complete and return the Panel member application form 50.09 KB .

Time commitment

All Panel members are required to attend a 2 hour training session before engaging in Panel meetings. The Panels themselves meet up to 3 times a year. The training and Panel meetings are held during the evening unless the Panel collectively agrees otherwise. Panel members will be carrying out this role in a voluntary capacity with no remuneration or expenses attached.

Selection process

Once each Panel has decided on which applications to recommend they are sent on to the overarching Selection Panel, made up of the Chair of the Tameside Strategic Partnership (TSP) and Executive leader of the Council Cllr Roy Oldham and Executive Member for DAs Cllr Jim Fitzpatrick who will decide which applications have been successful.

Make up of Panels

A Community Panel sits in each of the District Assembly areas:

• Ashton under Lyne
• Denton and Audenshaw
• Dukinfield
• Hyde
• Droylsden
• Stalybridge
• Longdendale and Hattersley
• Mossley and Stalybridge North East

The Panels are made up of local councillors and representatives from a range of community groups to ensure that they are representative of their local communities. These groups include organisations such as:

• Local amenity groups
• Local churches and other faiths
• Local sporting groups
• Local uniformed groups such a scouts and guides

Amount available to distribute

Community Panels will be charged with awarding funds to local groups from a Community Chest which will hand out £200,000 in the first year and £380,000 each year for the next two years. In 2009/10 this equates to £10,000 per ward and £20,000 per ward in future years.

Timeframes

Provisional dates for 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 are shown below:

Conflicts of interest

Anyone who is on a Panel will not be able to vote on any grant applications in which they have an interest in the outcome and will be required to declare such an interest at the meeting.

More information

For more information relating to the Community Panels, please Contact Governance Business Support.

Community Chest Fund

What is the Community Chest Fund?

Community groups are set to monopolise a £1M windfall thanks to the green efforts of the borough’s residents.

The scheme will see the groups given a share of the money the council saves through its recycling efforts, including all the recyclables collected from homes across Tameside.

How much is available?

Community Panels will be charged with awarding funds to local groups from a Community Chest which will hand out £200,000 in the first year and £380,000 each year for the next two years. In 2009/10 this equates to £10,000 per ward and £20,000 per ward in future years.

Criteria

• The project must benefit the people within the local area.
• The upper limit for any individual grant is set at £5,000.
• The project should achieve one or more of the following criteria:
  • Make a significant improvement to the local environment and benefit the local community
  • Be of benefit to a disadvantaged group of people
  • Improve the recreational needs of the local community

Who can apply?

The type of community groups that would be eligible to apply would include the following:

• Community Associations
• Tenant and Resident Groups
• Friends of Park Groups
• Pre-school, Playgroups and Parent and Toddler Groups
• Disability Groups
• Young Peoples Groups and School Clubs
• Older Persons Groups
• Scouts/Guides Groups
• Sports Groups
• Environmental Groups

To be eligible to apply for a Community Chest grant the community group making the application must meet with an agreed set of criteria.

• The group must have a constitution, terms of reference and aims and objectives, which are formally adopted by the group at an open general meeting.
• The group must have a mandated bank account with appropriate authorised signatories.
• Applicants will be required to give a personal guarantee that any grant will be spent according to the approval and failing that we will seek to recover the grant from them.

If the project involves children the group must have a written Child Protection Policy.

How do I apply?

The current round of Community Chest Funding has now closed so unfortunately we cannot accept any bid applications at present.

What kind of projects can be bid for?

The type of community group that would be eligible to apply would include the following:

• Community Associations
• Tenant and resident Groups
• Friends of Park Groups
• Pre School, Playgroups and Parent and Toddler Groups
• Disability Groups
• Young Peoples groups and School Clubs
• Older Persons Groups
• Scouts/Guides Groups
• Sports Groups
• Environmental Groups

How much can they apply for?

The upper limit for any individual grant is set at £5,000.

Timescales and process for decision making

 The timescales relating to applications for the different rounds of funding are shown below:

Acceptance letter and conditions of award

Applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application.

Successful applicants will be required to sign a letter accepting the conditions of their grant and provide their bank details before payment is issued. Applicants will be required to give a personal guarantee that any grant will be spent according to the approval, and failing that we will seek to recover the grant from them.

Unsuccessful applicants do not have the right to appeal against the Panel's decision.

Using local suppliers where possible

The Council is committed through its Tameside Works First initiative to supporting our own community during the current economic downturn. Our focus is on helping small and medium-sized businesses to survive and thrive in the difficult times that lie ahead.

Successful applicants will therefore be encouraged and expected wherever possible to using local suppliers for their approved projects.

What happens if they receive funding and don’t deliver?

Acceptance of the grant will conditional upon the organisation signing an acceptance letter setting out the conditions relating to the grant approval. This will include a condition which will require the organisation to use the funding only for the activities set out in the application form and that failure to comply to the terms and conditions may result in the offer being withdrawn.

Is funding up front or staged or on completion?

It is intended that the grant will be paid in full into the organisation’s bank account on receipt of the acceptance letter.

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Governance Business Support Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton under Lyne Lancs OL6 6DL View local map
0161 342 3158