Agenda item

A report by the Local Communities Development Officer and BTAC Grant Administrator

The Local Communities Development Officer and BTAC Grant Administrator presented the report confirming that the Small Grants Working Group had considered 2 eligible applications in Round 1 of the Boston Town Area Committee Small Grant Scheme, and 1 eligible application in Round 1 of the Empowering Healthy Communities Grant Scheme. All three applications had been agreed by the Working Group

Boston Town Area Committee Small Grants Scheme:

• Boston Community Transport for £1000.00 to enable the purchase of fuel vouchers for the volunteer drivers.

• Cash for Kids for £1000.00 to contribute towardsoffering grants to vulnerable families within the BTAC area on the condition that the BTAC Grant Administrator was satisfied that a robust referrals/application and monitoring process was in place to ensure the funds are utilised within the BTAC area of benefit.

 Empowering Healthy Communities Grant Scheme:

• The Wednesday Club for £650.00 as a contribution towards the cost of fundraising event to celebrate 20^th Anniversary of the Club.

In response to a question seeking further clarification in respect of the Cash for Kids group, The Local Communities Development Officer and BTAC Grant Administrator advised that

“Cash for kids working in Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire are a charitable organisation working locally with their cost of living crisis programme and Boston is one of the areas they offer support. Their mission is to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in their communities who are affected by poverty, illness, neglect or have additional needs. They believe that all children should be able to express their individuality, achieve their potential and live life to the full. They work with grassroots organisations that aim to make a difference to young lives, directly supporting families who often have no one else to turn to.

They were currently responding to the current cost-of-living crisis hitting many families right now by launching a new grant scheme that can react quickly to provide emergency essentials to children who are struggling through lack of food, heating, school uniform, shoes etc.

They could provide clothing, energy vouchers, food parcels, and other most basic needs. They are doing this through one off payments of £50 per child per household, and they can react in 48 hours if required.”

In response to the question as to whether £50 was enough members were advised that the £1,000 contribution from this committee would be used to support Cash for Kids to offer £50 per child per household for families within the BTAC area. In response to a suggestion that the grant level be increased, members were advised it was down to the committee to set the limit. However, members were advised that should any increase be requested to the current limit, there would be an impact on how many community groups could be supported within the BTAC area through the grant scheme. 

On questioning how many times within a year a group could submit an application, members were advised that groups were encouraged to only apply for one project in each financial year, and to not come back to the fund for the same project year on year, but consideration may be given if the applicant had left at least one full round before reapplying and it was not for the same or a similar project for which they have applied previously

In response to a request with regard monitoring information members were advised that case studies could be produced from the monitoring information which was already collected as part of the grant making process.

RESOLVED:

That the Boston Town Area Committee agree ratification of the decisions made by the Small Grants Working Group.