Community Grants

Grant applications

Ashburton Town Council sets aside funding each year to support projects that enhance the wellbeing of our community.

Applications are considered on their individual merits, and funding is awarded at the discretion of the Council. Receiving a grant in one year does not guarantee funding in future years.

Applications are reviewed by the Finance & Town Hall Buildings Committee before being recommended to Full Council for a final decision.

Application timeline

Applications open 1 July each year and close on 1 September.

Applications received during this period are considered as part of the Council’s budget-setting process for the following financial year.

Late applications cannot be accepted.

Who can apply?

Priority may be given to:

• Voluntary and community groups
• Not-for-profit organisations
• Registered charities
• Organisations operating within Ashburton where the benefits will directly support Ashburton residents

Regional and national organisations are welcome to apply, provided they clearly demonstrate and quantify the specific benefit their project will bring to Ashburton and its residents.

Applications cannot be considered if they are from:

• Individuals
• Commercial or profit-making organisations
• Organisations promoting a particular political group
• Organisations whose primary purpose is to promote a specific religious belief
• Projects or events that have already taken place
• Items that have already been purchased

Eligibility criteria

To be considered, applicants must demonstrate that:

• Their project will provide a clear benefit to the Ashburton community.
• They can provide evidence of that community benefit.
• The grant will be used for a future project or activity.

Applicants are encouraged, where appropriate, to seek funding from other grant-awarding organisations as well.

Supporting documents

Applications must be submitted using the Ashburton Town Council Grant Application Form and include:

• A copy of your constitution
• Your latest bank statement(s)
• Your most recent accounts
• Minutes from your latest Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Grant decisions

The amount awarded is entirely at the discretion of Ashburton Town Council.

The Council reserves the right to refuse any application that does not meet the grant criteria or where it considers funding would not represent an appropriate use of public money.

Organisations that receive a grant cannot apply again within the same financial year (1 April to 31 March).

If grant funding is used for any purpose other than that stated in the application, the Council may require all or part of the grant to be repaid.

After your project

Grant recipients are required to complete a Grant Post-Review Form and submit a short end-of-project report:

• Within eight weeks of completing the project, or
• After six months for ongoing projects.

Your report should include:

• A summary of what was achieved
• The benefits delivered to the community
• Photographs and/or receipts, where appropriate, showing how the funding was used

Please note that future grant applications will not be considered until the required report and post-review form have been received.

The Council may also use information and photographs provided in grant reports for publicity and public information purposes.

Apply for a grant

Applications are accepted between 1 July and 1 September each year.

Please complete the Ashburton Town Council Grant Application Form attached below and return it, together with the required supporting documents, to the Town Clerk townclerk@ashburtontowncouncil.gov.uk before the closing date.