Purpose

To seek approval to approve changes to the
funding criteria of the SK Community Fund to be implemented during
the 2025/2026 financial year and to put a delegation in place to
give delegated authority to the Community Engagement Manager, in
consultation with the Cabinet Member whose portfolio includes the
SK Community Fund to make future, minor, amendments to the
fund’s criteria as required to enable appropriate access by
the voluntary and community sector of South Kesteven.
 

Decision

1.       That approval is
granted for changes to the funding criteria of the SK Community
Fund to be implemented during the 2025/2026 financial year.
2.       That a delegation is
put in place to give delegated authority to the Community
Engagement Manager, in consultation with the Cabinet Member whose
portfolio includes the SK Community Fund to make future, minor,
amendments to the fund’s criteria as required to enable
appropriate access by the voluntary and community sector of South
Kesteven.

Reasons for the decision

The recommendation made will positively impact
the voluntary and community sector operating within South
Kesteven.

Alternative options considered

The Council has a strong record in supporting
the voluntary and community sector by helping to enable communities
to be more self-sufficient.   This
continues to be a key priority for the Council and is evidenced
through its Corporate Plan aim of Connecting Communities. Working
with and providing support for the voluntary and community sector
is central to achieving this.
 
In support of such groups, the Council
introduced the SK Community Fund in 2015 to offer grants to
constituted community groups, charities and social enterprise
organisations.
 
It is important that the application process,
including the assessment and funding criteria are regularly
reviewed to ensure they remain fit for purpose. A review was
undertaken during 2024/25 which highlighted the need to refresh the
criteria with changes being introduced in the 2025/26 financial
year.
 
The Rural and Communities Overview and
Scrutiny Committee was asked to review proposed changes to the
current criteria at its meeting of 13 February 2025 and made
recommendation to the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture to
change the funding criteria.
 
Change to the funding criteria of the SK
Community Fund which will allow grant applications from groups or
organisations that require people to pay a membership fee in order
to participate for example local sports clubs, scouts, guides
etc.
 
These groups have previously been eligible for
grants but were removed from the eligibility criteria in 2019 at
the request of Members of the Awarding Panel.
 
The amendment to the criteria of the SK
Community Fund will be put in place for all applications from Round
37 onward in 2025/2026.