Cornwall Development Company, Cornwall Community Foundation and the Cornwall Rural Community Council are pleased to announce that the second round of the Community Grants programme is now available in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Funded by the European Social Fund and the Skills Funding Agency as part of the Convergence Programme, the aim of the Community Grants programme is to raise the skills, knowledge and employability of the hardest to reach groups and individuals by supporting the voluntary and community sector to deliver relevant activity in their area.  The Community Grants programme is designed to assist small not-for-profit groups based in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly and run by people from the community they support.

The aim of providing small grants is to give community groups an opportunity to access funding, through a simplified process, to undertake activity that helps engage and progress individuals that are considered "hard to reach". Projects should provide an opportunity for people to engage with learning, to develop their confidence and skills and be more able to take advantage of further opportunities that help them progress towards the labour market, further learning or volunteering. Outcomes are to be based on progression.

Projects that focus on the following target beneficiaries will be a priority.

• People with disabilities or health conditions
• Lone Parents
• People aged 50 or over
• Females

General Information & Criteria

• Must demonstrate local need and demand
• Must be new activity
• Beneficiaries shouldn’t already be engaged in an ESF/SFA funded activity.
• Projects must benefit the target individuals
• Progression of individuals must be demonstrated

There is a total of £560,000 funding available across the Cornwall and the Isle’s of Scilly and groups can apply for up to £12,000 in 12 month period.  The fund is open from the 1st August and closes on the 31st July 2013. Advice on project eligibility, help with application development and the submission of the application is available.

There will be various round of funding during the lifetime of the programme. Potential applicants are advised to contact us well before the application deadline so maximum support can be provided.

The following is a list of dates that your application needs to be submitted by, followed by the date of the decision making panel meetings.

Application deadline date:      2nd September 2011
Panel date:                                  30th September 2011                      

Application deadline date:      28th October 2011
Panel date:                                  25th November 2011                       

Application deadline date:       31st December 2011
Panel date:                                   28th January 2012                        

Application deadline date:        6th April 2012
Panel date:                                   4th May 2012                               

Contact details

For more information regarding the Community Grants fund or to request an application please contact the Cornwall Community Foundation on grants@cornwallfoundation.com or telephone 01566 779333 and ask to speak to either Kristy Philpot or Donna Martyn.