Introduction >
In December 2006, GrantScape announced the launch of a special £100,000 grant programme for community projects falling within the Milton Keynes Unitary Authority Boundary. Its particular focus was on supporting groups wishing to undertake capital improvement works to amenities used by the public, such as community centres, sports facilities, village halls, public playgrounds and parks.
Our Chief Executive, Steven Hargreaves explained:
“GrantScape has a heritage of over 10 years of community grant-making, during which we have awarded more than £65 million in grants. We wanted this one-off grant programme to enhance the quality of life of people in Milton Keynes (the city nearest to our offices) by improving facilities available to all its residents”.
Return to top
Grant programme design >
The Funding Criteria for the Milton Keynes Grant Programme were designed by our Grants Team and approved by GrantScape’s Board. The amount for individual grants available was set at between £5,000 and £15,000, and no match funding nor Contributing Third Party (CTP) donations were required. This helped to encourage a good level of applications, without creating too great a level of over-subscription and thus disappointment.
Application process >
GrantScape’s new fully on-line application system was used for the very first time to receive applications from groups. This was designed to enable groups to work on their applications over the web, save them safely whilst in progress and then submit them electronically once completed. No time-consuming paperwork was therefore required.
As part of the downloadable application pack, full guidance notes were provided. These were also available against each question used in the on-line application system.
A further major advantage of the automated process was that, once received, applications could be imported directly into our grant-making database. This technology also enabled us to auto-populate parts of our assessment forms which would previously have had to be typed.
Return to top
Promotion >
The Milton Keynes Grant Programme was promoted through GrantScape’s website and in our e-newsletter, “OutLook”. Details were also provided in the Milton Keynes Council of Voluntary Organisations’ regular Funding Alerts and on the Milton Keynes Voluntary Sector Gateway website.
A press release was also produced and this was covered in a half-page article in the Milton Keynes Citizen under the title: “City amenities are set to be improved”.
During the period that the grant programme was open, we were able to monitor levels of interest shown by tracking the number of groups accessing our application pack web-pages. Had interest levels been lower than desired, we would therefore have been in a position to undertake further promotional activity in good time. This was, however, unnecessary.
Applications received >
We received 24 on-line applications by the end of March 2007 closing date, which was at the top end of our target range. These sought grants totaling £280,000 for projects costing £690,000.
Return to top
Assessment process >
To assist our Trustees in reaching decisions on grants to be awarded for grant programmes such as this, it is GrantScape’s standard practice to enlist the support of a group of independent advisors with strong local knowledge. Ahead of the grant programme’s launch, we therefore formed an Advisory Group comprising representatives from Milton Keynes Community Foundation, the Parks Trust Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes Council, Abbey Charitable Trust and Milton Keynes Council of Voluntary Organisations.
At its meeting, the Advisory Group was presented with a two-page assessment of each grant application, prepared by our Grants Team. The assessment forms were specifically designed for the Milton Keynes Grant Programme and were set out in a standard format to aid comparison and evaluation.
Return to top
Successful applicants >
Following GrantScape’s Board meeting in May 2007, the ten successful groups and their projects were announced:
Chepstow Community Centre, Bletchley - awarded a grant of £5,000 to refurbish the Community Centre’s kitchen. The project was successfully completed in September 2007.
Great Linford Parish Council - awarded a grant of £7,250 to install an artificial cricket wicket at Marsh Drive Sportsground, Great Linford. The project was successfully completed in August 2007.
Hanslope Village Hall Trust - awarded a grant of £8,000 to refurbish Hanslope Village Hall’s toilets and to make full provision for people with disabilities. The project was successfully completed in February 2008.
Lakes Estate Community Association - awarded a grant of £6,000 to refurbish the Community Centre’s badly-worn wooden floors. The project is now virtually complete.
Milton Keynes Christian Foundation - awarded a grant of £12,800 to expand its busy Community Centre in Wolverton. The project is on course. Milton Keynes Council - awarded a grant of £15,000 to provide exciting new play facilities for children at Eaglestone Local Park. The project was successfully completed in February 2008.
South Furzton Meeting Place Limited - awarded a grant of £8,050 to refurbish the Community Centre’s kitchen. The project is in course.
Ridgeway Community Centre, North Furzton - awarded a grant of £12,350 to improve the Community’s Centre’s kitchen. The project is nearing completion.
The Thames Valley Groundwork Trust Ltd - awarded a grant of £13,750 to turn an overgrown, neglected pond in Conniburrow into an attractive community pond and nature area. The project is nearing completion.
York House Youth Centre, Stony Stratford - awarded a grant of £12,000 to create a new main entrance for users of this busy community facility. The project is on course.
Return to top
Grant programme evaluation >
Our on-line application system includes the ability for groups to provide feedback on our application process. This being the first time that we had used the system, we were particularly interested to review the comments received and pleased with the positive response from applicants.
An important final word of thanks >
GrantScape would particularly like to thank Waste Recycling Group Limited who very kindly provided the monies for our Milton Keynes Grant Programme, through the Landfill Communities Fund.
We are also very grateful to our Advisory Group members for their advice and support with this very successful grant programme.
Return to top
