Gatwick Airport Community Trust

	Gatwick Airport Community Trust
	Latest Grant Guidelines

These guidance notes are a summary of the Trustee's present approach to awarding grants. They will be subject to periodic review and do not replace or alter the objects of the Trust. The Guidelines are also available in pdf format - click here**.

The period for applications for the Trust's 2009 Grants Programme closes on 16th February 2009

1. Area of Benefit

The benefit from projects must fall wholly or largely within the Trust's area of benefit. (Click here to see map and a list of towns and villages).
The objects of the Trust also stipulate that particular attention should be given to projects that provide benefits to those people in areas most directly affected by airport operations.

2. How To Apply

Download a Grant Application Form:

the Grant Application Form in MS Word (99kb) or
the Grant Application Form in Acrobat .pdf**(65kb)

Complete the form fully and send it to the address shown on the form by the deadline specified. If an acknowledgement is required, please enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope.

Applicants may be subsequently be asked for further supporting detail.

If you have any queries relating to your application, please ring 01892 826088 during office hours.

3. Priority categories for the Trust when assessing a project are set out below:

Development of young people
Art projects including amateur drama, music, art
Sporting facilities
Environmental improvement and conservation
Improvements to community facilities such as village halls
Support for the disabled
Support for the elderly
Encouragement of additional volunteering or giving in the area

4.Trustees will NOT consider projects that involve any of the following categories:

Projects or beneficiaries that are completely or largely outside the area of benefit (and they will give less attention to applications from areas not directly affected by the airport).
Recurrent expenditure or running costs, ongoing maintenance, deficits
Salaries or training costs, except start-up costs in relation to an additional amenity or service being established that will be self-sustaining thereafter
Costs that should be funded from other sources e.g. public bodies
Applications from organisations that have statutory responsibilities such as local authorities, hospitals, schools, unless it is a project that is over and above their core activities
The purchase of land or buildings
Grants will not be made to organisations that are working to make a profit for shareholders, partners or sole owners, nor to individuals.

5. General conditions

Grants will not normally be made where it is evident that little or no effort has been made or is being made to raise funds elsewhere. Determined efforts to raise money elsewhere or to demonstrate match funding will be helpful.
Grants made to applicants in earlier years will be taken into account
Consideration will be given to occasional grants of a larger size where the project is particularly valuable or unusual and likely to benefit a significant number of people
Grants may be made for a period of two or three years where the need is demonstrated and where the pattern of investment in the project is phased
Applications should demonstrate that projects will benefit the wider community
Places of worship are eligible for funding if they benefit the wider community
A maintenance plan may be required for projects that involve the creation of an asset that requires ongoing maintenance
Trustees reserve the right to inspect projects during their progress or following completion
Trustees reserve the right to cancel a grant if it appears that the project is not likely to proceed in the foreseeable future, or to impose a date by which conditions must be met
Where the applicant seeks permission to spend the grant in a way that is different from that set out in the application, the request will be considered on its merits, and will depend to a great extent on adhering to the spirit of the original project

6. Amount of grant

The minimum grant is £250. The Trust's normal level of grants is from £1000-£5,000.

Occasional larger grants may be considered if the impact is targeted to benefit a significant number of people and is considered to make a valuable and noticeable difference longer term. The circumstances in which such grants are made are likely to be few and far between and applicants are advised to seek advice from the Trust BEFORE applying for a larger grant.

7. Administration

Applications are normally invited once a year between January and March. (In 2009, they are being invited from November 2008 until mid-February 2009).
Applicants will be informed by letter of the outcome of their application by the end of May.
Where it appears to Trustees that some permission, or licence, or further promises of funding need to be obtained, they reserve the right to make the grant conditional.
If the full amount of the grant is not used, the balance must be returned to the Trust.
Applicants should be aware that successful project applications may be publicised
The Trustees' decision is final.

** This Document is in Acrobat .pdf format and you will need an Acrobat Reader to see them. This can be obtained free of charge by clicking the "Get Acrobat Reader" icon opposite.

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