Apply for a Lottery Community Fund grant

How to apply for a grant

To submit your application, please:

1. Check that your project meets the criteria of this fund, listed below
2. Gather together all the supporting documents required including quotes (see below)
3. Download and complete the Lottery community fund grant application form. You can then send it to us at rushmoorcommunitylottery@rushmoor.gov.uk, using the instructions on the form with the supporting documents listed below

We are happy to receive other supporting documents and photos to back your application.

If you would like to discuss an application before submitting to the fund, please contact us using the details below.

The closing date for applications to be received is midday on 12 June 2023.

Essential criteria

Your organisation must: 

• Be a good cause that is part of the Rushmoor Community Lottery and is currently selling tickets, for details of eligibility please go to the Rushmoor Community Lottery - good causes terms and conditions page
• Only submit one application per funding round and cannot submit an application year-on-year to fund the same item in subsequent years. If you were awarded a grant in the last round, you cannot apply for funding for the same project/event 
• Complete any project which was previously awarded funding before applying for another grant from this fund, including submitting the feedback report and receipts 

All applications must demonstrate the following: 

• The grant must be spent in accordance with the purposes for which it was approved. Any changes to the project/event must be agreed with us 
• The grant will be used for work that is taking place in Rushmoor or for the direct benefit of the residents of Rushmoor

The criteria we consider when we assess your application

Aim of the project 

Tell us about the project, including some background, how you will carry out the project, how you will involve the beneficiaries and what you expect to gain from the project.   

Need for the project

Provide evidence to tell us why the project is needed. For example, you can include statistics, local knowledge or survey results. Is there anything else similar happening in your local area? 

Contribution to the community  

Tell us what the project will contribute to the local community, or the wider community of Rushmoor. Will it provide or improve something for local residents? Is there a legacy from the project? How will any equipment purchased benefit the community in the future? 

Clear outcomes  

Tell us about the expected outcomes from the project, how and when these will be achieved and how you will provide this evidence. For example, before and after surveys or photos. 

Offers good value for money  

Demonstrate that what you are proposing is good value for money. For example, you may have several quotes that you can provide and say which one you’ve chosen to go with, or you may be choosing to use a local company/supplier. 

Applications will be scored on each of the above criteria, with up to four points available for each criteria. 

We are only able to award grants up to the amount in the Community Fund. We reserve the right to award a grant for a lower amount. The application will be scored out of 20:

Grant conditions 

• By applying to this fund, your organisation agrees to be part of our promotion of the fund, on the council and lottery websites and social media 
• A representative from the applicant organisation must attend the Rushmoor Community Lottery sixth anniversary celebration event on 11 September, where the grant awards will be announced 
• All funding offers will be subject to the recipients accepting the funding conditions. You will need to return a signed acceptance form before we issue your grant. You must accept the offer within two weeks, or we may withdraw it 
• You should acknowledge the funding award from the Rushmoor Community Lottery in your publicity material and on your website and use the logo which will be provided 
• The funding must be spent within six months, by 31 March 2024 
• A feedback form must be completed after the project has taken place and returned to us by 30 April 2024 for your organisation to be considered for future grants  
• We may invite you to give a brief presentation to other good causes about your project at a future anniversary celebration 
• If the group disbands/breaks up, any equipment purchased through the Community Fund will become the property of Rushmoor Borough Council 
• All groups/organisations must keep financial records in case there is an audit requirement 
• Any unspent funding must be returned to the council so we can redistribute it. Receipts should be sent with the feedback report by 30 April 2024 
• We may ask you for a copy of your organisation’s constitution 

Not following the grant conditions may result in a request for reimbursement of the awarded grant, or exclusion from future rounds of grants from Rushmoor Borough Council. 

Grant application process 

The Community Forum* will meet in the summer to assess applications and decide who is awarded a grant. Applications and supporting documents must be received by us by midday on 12 June 2023. 

• You will receive an email confirming receipt of your application 
• If extra information is requested, you must provide this by the date specified in the request otherwise your application may receive a low score or not be considered for a grant 
• The Community Forum will assess your application and supporting documents, scoring it against the criteria stated above and make the decision on grant awards  
• The decisions will be announced at the Rushmoor Community Lottery sixth anniversary celebration on 11 September 2023 where a representative from the organisation will receive details of the award 
• Written confirmation of the outcome of your application will be emailed to you the following day after which you can start your project 
• If your application is successful, this letter will include BACS and acceptance forms, which must be returned to us within two weeks so that your grant payment can be processed 
• Payment will be made by BACS by the end of September provided the signed acceptance and BACS forms have been returned 
• A feedback form will also be sent to you. This must be completed after the project has taken place and returned to us by 30 April 2024 for your organisation to be considered for future grants from this fund 
• If your application is unsuccessful, your decision letter will give the reason for rejection.  Appeals against the process used to award funding will be dealt with using our complaints procedure 

* The Community Forum consists of: 

• Portfolio Holder for Democracy, Strategy and Partnerships  
• Assistant Chief Executive  
• Invitee from the faith group 
• Invitee to represent young people 
• Invitee to represent the business community 
• Invitee to represent sport 
• Invitee from local voluntary and community sector 

Forum members with a conflict of interest for a particular funding application will not take part in assessing that application. 

Helping you with your application 

Consultations

If you are new to writing applications, or perhaps you were unsuccessful last time you applied to the Rushmoor Community Lottery Fund. Help is available.

Rushmoor Voluntary Services (RVS) are offering 30-minute one to one consultations with an experienced member of their community development team to help you with your application.

Before you book a session

• Before submitting your application, record your responses as a separate document. It is important you have a go at answering the questions before coming to the session. You can then bring the document to the meeting, or we will send you an email address to share electronically
• Choose a bookable session that you can attend
• Book the session by following the link provided on the schedule
• You will receive a message from RVS to confirm your booking. RVS will give you a link to join them on Zoom or information about where you will meet in person

If you need any help booking your session, please email debbie.whitcombe@rvs.org.uk

Top tips

• Check through the criteria. Do you meet all of the essential criteria? Does your application include a response about everything that will be considered when assessing your application? 
• Have you consulted? Please show us you have evidence that the project is needed as we are more likely to fund projects which can prove they will make a difference and will be sustainable 
• Remember to include quotes for items/services you wish to purchase. Quotes from internet suppliers will be sufficient 
• Include details of everything you need for the project, even if you are not asking us to fund it