Knights House Fund

Please read the Essential Information before applying. 

Knights House Fund

 

Background Information: 

The Knights House Charity was originally established in February 1875.  In 1972 it was merged, with the permission of the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales, with the Charity of Richard Garnett, to be administered as one scheme.

 

The Knights House fund is one of a number of funds which comes under the umbrella of the Halton Foundation.The Halton Foundation was launched in February 2016 and aims to forge links between local community groups who need help, with local businesses who may be able to provide it. The partnership is led by Halton Chamber of Commerce, Halton Borough Council and Halton and St Helen’s Voluntary and Community Action (VCA).  The Foundation’s grant making arm is administered by the Community Foundation for Merseyside.

What is the focus of the fund:  The Knights House Fund aims to support people in the borough of Widnes who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress.  The fund will fund both voluntary and community groups that are working in the Widnes area on a wide range of charitable projects and also individuals in need of additional help and support.  Additionally, applications will also be considered from groups that are supporting communities in need during the current Coronavirus pandemic.

 

Voluntary and community groups need to be able to evidence the requirement for their project and show how it will reduce the need, hardship or distress of their beneficiaries.  The fund aims to support projects that are alleviating poverty, responding to a basic lack of provision and relieving emotional and physical suffering.

 

Individuals can apply for items such as white goods and furniture and need to evidence a need for their request and demonstrate that funding is not available from elsewhere ie government funding.  Applications from individuals should also be accompanied by a letter of support/reference from an appropriate organization/individual such as Citizens Advice Bureau, local Councillor, local charity or community group.  They should be aware of your situation and your need for the items requested.

 

How much is available: The maximum grant available is £1000 for groups and £250 for individuals. More may be awarded in exceptional circumstances.

Who can apply:Voluntary or community groups with a constitution or set of rules in the group’s name, which includes CICs and Social Enterprises and individuals.

Which areas are covered: Beneficiaries must come fromtheWidnes area

Any special criteria: The fund will not support core salaries or general running costs but will consider sessional worker costs and an element of full cost recovery as part of a specific project.

 

Examples of the sorts of projects that may be funded for groups:

• Activities for people with disabilities
• Foodbanks
• Self-help groups
• Luncheon clubs
• Projects to reduce social isolation for vulnerable groups
• Debt advice sessions
• Domestic violence project
• Mental health initiatives

 Examples of the sorts of items that may be funded for individuals:

• Equipment such as white goods, furniture, bedding
• Clothes/winter wear
• Specific equipment to help with disabilities such as mobility aids

 The fund is willing to respond to emergency situations affecting both groups and individuals and is willing to consider an application for funding outside of the scheduled open rounds. Please contact Joan Ford if you wish to submit an emergency application – joan.ford@cflm.email

 

There is no closing date - applications can be accepted at any time 

 

How to apply?

Please visit the Community Foundation for Merseyside’s website - www.cfmerseyside.org.uk and complete an online application form. Once you have submitted the online application you will need to send the documents listed below. If you do not submit all the relevant documents within 7 days your application will be withdrawn.  You can now attach the documents to your online application, email them to applications@cflm.email or post them to the address below.  Individual applicants should download  

an electronic application form which can be saved and emailed back to us. Supporting documents can either be emailed to us or posted to us.

 

Documents which need to be included with your application:

Groups

• A copy of your governing document or constitution
• A copy of your latest annual accounts or income/expenditure document
• A copy of a recent bank statement for your group
• A copy of your current Safeguarding Policy. All applicants must ensure that they hold relevant policies and procedures in place to undertake activities, such as Criminal Records Bureau checks and/or a health and safety policy, depending on proposed activity. If unsure about what you need please contact the Community Foundation for help (details below)
• NB: If you have received a grant from us in the last 12 months and have already submitted copies of the above documents, you do not need to send them in again. However, a bank statement is required with every application.

 

Individuals

• Proof of residency in Widnes (a copy of a utility bill/ driving licence or other similar document stating your home address will suffice)
• A copy of a recent bank statement
• Letter of support/reference

 

The following items cannot be supported via the fund:

• Statutory organisations or work that is their responsibility

• National organizations that cannot demonstrate local governance and control of local finances
• Commercial ventures
• Purchase/maintenance of vehicles
• Activities that will have already taken place before we offer you a grant
• Politically connected or exclusively religious activities
• Projects for personal profit
• Organisations that are set up for the benefit of animals or plants: environmental groups that work with animals or the environment (such as city farms) are acceptable
• Groups comprising of just members of the same family
• Debts and other liabilities
• Reclaimable VAT
• Travel outside UK
• Gifts or projects exclusively for the purpose of entertaining – social events can be funded where there is a clear community benefit

 

What happens next?

All completed applications are assessed by Community Foundation staff to confirm eligibility. You may be contacted for more information after applying and a decision making panel will make recommendations based on the fund’s criteria and the budget available.

You should expect to hear the outcome of your application within 6 weeks of the closing date.  For further information, please contact Joan Ford, Community Philanthropy Manager at:

T: 0151 294 4756 (direct line) 0330 4404900 (switchboard)

Email: joan.ford@cflm.email