Grant Making Policy

1. The Objects of the Tenbury NILS Scheme (“the Charity”)

The Charity’s objects (“Objects”) are specifically restricted to the following:

To provide no interest loans and grant based support to local people in acute financial need in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.

 

2. Priorities for Support

The number of applications which can be supported by The Charity is, by necessity, limited to the amount of funds available for distribution in line with the Charity’s general reserves policy. The Board of Trustees will set- aside an annual budget for grant giving which will be reviewed quarterly to ensure appropriate allocation of resources.

 

3. Principles

In awarding grants, the Trustees will apply the following principles:
3.1 Applications from Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire are eligible for consideration
3.2 Applications may be made by individuals and/or recognised referral or partner agencies on their behalf

3.3 All applications from previous recipients of grants or from previously unsuccessful applicants will be considered by the Charity on their own merits. Although the Charity will have regard to the outcome of the previous application, any new application will in no way receive preferential or adverse consideration.

3.4 Applicants will normally be aged 18 and above. In exceptional cases, the Charity may consider applications from people under 18.

3.5 The Charity will not, save in exceptional circumstances, award single grants for sums in excess of £500.

3.6 The Charity may work in partnership with other organisations and establishments to fund grant applications.

 

4. Exclusions

4.1 The Charity does not accept applications for grants from organisations.
4.2 The Charity will not award grants for applications that do not meet with the Charity’s Objects.

4.3 The Charity reserves the right to decline any application and there is no obligation on the Charity to provide a reason for its decision. Each decision is final and there is no appeal process.

 

5. Grant application process

All applications for grants should be completed in conjunction with this policy. They must be made by using the Charity grant application form, completed in full by the client, their referrer and/or client administrators and may be emailed to enquiries@nils.org.uk

 

6. Information requirements when making a grant application

Before awarding a grant to any individual the Charity requires that the applicant should:

6.1 Inform the Charity of the purpose of the application and the way in which the grant will be used including expected outcomes to the applicant.

6.2 Applicants must provide adequate information regarding their current income, housing and financial status.

6.3 Applicants will be required to provide information regarding their identity. The Charity may request this during the assessment of the application (it is not required on initial application).

6.4 Applicants must provide adequate information regarding the financial status of their household.

 

7. Assessment process

7.1 All grant applications will be subject to initial assessment to ensure they meet the basic criteria for funding. Applicants must be prepared to provide further information as the Charity may reasonably require to assist in the decision-making and due diligence process. Grants will be considered by the Charity and the Charity will aim to notify all applicants of the outcome of their application for funding within 5 working days from submission for Trustee review. Urgent applications will be considered as soon as possible, following receipt of a completed application (including all necessary paperwork to accompany the application).

7.2 Applicants should note that, as with many other charitable trusts, The Tenbury NILS Scheme may well receive far more applications than it has funds to support. Even if an application fits within the criteria and priorities of the Charity and a detailed assessment has been made, the Charity may still be unable to provide a grant.

7.3 In times of high demand, and/or limited funds, where multiple items are requested the Charity reserves the right to prioritise what is granted and when in order to enable the Charity to support as many beneficiaries at any time as possible.

7.4 The Charity will not be obliged to provide an explanation to the applicant should the applicant’s application be unsuccessful.

7.5 If the application is successful; the Charity reserves the right to issue the grant funds directly to the supplier/provider of the goods or services that the applicant has specified that the grant is to be used for rather than make a payment to the applicant.

7.6 If the application is successful, and the applicants’ circumstances change; the applicant must inform the Charity regarding any changes that relate to the purpose of the award. The Charity will consider the change of circumstance but reserves the right to withdraw the award where appropriate. It may be that where circumstances have changed significantly, the applicant may be required to submit a new application.

 

8. Monitoring outcomes from grants awarded

8.1 It is the policy of the Charity to monitor all grants made. To this end, before a grant can be confirmed, conditions may be stipulated appropriate to the application and progress may be assessed against agreed targets and/or milestones.

8.2 If the grant is payable in instalments, then payment of subsequent grant instalments may be dependent on satisfactory progress having been demonstrated and the Charity reserves the right to withdraw the grant on receipt of unsatisfactory progress update reports or in the absence of any updates.

8.3 If applicable the Charity may contact the grantee in the period following the award of the grant to identify progress against the objective of the grant.

8.4 The Charity may require repayment of all OR any part of the grant if:

  1. 8.4.1  The purpose for which it was awarded does not proceed;
  2. 8.4.2  Part of the grant remains unused when the activities that the grant was intended to fund have been completed: or
  3. 8.4.3  The grant is used for a purpose other than that which has been agreed.

 

9. Variations to this policy

9.1 The board of trustees may vary the terms of this policy from time to time.