Community grants frequently asked questions

How do I apply for grant aid?  
What constitutes a good application?
What level of grant can be applied for?
How will the application be assessed?  
How is the application processed?  
When are decisions notified?
What other Council grant aid is available?  


How do I apply for grant aid?
After reading the criteria, grant strategies and priorities, application form and associated guidance notes, complete, sign and date the application form. Enclose all documents requested, and ensure these are received by the Council's Grants Unit by the closing date stated on the application form. For further assistance and advice, the application pack contains details of Advice Surgeries that the Grants Unit provide in association with Ealing Community and Voluntary Service. See also the key contacts.

What constitutes a good application?
In making decisions on grant aid, the council will consider the extent to which organisations address the following issues: -

  1. How the applicant organisation has addressed Equality, Diversity, Social Inclusion and Sustainability.
  2. How the application meets the specific criteria of grant service areas; how it provides evidence of need.
  3. How the project will benefit the Borough and what specific outcomes will be achieved because of it.
  4. How the applicant organisation has demonstrated a commitment to access additional funding streams, thereby reducing their dependency on a single source of funding for its work in the Borough.
  5. How the applicant organisation has demonstrated a commitment to exploring all opportunities for joint working with other organisations to improve the impact of their work and to reduce costs.
  6. The application for grant aid is cost effective.

Applicants should note that the giving of grant aid is at the discretion of the Council and that fulfillment of one or more of the above criteria will not automatically ensure the Council makes a grant. In allocating grant aid within the grants budget available, the Council will also need to take account of the overall needs of Ealing's communities. For further advice on writing an effective application – see  writing a good application (word).

What level of grant can be applied for?
The Council is looking for realism in setting requests for grant aid. You should determine the grant request after you have followed the advice set out in the above – what constitutes a good application. Requests for grant aid should be realistic and take account of the limited budget available for grant aid by the Council.

How will the application be assessed?
Applications will be assessed and marked using a scoresheet as per the sample enclosed in the application pack.

How is the application processed?
Copies of your application together with enclosures will be circulated to appropriate Council departments for their comments. A scoresheet will be completed by Grant Lead Officers and the Council's Cabinet will normally make final decisions in the following February.

When are decisions notified?
Applicants are formally notified of the outcome of their application in March after the Council has made its budget. Applicants allocated grant are required to comply with the Council's conditions of grant aid, sign a grant agreement and submit a revised budget endorsed by a meeting of their management committee, before payment of grant can be authorised.

What other Council grant aid is available?
Instead of applying for an annual grant, applicants may wish to apply to the special grant fund which is available throughout the year.

In addition, small funds might become available in various areas. It is advisable to contact the key contact officer in the particular area you are working within to see if other funding streams exist - see the list of key contacts.