Contact: Louise Pickford - 01962 847355, e-mail: [email protected]

1. Introduction

1.1 This report shows details of grant requests received from voluntary organisations and other bodies which are to be considered from the Policy and Resources grants budget.

2. Recommendations:

a) That grants totalling £24,000 be made to voluntary organisations and other bodies as specified in the attached schedule to this report.

b) That a grant of £40,000 be made towards the new accommodation block at Fairthorne Manor in Curdridge. This sum to be met from Corporate underspends in 2006/07.

3. Budget Position

3.1 The balance available for allocation at today's meeting is £64,306, after grants approved at the last decision day, commitments made in previous years and sums earmarked for specific purposes.

4. Details of Requests

4.1 The Schedule of items gives details of 6 applications which, if agreed in the amounts recommended, would total £24,000 and is attached as Appendix 2 to this report. A copy of the guidelines used for allocating these grants is included as Appendix 1.

4.2 YMCA Fairthorne Manor, Curdridge

4.2.1 Fairthorne Manor is an outdoor education and community resource situated on the upper reaches of the river Hamble. From educational visits to play schemes and from Development training courses to art shows it provides the venue for a range of activities. Its work is open to people of all abilities and backgrounds and provides opportunities for people with special needs to integrate with its programmes. During 2005, 15,000 children visited the centre, and of those, 6,500 were living in Hampshire (43%).

4.2.2 A grant is being sought from the County Council to provide a new accommodation block to replace an existing portacabin-type building which is at the end of its useful life. The block will provide twenty-four four bedded rooms for children and young people and single rooms for teachers and group leaders. It will also have communal areas for study/socialising as well as washing facilities. It is anticipated the building will be ready for use by the end of 2008 and cost £1.75 million. Funds raised/requested for the project are:

· fundraising already achieved - £200,000

· DEFRA contribution - £65,000

· Clothworkers Foundation - £50,000 (decision awaited December 2007)

The balance will be met by loans.

4.2.3 The Director of Children's Services comments are as follows:

The YMCA do excellent work both locally and nationally. This department is well acquainted with Fairthorne Manor through residential courses it holds there. The Centre is well thought of and a grant is recommended.

4.2.4 A grant of £40,000 is proposed to support the provision of a new accommodation block at Fairthorne Manor. This sum is to be met from Corporate underspends.

5. Conclusion

5.1 The awarding of these grants would support all of the County Council's Corporate Priorities by making Hampshire safer and more secure for all, Maximising well-being and Enhancing our quality of place.

OR

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excluded:

Published works.

Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE FILE

Letters from organisations which Chief Executive's Department

applied for financial assistance

5dR80104

Appendix 1

EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR POLICY AND RESOURCES

GUIDELINES FOR ALLOCATION OF GRANTS

TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS AND OTHER BODIES

These notes should be regarded as guidelines and not prescriptive rules.

(i) Assistance will be considered only in response to direct applications from the individual or organisation seeking assistance.

(ii) Where appropriate, applications will be referred to the relevant service department (e.g. Adult Services, Children's Services, Recreation & Heritage, Environment, etc) for consideration.

(iii) Grants will normally be "one off" and not recurring.

(iv) Preference will be given to applications for specific projects rather than "general running costs" of organisations or projects with on-going revenue implications. Any applications for the latter must state how the on-going costs will be met.

(v) Only in exceptional circumstances will grants be made in respect of applications from the following:-

· District or Parish Councils (precepting bodies)


· Government Institutions (e.g. NHS)


· Schools (exceptions might include special schools)


· Overseas and out of County organisations which have no direct Hampshire involvement


· Branches or organisations assisted centrally with a sum from the County Council (e.g. Citizens Advice Bureaux, Scout and Guiding Organisations)


· Bodies requesting funds for onward distribution to charities e.g. mayoral appeals, carnivals, fetes, etc.

(vi) As a general rule, grants will only be awarded to churches to support accessibility issues in line with the County Council's policy regarding the Disability Discrimination Act.

(vii) Assistance will be considered for organisations based in Portsmouth or Southampton only insofar as benefits to the wider County result.

(viii) Where possible self-help within organisations should be encouraged and to this end, grants should normally be a percentage of the sum required to complete the project.

(ix) Requests may be considered from young people in Hampshire aged between 16 and 25 years undertaking trips for educational/personal development purposes. Grants will not be awarded for university students undertaking electives as part of their degree.

(x) Conditions may be attached to any grant if considered appropriate, e.g. availability of minibuses for community use when not in use by the owning organisation.

(xi) As a general rule, grants in excess of £5,000 will not be awarded.

(xii) Where financial support is sought towards a facility, which is used by others, such as a hall or minibus, details should be given of the extent of that use (in % term(s) and to what extent charges are made.

(xiii) As a general rule, grants will be held up to a maximum of three years after the award has been made.