Q. Is there a maximum grant I can apply for?
A. Yes - the maximum application allowed is £15,000.
Q. Will each applicant receive the full amount applied for?
A. Not necessarily – this depends on how closely the application fits the criteria; whether match-funding has been secured and how many other applications have been received.
Q. If I have applied for funding previously, can I apply again?
A. Yes – you can apply for the same or a separate project in another round of funding.
Q. Can I apply for funding retrospectively?
A. No – if the project has already started, you cannot apply. In the case of a major project, however, such as an ongoing refurbishment of a village hall, you can apply to fund something not already budgetted for. For example, you may have decided not to refurbish the kitchen as there was not enough money. You could apply to this fund for that part of the project.
Q. If we decide not to go ahead with the project, for whatever reason, can we keep the grant and put it towards another project?
A. No – if the original project is abandoned and the grant has already been paid, it must be repaid. If the grant has not been paid, it will go back into the fund for reallocation.
Q. Do we have any obligations to Essex County Council once we have received the grant?
A. The only obligation (apart from any specific conditions agreed when the grant was agreed), is that you must agree to participate in any media coverage organised by Essex County Council. If you organise any such coverage yourselves, you must involve Essex County Council.
Q. I don’t agree with the decisions of the panel – can I appeal?
A. No – the decision of the panel is not open to appeal.