Armed Forces Community Covenant Grant Scheme What Makes A Good Bid?
Jan 12, 2016
Armed Forces Community Covenant Grant Scheme
What Makes A Good Bid?
Today we will cover…
Some of the basics
An opportunity to ask questions
An exercise
Top tips
Know your Armed Forces Community
What do you know about the Armed Forces in your area?
Do you know where the nearest Regular or Reserve unit is?
Is there family accommodation in your area?
How do you find out the needs of the military in your area?
What makes a good bid?
Demonstrate the need being fulfilled
Community need
Military community need
How many will be influenced?
Keep it focused and simple
Fill in all the details
Be clear on your costings and refer back to the…
Criteria and guidance
Give yourself plenty of time to prepare your bid
Don’t take an existing bid off the shelf and sprinkle military terms through it!
Does your bid give off VIBES?
V – Value for money
I – Impact on identified need
B – Bring communities together
E – Enable an activity, (matched funding is a bonus)
S – Supported by stakeholders
To consider
Check for duplication – is the service already provided by MOD, MOD Agencies, military charities, non-military charities, your own organisation, the NHS…
What are your organisation’s strategic objectives?
What are you trying to achieve regionally?
How can we tie your objectives and military opportunity together?
Is this the best place for your bid?
Does it link back to your action plan?
Five Aims of Community Covenant
Encourage local communities to support the Armed Forces Community in their areas
Nurture public understanding and awareness amongst the public of issues affecting the Armed Forces Community
Recognise and remember the sacrifices faced by the Armed Forces Community
Encourage activities which help to integrate the Armed Forces Community into local life
Encourage the Armed Forces Community to help and support the wider community, whether through participation in events and joint projects, or other forms of engagement
Successful bids (part 1)
Youth
Faith
History
Health
Successful bids (part 2)
Employment
Education
Play!
Decision making process
Idea generated by YOU
Local Community Covenant Board
Regional Community
Covenant Board
Administration of finances, advice,
auditing,CE Team, Sp Comd Armed Forces
Covenant Team
HM Treasury
Approval Y/N
Approval Y/N
Bids which are Novel, Contentious or over
£70,000
What if your project changes?
Talk to your local panel
Explain what you’d like to happen and why
The local panel can advise and/or take advice
For the auditors, confirm it in writing
After a bid – what can you expect?
The LA may have additional Terms and Conditions to sign up to
Provide regular reports back to the LA
Expect a financial audit
Provide a final report
Demonstrate outcome
Meeting the original objectives
Show where the money went
Opportunities for publicity
Local, regional, national
Top Tips
If your bid points to a shortfall in provision, provide evidence that your proposal goes above and beyond current provision
Take advice early
Demonstrate sustainability for projects longer than 12 months
Matched funding is not essential but is beneficial, if you can’t get matched funding then explaining why is also helpful
If you are working with other organisations please be clear on their status e.g. not for profit organisations or charities
Lead the way!
Further information
Armed Forces Day Heritage Lottery Fund (www.hlf.org.uk)
https://www.gov.uk/armed-forces-community-covenant
https://www.gov.uk/community-covenant-grant-scheme
http://www.warmemorials.org/grants-scotland/ (for WW1 memorial repairs & cleaning)
http://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/