Staff and Trustees at Lincolnshire Community Foundation (LCF) are excited to launch a new grant funding opportunity in partnership with East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) – the East Lindsey Community Legacy Scheme. Following the success of both the UKSPF and ELIF GRASSroots Grant schemes which invested over £4.4 million into community organisations in Boston Borough, East Lindsey and South Holland and attracted a further £2 million in additional external funding, the team at LCF are delighted to be able to extend support further in East Lindsey through this new programme, funded through ELDC’s East Lindsey Investment Fund.
Who can apply?
This scheme is open to not-for-profit community groups, registered charities, social enterprises and town and parish councils delivering projects in the District of East Lindsey.
How much can you apply for?
Grants of up to £35,000 can be applied for by prospective applicants. This includes capital and revenue costs.
What can be funded?
Projects must align with the aims of the East Lindsey Investment Fund, particularly around its target area of community development. Prospective projects must should address themes identified by East Lindsey residents and address one or more of the following priorities:
- Community Facilities
- Community Cohesion
- Core Strength
- Digital Exclusion & Transport
- Young People
- Older People
- Heritage, arts & culture
More information about these priorities is noted in the Fund Guidelines available by clicking the orange ‘Download Application’ button.
What cannot be funded?
The following aspects cannot or are unlikely to be funded through this Scheme.
- Projects with a total cost exceeding £5,000 that cannot evidence match funding of at least 25% of the total project value, whether through other financial sources or an in-kind contribution.
- Projects promoting religious or political belief. Places of worship can be considered, but will need to demonstrate the project is actively open and welcoming to people from all faiths and backgrounds and to the wider community.
- Capital works to domestic properties.
- Individuals
- General contributions to large appeals unless the majority of match funding support is in place.
- Projects not taking place or supporting residents in the area of benefit (East Lindsey).
- Grant making bodies applying for funding to redistribute to others.
- Retrospective expenditure or unsustainable deficits or loans.
- Funding for capital projects (play equipment, outdoor gym equipment etc.) where there has been no local consultation.
- Projects that cannot spend funding, deliver work and report on impact by the end of February 2028.
- Projects where the applicant has a limited track record in local delivery.
- A project that requires substantial capacity building (e.g. specialist recruitment).
- Building works which have not received planning permission or confirmation from the local planning department that planning permission is not needed.
- Activity that duplicates pre-existing private or public sector funding or activity that the applicant has a statutory duty to undertake.
- Renewable energy sources such as solar panels.
- Schools or parent-teacher associations (PTAs)
- National or regional organisations
- Applicants with an open project funded by this scheme or another ELIF funded programme which is similar in nature to the project you intend to apply to this scheme for.
How do I apply?
Please complete the application form and all supporting documentation (listed in the application form) downloadable through the orange ‘Download Application’ button and submit this either electronically to cavan@lincolnshirecf.co.uk or by post to East Lindsey Community Legacy Scheme, Lincolnshire Community Foundation, Glennys Sanders House, Pride Parkway, Sleaford, NG34 8GL.
If I’m successful, what will happen next?
We will generally notify you within six weeks of a closing date with the outcome of your application. If you are awarded a grant, it will be paid directly to the bank account listed in your application. Payments are usually made in arrears. However, where an applicant does not have the financial resource to cover project costs, payments may be made in advance or in staged payments.
You MUST spend your grant either within 1 year or within the timeline set by LCF and provide feedback halfway through your project (if longer than 6 months) and upon conclusion of project spend and completion of work. We’ll tell you more about this if you are successful.
What do you do with my application?
We’ll email you to confirm we have received your application once you have submitted your form. If we have any further questions or need additional information during our in-house assessment period, the Grantmaker for this Scheme will be in touch to discuss this with you.
Lincolnshire Community Foundation will then arrange a meeting with Panel members to discuss your application further, so they can determine what awards should be made, taking into consideration:
- whether or not you meet the criteria for the fund
- what impact your project will have on East Lindsey residents
- how well your project fits with the aims and objectives of the wider East Lindsey Investment Fund.
We will let you know the outcome of your application within 6 weeks of the closing date for the Round in which the application is submitted to us.
We would ask that you please familiarise yourself with the Grant Guidelines and Application Form prior to making an application. If you would like to have a conversation with the Grantmaker regarding this scheme or a potential project for it, please contact Cavan Collins at 01529 305825 or email cavan@lincolnshirecf.co.uk