Decision details

To seek approval to approve changes to the funding criteria of the SK Community Fund to be implemented during the 2025/2026 financial year and to put a delegation in place to give delegated authority to the Community Engagement Manager, in consultation with the Cabinet Member whose portfolio includes the SK Community Fund to make future, minor, amendments to the fund’s criteria as required to enable appropriate access by the voluntary and community sector of South Kesteven.

1.       That approval is granted for changes to the funding criteria of the SK Community Fund to be implemented during the 2025/2026 financial year.

2.       That a delegation is put in place to give delegated authority to the Community Engagement Manager, in consultation with the Cabinet Member whose portfolio includes the SK Community Fund to make future, minor, amendments to the fund’s criteria as required to enable appropriate access by the voluntary and community sector of South Kesteven.

The recommendation made will positively impact the voluntary and community sector operating within South Kesteven.

The Council has a strong record in supporting the voluntary and community sector by helping to enable communities to be more self-sufficient.   This continues to be a key priority for the Council and is evidenced through its Corporate Plan aim of Connecting Communities. Working with and providing support for the voluntary and community sector is central to achieving this.

In support of such groups, the Council introduced the SK Community Fund in 2015 to offer grants to constituted community groups, charities and social enterprise organisations.

It is important that the application process, including the assessment and funding criteria are regularly reviewed to ensure they remain fit for purpose. A review was undertaken during 2024/25 which highlighted the need to refresh the criteria with changes being introduced in the 2025/26 financial year.

The Rural and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee was asked to review proposed changes to the current criteria at its meeting of 13 February 2025 and made recommendation to the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture to change the funding criteria.

Change to the funding criteria of the SK Community Fund which will allow grant applications from groups or organisations that require people to pay a membership fee in order to participate for example local sports clubs, scouts, guides etc.

These groups have previously been eligible for grants but were removed from the eligibility criteria in 2019 at the request of Members of the Awarding Panel.

The amendment to the criteria of the SK Community Fund will be put in place for all applications from Round 37 onward in 2025/2026.