Springboard

Application process

The panel reviews applications four times per year and applications are reviewed by a panel comprising of Red Kite tenants (e-Panel) and staff members.

• Application round open
• Application forms submitted
• Application round closes
• Applications reviewed internally
• Applications circulated to e-Panel
• Formal panel meeting held
• Decision communicated to applicant.

Please note: Applicants who have received Springboard or Starting Block funding cannot reapply for any further funding from either stream within a 12-month period of funding being granted.

Before applying please be aware:

• Applications will only be considered from projects or organisations delivering in an area where Red Kite Community Housing operates. If you wish to deliver a project in another location, we will not be able to consider your application.
• The panel must have reason to believe that the funding requested will be used in line with our core values. Read more about our values.
• Applications must provide a clear breakdown of how the requested funds will be spent, with due consideration of value for money in all costings.
• Applicants must submit their latest financial statement if they have one.

Applications will not be considered in the following circumstances:

• Incomplete applications or applications that do not clearly explain what the project or activity is. All applications must include a detailed project plan and budget
• Projects where beneficiaries are connected to Red Kite Community Housing Employees or Board Members when this has not been declared first
• Projects that may bring reputational risk to Red Kite Community Housing
• Applicants who are in serious breach of their Red Kite Group tenancy agreement or lease, or display conduct which is damaging to the association
• Previous funding recipients who have outstanding feedback data to submit. Please get in touch with the Resident and Community Engagement Team via springboard@redkitehousing.org.uk if you are not sure whether this applies to you
• Red Kite funding cannot be used to support any party political activities or activities promoting a religious or political belief
  The fund will not support gaps created in local government funded services but will consider applications to support new community projects delivered by key partners that are now or have previously been recipients of local government funding.

• For Springboard, there is no maximum limit for an application, but we would strongly suggest contacting the team first to discuss any bid for an amount exceeding £10,000. The Resident and Community Engagement team are always happy to discuss any project or project idea that you may have and can be reached on 01494 476 288 or via springboard@redkitehousing.org.uk.
• Grant funding will be allocated based on the potential for positive impact to realise potential in our communities and will be reviewed by Red Kite staff and tenants.
• Funding will only be allocated on the basis that feedback will be provided on the impact and outcomes from the activity.
• Recipients of grants must contact Red Kite immediately once they become aware of a reason why the funded project or activity will not be able to go ahead as planned. In this situation Red Kite may require funds to be returned or agree for them to be put towards a different project.

Please be aware that we are not able to pay grants directly into an individual’s personal bank account. As an organisation that gives out funds, we carry out some checks on the information you provide us. This is to make sure that the information is correct and there are no significant risks we can identify when awarding grants.

• All organisations awarded grants to the value of £2,000 and over will be set up as a new supplier by our payment’s team. To do this, additional documentation will be sent out to be completed and the necessary checks made to prevent fraud
• Please note that all payments will be made via BACS transfer and can take up to 28 days to show in the account.

We are an organisation that processes many payments and are required to perform certain checks before being able to make a BACS payment. Our payments team cannot start these financial checks until we have received your fully completed and signed funding agreement with the name and email address of the person who deals with the accounts for your organisation.

Applications will be judged on individual merit, but we will prioritise projects that:

• We anticipate will have the most significant positive impact on our tenants and communities
• Do not duplicate the work of existing projects
• Support a demographic that has not already received much of our grant funding in that financial year, or historically.
• Support a geographic area that has not received much of our grant funding in that financial year, or historically.

It is often the case that we receive more applications than the fund can support. Please be aware that applications may be refused without a detailed reason for the decision being provided.

Payment of grant

Any grant money awarded should be claimed by the recipient immediately. In the exceptional circumstance that a grant is not paid directly to the applicant, the total funds agreed should be claimed within the same financial year that they are approved. The financial year runs from 1st April to 30th March.

In cases where funds cannot be released until a condition is met, for example if we are providing only a portion of the full project costs and the recipient needs to secure the remaining funds from additional sources before receiving our grant, the grant total should be claimed by the end of the financial year.

Thank you for your interest in our funding opportunities. Please get in touch with us if you have any further questions by emailing springboard@redkitehousing.org.uk.