We hope this funding will be available annually - deadline details for 2012/13 will be added when these are confirmed.  For information the details of the grant are available below. 

The Conservation and Community Planning Grant scheme offers the opportunity to apply for grants of up to 50 per cent of the cost of a project up to a maximum of £3,000 (maximum £1,000 for individuals or businesses).

Who can apply?

• Community groups - including Local Area Partnerships (groups need to be constituted with their own bank account)
• Town and Parish Councils
• Businesses and individuals with the support and endorsement of the parish / town council (businesses and individuals are only eligible to apply for the historic and landscape character elements of the grant)

Criteria

The main purpose is to improve the local landscape, the local historic environment (supporting local traditional skills and crafts) or support community or neighbourhood planning participation in West Dorset (contact us if you are unsure if you are in the West Dorset area or if you would like to know if your project is eligible).

Historic Character Projects

• Projects that result in a lasting enhancement within a conservation area which have benefits to the wider community (they must be part of or visible from the public realm).
• Greater priority will be given to projects identified as needed to improve the character of the area in the conservation area appraisals.
• Projects will need to be maintained in an appropriate way for a minimum period of 10 years.
• Projects should support traditional craft skills, materials and trades and use local labour
• Examples include: conservation of traditional walls, railings and gates, traditional paving and steps, market crosses, traditional painted sign writing, village wells, pumps and pounds.

Landscape Character Projects

• Projects that result in a lasting enhancement to the local landscape and which have benefits to the wider community (they must be visible from public places).
• Projects will need to will be maintained in an appropriate way for a minimum period of 10 years.
• Projects should support traditional craft skills and trades and use local labour
• Examples include: hedge laying; hedgerow and woodland planting; heath land restoration.
• Greater priority will be given to schemes that would improve landscape character in areas of landscape decline. More information can be found in the Landscape Character: Management Guidance (pdf, 4Mb) (opens in a new window) . 

Community / Neighbourhood Planning

• Projects that develop a Parish Plan; Parish Plan revision; or Neighbourhood Plan.
• Greater priority will be given for the development of new parish and neighbourhood plans.
• Funding can contribute to consultation events; questionnaires; analysis; publicity/communication and printing.
• The Local Area Partnership and District Council should be included in any consultation.
• Guidance on producing parish plans can be found here.

The grant will not fund

• Work or equipment that has already been paid for or ordered
• Salaries and running costs
• Ongoing maintenance
• Projects that mainly benefit individual householder or landowner

How much will we fund?

• Up to 50% of the total project costs to a maximum of £3,000 to parish and town councils or community groups and £1,000 to individuals and businesses. Up to 25% of the total project costs can be from in kind contributions.

• Community Support
  Name: Community Support (West Dorset)
  Email: C.Stone@westdorset-weymouth.gov.uk
  Tel: 01305 252238
  Full details for Community Support (West Dorset)