Funding Information for Parish Action Plans
Bedfordshire Rural Affairs Forum has successfully obtained funding under Defra's Rural Social and Communities Programme to support the development of Parish Action Plans in the county. This builds on BRAF's delivery of Interim Parish Plan funding in Bedfordshire for Defra in 2005/6, in which a total of £15,271 of Defra funding was granted to 10 parishes. Click here for an external link to the BRAF website.The total grant pot in 2006/7 is around £16,000, with a similar amount expected to be available in 2007/8. A BRAF panel will normally meet three times a year to determine grant awards.
You can download the application form, supporting documents and guidance from the BRAF website by clicking here Supporting documents.
Deadlines for applications in 2007/08 are:
- 20 June 2007
- 3 October 2007
- 23 January 2008
Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity will be able to offer you advice and support on developing a parish action plan and on completing your funding application. Please contact Zoe Ashby (Beds RCC Rural Services Officer) on 01234 832618. Or email Zoea at bedsrcc.org.uk. For other queries about the funding scheme, please contact Jane Markham, BRAF Coordinator, on 01525 878159 or email Janem at bedsrcc.org.uk
Please note that priority for grants may be given to communities that are described by the following criteria:
- Smaller, more remote communities
- Parishes where the Parish Council is aiming for Quality PC status
- Parishes who aim to undertake most work themselves, not through consultants
- Parishes who show a willingness to work with neighbouring parishes
- Parishes who aim to include all members of the community
- Parishes who have already attempted to involve local authorities
- Parishes who have already applied for alternative funding