Community Investment Funding of up to £1 million has been made available for the Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership as it participates in the siting process for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF).
The grants can be used to fund projects, schemes or initiatives benefiting the Search Area that:
Within these three main principles, the Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership may also agree locally-specific criteria. Please contact the Community Investment Team for further guidance.
Grants can be used for projects that benefit the communities within the Mid Copeland Community Partnership Search Area.
The Mid Copeland GDF Search Area covers the electoral ward of Gosforth which includes Seascale, Gosforth, Beckermet, Calderbridge, Haile, Thornhill, Nethertown and Braystones. The Lake District National Park is excluded from consideration, however CIF can be used for eligible community projects in this area.
We’re open to applications from community groups, public sector organisations and businesses that want to do something to benefit the community. And if you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry, we’re here to help, so just get in touch with us.
We encourage you to contact us before you apply. We want you to have the best chance of putting in a successful application.
We can talk to you over the phone, meet you in person (if circumstances allow) or arrange an online meeting.
We can help you ensure your bid is as thorough and well thought through as possible, with all the supporting evidence you need.
All applications will be through our online grants management system. We recommend you contact the Team for an informal discussion about your project, funding and any application needs before applying.
As part of the pre-application support organisations have the opportunity to submit a 1 page summary of their project for feedback from the Community Investment Panel. If this is something you would be interested in please get in touch communityinvestment-midcopeland@nuclearwasteservices.uk
We’re here to help you make a difference
Our role is to administer Community Investment Funding for the Mid Copeland Community Partnership by supporting the Community Investment Panel, those applying for grants and those who receive them.
Our guidance for applicants can be downloaded below.
We are open for funding applications and ready to support you.
Your information will be processed in accordance with UK Data Protection laws and we have robust systems in place to keep your information safe. Your information will be stored on our secure systems and shared with relevant individuals where necessary to process your query.
Please see our full privacy notice here.
The Community Investment Team will be happy to provide pre-application guidance and support including guidance on eligibility criteria, how to apply and practical guidance with the application form if needed.
The team are also able to signpost you to sources of more specialised support and guidance if needed.
We’re here to make your grant application as smooth as possible – and often it starts with a chat about your group and your needs.
You might be an established organisation, or you might be a group of people who want to improve things in your area but you’ve no idea where to start.
So, start here. You’ll find lots of useful information.
And if you would just like to chat through your plans, don’t hesitate to contact the team. In fact, we encourage you to chat to us before you put in application.
Talk to us now so that we can help you ensure your bid is as thorough and well thought through as possible, with all the supporting evidence you need. That way, when you’re ready to put in a grant application, you’re much more likely to be successful.
Properly constituted private, public and third sector organisations may apply for funding. Organisations may also apply in partnership but would require one organisation to act as lead organisation for the partnership and ‘accountable body’ for the funding.
If you are an unconstituted organisation it might be possible for another organisation to apply for funding on your behalf
Individuals may not apply for funding for their own personal use.
Here are some examples:
Economic Development
For example, employment opportunities, job creation, skills development, education or training, promotion of local enterprise, long-term economic development or economic diversification
Natural or Built Environment
Including cultural and natural heritage, especially where economic benefits, for example through tourism, can be demonstrated
Community Wellbeing
For example, improvements to community facilities, enhancement of the quality of life or health and well-being of the community
You can apply for a small, medium or large grant:
Small grants – under £10,000
Medium grants – above £10,000 to £50,000
Large grants – above £50,000
We always recommend you contact the team to discuss your grant request and funding needs before applying.
This would be covered in your Grant Acceptance Agreement. It would be specific to each project and relate to the information you have provided on your application form about your expected project lifetime. All eligible expenditure must be incurred during the lifetime of the project.
Ineligible expenditure includes:
Other examples of expenditure, which might be prohibited, include the following:
Applications for funding will be assessed by the Mid Copeland Community Investment Panel every eight weeks. You will then be notified of the outcome and any next steps.
