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Capital Leverage Fund application guidance

The online application form is divided into 2 parts.

Part 1

In part 1, you'll complete these sections: 

You need to complete all questions, then submit part 1. Once you've submitted part 1, you will get an email with a link to complete part 2 of the application.

About you

We will ask you for your:

  • name, position in the organisation
  • contact details (including postcode)
  • contact telephone number
  • email address (if you have one)

About your organisation

We will ask you:

  • details about your organisation e.g. name, address, and contact details
  • what type of organisation are you?
  • what is your organisations charity or company number (if appropriate)?
  • how many members/no- members do you have?
  • when was your organisation formed?
  • what are the aims of your organisation?
  • what’s your organisations annual income?
  • does your organisation own the facility or building you are seeking capital funding for?
  • which of our themes best describes your organisation – are you a sports club, museum, village hall, arts group, town council or community group?

Project details

We want to know about the capital project you are planning and why you are applying.

We will ask:

  • what you are applying for eg. improvements to your facilities; refurbishment; new build project
  • why your project is needed. The aim of the fund is to support organisations to deliver projects which provide new and improved facilities for our communities and residents
  • if you have consulted with anyone about your project
  • which Dorset Council priorities your project will meet
  • how much funding you are applying for
  • what the projected costs will be for your project or building
  • start and completion dates (if known)
  • how much you have (intend) to raise towards your project and if you are working with any other partners
  • whether your project requires planning permission and who owns the building, venue, club, or community space
  • who will benefit from any funding - which groups will use it, how many participants, or visitors will attend and what age groups will they be in
  • how you will monitor and evaluate your project to show us how you’ve met our priorities in your application

Finance

We want to understand the costs for your project (building), and how you intend to raise the funds.

We will need to know:

  • build costs
  • how much funding you have raised or intend to raise towards the project including any secured funds
  • if you are in receipt of any grants from Dorset Council for any commissioned services that you deliver
  • if you have any existing loan repayments or agreements that we need to take into consideration
  • if your project (building) will have any increases in revenue or running costs that may affect the financial sustainability of your organisation

Part 2

In part 2, you'll upload supporting documents and sign the declaration, then submit your completed application.

You will receive an email from us containing:

  • confirmation that we've got your application
  • a unique number for your application starting CLF
  • a PDF copy of your application

Mandatory documents

We will ask you to provide a:

  • copy of your governing document; set of rules; or constitution
  • copy of your Asset Lock statement and charitable objectives clause (CIC’s only)
  • copy of your Public Liability Insurance
  • copy of your Employers Liability Insurance (if appropriate)
  • copy of your Safeguarding Policy
  • copy of your organisations latest 3 months of bank statements showing account number, sort code and the name of your organisation or group 
  • copy of your organisations last 2 years of approved accounts (newly established organisations) only require copies of last 12 months accounts
  • copy of your lease or title deeds for the building
  • copy of tender documents, estimates or quotes for works (if appropriate)
  • copy of your business plan (newly established organisations only need to provide a brief income/expenditure projection) 
  • copy of your organisations Equality & Diversity Policy 
  • copy of your General Data Protection Regulations Policy 
  • copy of your Environmental Policy or Statement 

Optional:

  • copy of your Project Enquiry Form (projects under £250,000) or Expression of Interest Form (projects over £250,000) from National Lottery Community Fund
  • letter of support from your governing body of sport (sports clubs only)
  • copy of permission from property services or your landlord to develop your building or improve it
  • copy of planning permission (if appropriate)
  • copies of any grant offers received from other funders
  • copies of any loan agreements or grant repayment on your building (if appropriate)