We make many grants each year, these are just a few examples from this year so far.
See also our past grants in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
North Walsham Photographic Group received a £300 grant for display boards and posters for their 40th anniversary exhibition in May.
Sacred Heart Church received a £600 grant for a new cooker in their parish hall
Funky Feet Dance and Acrobatic group received a £1000 grant for props, costumes and equipment
North Walsham Brownies received a £610 grant for a new oven and freezer at the Aylsham Road Guides HQ.
The new U10 girls team at North Walsham Town Football Club received a £363 grant for equipment
Grants awarded so far total an amazing £172,714
Trustee Bob Wright said that “all 25 members of the Community Shop team are proud to be able to provide funding for locally focussed projects. It is the reason that the shop was established, and we look forward to awarding further grants every month”
WHO AND WHAT DO WE FUND?
North Walsham Community Shop raises funds for the community of North Walsham. It’s that simple!
We raise funds to support local groups and charities that;
- Help people of a variety of ages and abilities,
- Enhance any aspect of the environment of our town.
It works. We opened on 15th January 2018 and thanks to the generous support and encouragement by the town’s community, we are successfully raising funds to support local projects that satisfy our stated aims.
These aims define the charity and are;
- To help disadvantaged groups in the town and local area to help them meet their needs and participate more fully in society and to promote equality and diversity
- To help projects and groups improve the public environment to enhance the quality of life for all
We’ve made our aims as wide ranging as possible. This allows us to provide support to a massively diverse range of groups, campaigns and initiatives across the town.
WHY DO WE DO IT?
North Walsham has an unusually strong and vibrant community. We’re all proud to be a part of it. The scale of involvement in social media forums not only demonstrates this but also shows a keen interest in the town’s regeneration.
Over the last 10 years or so, grants and funding throughout the UK have all but vanished. This now leaves a massive range of wonderful projects either struggling financially or simply never happening. Simple ideas can make a huge difference to people’s lives, offering opportunities and support that would otherwise never happen.
Projects that may not seem important on a national level are important to us. We understand our community and see how little it costs to make a big difference. Between us we provide simple, easily accessible funding for the things our community cares about and that very probably wouldn’t happen without the shop.
WHAT WE WANT IN RETURN?
In return for grants and funding, all we ask is that groups clearly advertise the fact that we have helped them. This helps to promote the shop and encourages further donations that will help fund future grants …… a virtuous circle of community collaboration.
APPLY FOR FUNDING
To apply for a grant, fill in our simple grant form which is available here or pick up a printed copy from the shop.
The grants committee meets in the first week of each month.
At the end of each month, all the applications received will be reviewed by the grants committee, usually in the first week of the next month, and grants presented soon after.
“Special thanks to the people behind the project of the community shop, the volunteers manning the shop and the local community who are supporting this venture. Well done” Colin Jeary, North Walsham Funday
“Thanks to North Walsham Community Shop for their kind donation” Matt Smith North Walsham Play
GRANTS PROCEDURE
Our granting rules
The Community Shop is a registered charity and we are bound by the terms of our Trust Deed. We are required to record where funds are allocated and how they are used.
We fund specific things and do not contribute to a general expense pot for a project or event. This ensures that we can demonstrate what our funds have been specifically used for. It is our policy not to contribute where the funds would be directly passed on to a 3rd party; we want to see efforts made to increase the value of our donation.
We make grants to both formal and informal groups, but only make payments to their named bank accounts and not to individuals. This ensures the audit trail of our funds into the defined awarded group. Where groups do not have their own account, then we pay for the item directly on their behalf.
Where events that we support are raising funds for something else, then we like to know what that is, again so that we can record how our grant has helped a good cause.
The geographic area for grants is the NR28 postcode. However, this boundary not to be absolute and that occasional grants outside this could be agreed, provided that a strong North Walsham benefit could be identified
Grant approval and payments
Grant applications are considered monthly by a committee of our Trustees. These must clearly meet our objectives, include clear benefits to the town and describe how our grant would be spent. Where queries are raised by members, then grantees are asked for further information. Decisions are notified to grant applicants.
The quorum for any meeting is 4 and decisions approved by a majority of those present. Email votes are accepted.
Follow up
We ask for grantees to cooperate with us on publicity photos and press and by publicising the shop to their members and users
On completion of projects, we request evidence from grantees of how our contribution was used, via photos, invoices or other record.