REPF Guidance

Before you fill in the application form, ensure you read through this guidance. Please refer to these guidance notes whilst completing your application form.

This scheme is subject to the approval of the investment plan by the government. Please note applications will not open until we receive this approval. The information provided in the guidance document is subject to change.

General

The aim of the fund is to support rural communities to modernise and improvement their assets to provide multiuse spaces that improve health, wellbeing, reduce rural loneliness, while having a positive impact on the local environment, contribute towards net zero, support the local rural economy, and promote community cohesion.

You must answer all questions. This will help us to determine your eligibility and suitability against the fund criteria. Should you have any questions about the application process, please contact VCSLiaison@Maidstone.gov.uk

Incomplete/inaccurate applications

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that application information and supporting evidence is correct by following the application form guidelines. Incomplete or inaccurate applications will be rejected and there may not be an opportunity to reapply. MBC is expecting high numbers of applications and we cannot seek clarifications/additional information from applicants after the application has been submitted.

Completing the application form

An form will be made available once we have received approval from the government. Please note you will have 60 minutes to complete this form. You cannot save the form and return to it at a later date. If you close the online form at any point changes will not be saved and you will have to start your application again.

Applicants details

project name - the name of the project.
name of your organisation or group - the name of the organisation/ group applying for the fund.
address and postcode of your organisation/group - please provide the address and postcode to which the organisation/group is registered.
site/building address if different
please provide the address and postcode of the location the project will take place (only complete if this is different from the organisation/groups registered address).
first person’s contact details - please provide details for the primary contact of the project - this must be somebody from the listed organisation/group.
second person’s contact details - please provide a second contact in case you are unavailable - this must be somebody from the same organisation/group as the first person listed above.

About your group or organisation

Select and mark the type of organisation that requires the grant from the list provided. Please note that we can only offer grants to properly constituted charitable, social enterprise, community and voluntary organisations. Non-constituted groups will be considered on a case by case basis. Please also supply any relevant registration or reference numbers (if applicable). If successful we may ask you to provide evidence such as a governing document which must be valid at the time of application or constitution.

Eligibility

The rural fund is only eligible for organisations meeting certain criteria which are listed below. Please select all that apply and illustrate how you meet these criteria in the box below, including your population size.

Projects are only eligible if they are in a rural area. For REPF purposes, rural areas are:

towns, villages and hamlets with populations below 10,000 and the wider countryside
market or ‘hub towns’ with populations of up to 30,000 that serve their surrounding rural areas as centres of employment and in providing services

To determine whether your project is in a rural area, and therefore eligible for the REPF, open the link to DEFRA’s Magic Map and follow the instructions below:

- Magic Map link: Magic Map Application (defra.gov.uk)

- Under ‘Table of Contents’ expand ‘Administrative Geographies’ > ‘Other Administrative Boundaries’ > select ‘Rural England Prosperity Fund’

- To search for a location either enter the postcode or manually zoom in on a location

- You will find a toolbar of icons at the top of the application. Select the ‘Identify’ icon and click on the location of your project on the map. A pop-up box will appear notifying you if the area is considered rural or not for the purposes of REPF.

Please only proceed with your application if the location of your project is considered rural.

Do you have a freehold or leasehold interest in the site/building for which your organisation/group is making an application?

Please indicate whether you have a freehold or leasehold interest in the site/building for which your organisation/group is making an application. If you are undertaking works on a building that you are the leaseholder for, you must provide two pieces of evidence with your application:

a copy of your tenancy or leasehold agreement
a letter or email from the freeholder to confirm that the works are allowable. You should submit these with your full application
please select any schemes you have previously received funding from.

If you have received funding from one of the following DEFRA schemes you will not be eligible for the rural fund:

The Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme - funding for farmers and land managers to work in partnership with National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty bodies to deliver projects on climate, nature, people and place

The Farming Investment Fund - grants to improve productivity and bring environmental benefits, covering 2 funds - the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund and the Farming Transformation Fund

The Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Improvement Grant Fund - grant funding over 3 years (to 2025) to support capital improvement projects for village halls, covering extending buildings and modernising facilities.

Please do not apply for the REPF if you have received one of these funds.

What is the objective of the project?

Funding is only available for projects that meet the REPF objectives in Maidstone, please select all objectives that apply to your project.

increase resilience in infrastructure
pride in place
strengthen community ties
protection of local biodiversity
reduction in carbon emissions
increase energy efficiency and reduction utility bills
protect businesses and community from natural hazards
improved perception of facilities
increasing use of facilities and creating a multiuse space

Your proposal

Summarise your proposal – this should include what you want to achieve, what you aim to do and the estimated start/end dates.

Your answer will help us understand exactly what your project is. You may wish to include the following information as part of your summary:

tell us about your group/organisation; what services you currently offer the community? How do you operate?
describe your project to us; for example, what will you buy with the grant, and what will it enable you to do differently?
why have you decided to do the project and are there any reasons your organisation/group has not completed the project before now?
are there any additional services or opportunities the project will allow your organisation/ group to provide the local community?

For Example:

‘Local community hall, in need of new roof and double glazing. Boiler in need of replacement to low carbon modern alternative, and solar panels for instillation on the hall roof. The community space is still in use and needs modernising to reduce energy consumption and utilities, while allowing the hall to be used throughout the coldest parts of the year for community groups, clubs and classes.’

The funding is only for capital spend. What resources do you have in place to ensure the project is delivered?

Please detail your financial resources and management system, what staff or capacity you have to organise and ensure the project is delivered, and that quotes are collected, and briefly outline how you will proceed should you be awarded the grant. Please include any known costs or quotes already gathered that may indicate the need for upgrading or restoring the community asset.

Please identify the estimated impact of your proposal by marking the appropriate section(s) below and provide supporting evidence.

improved health and wellbeing
environmental benefits
a stronger rural economy
greater community cohesion carbon reductions
flood prevention
biodiversity enhancement
reduction in utility bills
visitor numbers increased
local people supported
jobs created
number of users increased
cost savings
area of green space protected or enhanced
make public space more usable/multi use

Mark the appropriate boxes to demonstrate the impact of your project. Use the text box to explain to us what other impacts (if any) the project may have on either your organisation/ group, the environment or the community. We encourage you to also use this text box to expand on any of the boxes you have selected above. For example, you may wish to highlight the estimated cost savings, carbon reductions or number of local people supported by your project. Please include all supporting evidence.

What type(s) of work do you require to be funded? Please describe in the text box.

Mark the appropriate boxes.

upgrade heating system
insulation (windows, doors, walls)
extensions
improvements which help to increase energy efficiency
solar panels
electric vehicle chargers
internal reconfigurations
new installation of communication systems
new roof and roof refurbishment which includes insulation
refurbishment of toilets and kitchens
nature based solutions to reduce flooding
internet access
other (please outline)

Have you engaged, worked with or had input from residents, those who currently use the facilities or business in the creation and development of the proposal?

Before you apply for a grant, we expect you to carry out some basic research to show that the project that you wish to provide is needed and/or will be supported by the residents that currently use the facilities. In this box, please tell us who you consulted and the outcome, and provide any further evidence to demonstrate the need for your project.

Are you aware of similar projects, businesses or equipment already in the area? If yes please provide brief details below.

If there is a similar project in the area, please give details. Have you considered whether there is enough demand for your project as well? Have you considered joint working with the existing project?

Once completed who will have use and access to it?

We expect the grants that we offer to benefit people in the Maidstone area. In this box, please specify whether the project will benefit residents or groups across the whole borough or those within specific geographical areas, for example the ward(s) and locations(s) at which your project will take place. Please also give details of any new groups, clubs or individuals who would benefit as a result of your grant. This means groups or individuals who are not already engaged with your project or activity.

How will you monitor and assess the impact of your proposal? Please include details of any performance targets and indicators and proposed methodologies.

Please briefly explain how you will monitor the difference in change/usage of your asset/area before and after the grant intervention. For example, will there be more capacity for clubs and groups to be involved, more foot traffic, an increase in biodiversity, reduced vulnerability to local flooding, or reductions to utility bills.

3g- What facilities does your community asset (site/building) currently offer? Please include detail of activities, groups, meetings, and events.

Please detail the current use of the community asset, current users, events and usage, or wide environmental benefit of the asset.

Funding

How much would you like to apply for? Please break down costs if there are multiple interventions and include what you have based this on (e.g quotes, research).

Please state the total sum being applied for and itemise the expected costs of each element of the project. Multiple quotes are preferred but not mandatory.

For example:

This application is for £30,000 to enhance a park and green area in the local community, based on quotes and estimates of similar undertakings.

Ground works, £10,000
Site clearance, £2,000
Purchase, delivery, and installation of outdoor play and recreation equipment, £9,000
Purchase, delivery, and planting of x3000 mixed native broad leaf tree species, £8,000’
Administrative costs, £1,000

If this funding will be in addition to existing funding, what funding is in place already.

If you have previously received any funding for this specific project, please give details of the amount(s) and the date(s) this was received. Please also include the details of any successful funding applications in which you are yet to receive funds.

Have you completed any feasibility work, business cases or had any contractor assessments? Please summarise below and attach any relevant documentation.

Please outline any previous works, feasibility studies, quotations or assessments already conducted for your community asset (if available). At the end of the application form you will be able to attach any relevant documentation.

What are the estimated timescales for delivery? What is this estimate based upon?

You should tell us when you plan to start and complete your project. Remember that we are unable to fund anything that has been purchased prior to a Funding Agreement being issued and signed, and you will need to provide evidence that the items you use the grant for have not been purchased prior to this at your final claim stage. Please also indicate what your estimated timescales for delivery are based upon. At the end of your application, you will have the opportunity to upload any relevant documents.

Further Information

Please add any further information relevant to your project proposal in the text box provided.

Next steps

We will publish a timescale following the approval of the investment plan by the government. All applications must be submitted through the online form that will be made available on our website.

Please contact VCSLiaison@Maidstone.gov.uk if you have any questions about the Rural England Prosperity Fund and your application.