BHP Billiton Endowment Fund

Please read the Essential Information before applying. 

Background to the Fund: The fund was established with funding from BHP Billiton Petroleum Ltd.
 

What is the focus of the fund: Projects based around enhancing or conserving the local physical environment that also benefit the wider community and improve people’s lives. The fund has the following priorities:
 

• ‘Greening’ urban area
• Nature conservation
• Tackling pollution
• Aiding recycling

Who can apply: Voluntary or community groups with a constitution or set of rules in the group’s name. 


How much is available: Grants of up to £2000 are available, and the budget for this round is approximately £28,000.

Which areas are covered: Merseyside including Halton


Any special criteria: Priority will be given to those groups working in disadvantaged areas of the community that show local community involvement.


Examples of the sorts of projects that may be funded: 

• Nature trail to raise awareness of and to access wildlife and plants
• Creation of new wildlife habitats ie tree planting, creation of wetlands
• Protection of existing wildlife habitats
• Gardening tools for an after-school club
• Community composting schemes
• Improving local community waste-land
• Clean up campaign
• Community gardens
• Local food production projects

The expected closing date is Friday 31^st May though the fund may close sooner if we receive enough applications before this date. Decisions will be sent out towards the end of June/early July.   


How to apply?

Please visit the Community Foundations for Lancashire and Merseyside’s website - www.cfmerseyside.org.uk and complete an online application form. You will also need to send the documents listed below. If you do not submit all the relevant documents within seven days, your application will be withdrawn.  You can attach the documents to your online application before you submit, email them to applications@cflm.org.uk or post them to the address below.


Documents which need to be included with your application:

1. A copy of the group’s rules or constitution
2. A list of your Trustees/Management Committee/Directors
3. A copy of the group’s latest annual accounts or income/expenditure document
4. A copy of a recent bank statement for your group and names of signatories
5. A copy of the group’s current Safeguarding Policy

All applicants must ensure that they hold relevant policies and procedures in place to undertake activities, such as DBS checks and/or a health and safety policy, depending on the proposed activity. If unsure about what you need, please contact the Community Foundation for help (details below) 

NB: If you have applied to us within the last 12 months and have already submitted copies of the above documents, you do not need to send them in again. However, current accounts and a bank statement are required with every application.

The following items cannot be supported via the fund:

• Statutory organisations or work that is their responsibility
• National organizations that cannot demonstrate local governance and control of local finances
• Commercial ventures
• Purchase/maintenance of vehicles
• Activities that will have already taken place before we offer you a grant
• Politically connected or exclusively religious activities
• Projects for personal profit
• Trophies and medals
• CCTV/Security measures
• Organisations that are set up for the benefit of animals or plants: environmental groups that work with animals or the environment (such as city farms) are acceptable
• Groups raising funds to redistribute to other causes
• Groups comprising just one family
• Debts and other liabilities
• Reclaimable VAT
• Travel outside UK
• Gifts or projects exclusively for the purpose of entertaining – social events can be funded where there is a clear community benefit

 
What happens next?

Completed applications are considered by Community Foundation staff to check eligibility. You may be contacted for more information after applying and a decision-making panel will make recommendations based on the fund’s criteria and the budget available. You should expect to hear the outcome of your application within 6 weeks of the closing date.  

For further information, please contact applications@cflm.org.uk