Causeway Coast and Glens District Council: Sustainable Food & Essential Supplies Grant Programme

Overview

The Sustainable Food & Essential Supplies Grant Programme is a one off grant programme which is 100% funded by DfC. Funded activities can span mid December 2021 to 31st March 2022.

Programme Outcomes

Projects should deliver activities which support one or more of the Sustainable Food & Essential Supplies Grant Programme outcomes which are:

• There is a reduction in costs of food for people living in the Borough;
• People living in our community have improved access to nutritious food and ability to access food, and the skills to cook and form good food habits;
• There is a reduction in costs of essential items for people living in our community;
• There is a reduction in food waste in our community and local people are educated regarding sustainable food practices;
• There is increased re-use of essential items in our community.

Level of Award

£2,500

Local community/voluntary sector organisations can apply for grants of up to 100% of costs

Who Can Apply?

For eligibility organisations must:

• Have a constitution / governing document that has been adopted at a public meeting showing clearly defined purposes that are for the public benefit in line with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.
• Be committed to Equal Opportunities in terms of organisational policies and the delivery of services to those being served or represented.
• Be non-party political and open to the full range of local opinion.
• Be able to demonstrate a fair and equitable ethos through established aims and objectives in accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998).
• Have appropriate and adequate insurance cover for all activities and all actions proceeding such as costs, claims, demands and liabilities whatsoever, arising from all or any of the group activities. To also ensure that any individuals or organisations worked with are properly insured.
• Ensure that all group activities abide by the law and that the necessary permissions are obtained for activities from the appropriate body/authority.
• Ensure that Child Protection Policy / Vulnerable Adults Policy and Procedures are in place and adhered to as and where appropriate.
• Have a bank/building society account and keep a proper record of group accounts.
• Be able to produce an annual statement of independently audited or certified accounts, or be able to present a bank statement in the case of newly established groups.
• Agree to Causeway Coast and Glens Council's promotion, monitoring, evaluation, and training procedures as required.

What can be funded?

Applicants can apply for grants of up to 100% of costs up to a maximum of £2,500 towards project costs.

Eligible costs include:

• Equipment related to food preparation and food storage eg. fridges, freezer, oven, microwave, toaster, slow cooker etc
• Venue hire (cost of hiring a venue to run your project)
• Facilitator costs (use local practitioners if possible)
• Produce and ingredients costs (fruit, vegetables etc)
• Materials eg. compost, seeds
• Cooking utensils eg. pots/pans
• Initial start up stock of products for essential items banks eg hygiene items (capped at £250)
• Storage and display items eg clothes rails
• Training for volunteers eg Food Safety
• Promotion costs eg printing leaflets
• Any other costs that can be shown to be relevant to the project

Council reserves the right to reduce any costs applied for which are deemed not relevant to the project to ensure outcomes of the Programme are met.

Examples of Potential Projects might include:

• Setting up a community fridge to help reduce food bills and reduce food waste at the same time (we recommend that groups link with Council’s Environmental Resource Officers to assist with establishing community fridges);
• Food growing projects such as community gardens and allotments, for example groups can maximise their community gardens or green space by having a ‘grow your own’ scheme, growing vegetables and fruits and working with the local community and schools to get involved and promote and celebrate food;
• Develop & encourage Community Food Hubs (which could be aligned to community gardens);
• Provide activities in the local community that encourage learning and an understanding of food, celebrating & having fun with food, good food practices and exploring different ways to cook. Eg, cooking sessions such as ‘Disco Soup’ or ‘Chop’, recipe exchanges, nutrition workshops, food swaps, sharing equipment, ‘pop up’ taster sessions on different fruit and veg and other foods;
• Setting up a ‘Fruit & Veg Barra’ – linking and establishing relationships with local shops and providers in the community to provide the fruit and veg and working with schools and local groups;
• Setting up or enhancing an older peoples luncheon club or school breakfast or after-schools club;
• Setting up a hygiene bank or bank of other essential items; Any other project that will help reduce the cost of and improve access to food and other essential supplies.