Development Grants Board (DGB)
Over the years The Scout Association has been extremely fortunate to receive generous donations from many individuals and organisations who wish to support our work at a national and local level. The result of these donations is that there are a range of funds available, particularly to support local groups/units and individual members who require financial assistance in undertaking their scouting.
Set up in 2001, the Development Grants Board (DGB) has a remit to receive applications and provide grants for the development of local scouting. Whilst in the past applicants have had to approach various departments at Gilwell Park for grant assistance, a new ‘one-stop-shop’ approach has now been established with a single point of contact for most grant enquiries and applications – the DGB grants team.
In a few cases, some funds are managed by other specialist teams, specifically the activites and international affairs team, who work closely with the DGB grants team. If your enquiry is for these, follow these links for further information:
Activity funding opportunities
Specific funds are available through the 'RN Admiralty Fund' for RN-recognised sea scout groups, from the 'Trinity House Fund' for non-RN recognised sea scout groups and water activity centres and teams and other centres which provide water activities. See the factsheet for details.
If you have a general enquiry about other HQ funds available, please call the information centre 0845 300 1818 or DGB administrator, Paula Binet on 020 8433 7121.
For other general enquiries about fundraising and external grants from trusts/foundations and other organisations, please email the fundraising team or call 020 8433 7100 and ask to speak with them.
What funding is available from HQ?
From July 2010, we now have a single factsheet detailing the funds available. This will be updated regularly, so please do ensure you have the most up-to-date version available.
Grants are available for:
- Opening or re-opening new sections
- Starting a new group (min. two sections) in a recognised area of social deprivation
- Local development planning events; capital equipment for promoting Scouting; adult recruitment events; youth recruitment events aimed at the cub and network sections; training adviser recruitment and retention
- Employment of local development staff
- Non-wood badge leader training; capital equipment for the delivery of adult training; young leader training; activity assessor training and assessment; activity permit assessments; DofE asessments; trustee/executive training; trainer training; minibus training and assessment
- Air and sea scout training and capital equipment purchase
- Support for members 'in financial hardship' - volunteer expenses, uniforms, camp and activity costs
- Members with special needs and the development of special needs scouting, including small scale building works to ensure accessibility for all
Grants are NOT available for:
- New buildings, refurbishment of buildings or property or general building or property works
- Purchases already made, deficits or loan repayments
- Membership fees or subscriptions
- Hire or purchase of minibuses or other general scouting equipment
- Rent of premises for meeting or storage
- General subsidies for activities or camps for whole groups of the majority of participants
- Grants for non-scout members or for non-scout activities
For advice on any of the above, please contact the fundraising team who may be able to help with offering some information and support.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank a number of donors for their generous support through which the DGB supports local scouting; The Royal Navy, Trinity House and The 'Freemasons' Grand Charity'.
The Freemason's Grand Charity in particular supports the £100 start- up grants for new sections which are greatly appreciated in encouraging the expansion of Scouting across England and Wales.
Application Forms
We now have one generic application form for most grant types.
For large development grants over £2,000 (usually for county/area/region development projects), a further extended application form will be provided. This form is not available online but through the DGB grants manager only. Please do read the factsheet and all the details on the application form before completion and remember to use the form for one grant only.
Timescale
The majority of applications are fully responded to within six weeks of date of receipt. Retrospective grants are never provided. All* applications MUST be received at least six weeks prior to any event or activity. Applications received after this time will not be considered.
*Applications to the international fund must be received 12 weeks (3 months) prior to the event or camp, for consideration.
These periods are in place to ensure that applications can be processed and replied to in plenty of time, so that you know if all the funding required is in place.
Fully completed 'large development grant applications', for grants over £2,000, must be with the DGB grants manager either by 1 March, for the May DGB meeting, or 30 September, for the November DGB meeting.
Guidance on 'financial hardship'
Many of the funds are in place to support members in 'financial hardship', both adults and young people. The intention is to support those most in need within your group or section, not to provide support for the whole or majority of the party for an activity or camp.
If locally it is felt that everyone needs financial support, the expectation in reviewing a grant application will be that local fundraising will have taken place for the majority, thus negating the need for that 'extra' support the HQ funds may provide. This requires some financial planning locally in your early stages of planning for an activity.
In determining circumstances of 'financial hardship', indicators such as a young person receiving free school meals or a similar benefit, will be considered. (It is recognised that in a few areas of the UK, free school meals are standard to all primary school pupils. In these cases, other indicators will be sought.)
For more information on determining financial hardship, reference can be made to the free school meals website.
If you have any queries about the above, please contact the DGB Grants Manager for advice.
Further information
HQ Grants to Support Local Scouting (FS103964) (PDF)
Application form (PDF)
Application form (Word document)
External grant sources
Part of the National Lottery, offering grants between £300 - £10,000. Priorities are set country/regionally, with a 6 week turnaround. Approximately 50% of applications are successful with a revised scheme being announced mid 2011.
A broker organisation which seeks local funds to distribute as grants in the local area. Often will also distribute government community grants or in partnership with other national distributors such as Comic Relief. A great source of local grant information.
The national distributor of the landfill tax to local distributors. Emphasis on developing a good local environment, including buildings and land. Section D of their priorities includes grant support to public amenities eg Scout Association buildings and land. Grants of up to £350,000 are available but community engagement is a requirement.
One distributor for Entrust.
UK wide database on sources of funding: The Funding Central weekly e-newsletter keeps you updated with the latest trends, news and issues regarding funding and finance opportunities.
The largest grant provider to the voluntary sector outside of the government in the UK. Has a variety of programmes of varying themes.
A small charity based in Hertfordshire which is specifically set up to support scouting and guiding.
The Henry Smith Charity
http://www.henrysmithcharity.org.uk/holiday-grants-for-children.html
Offers grants towards holidays and outings within the UK for children aged 13 and under from areas of high deprivation, experiencing disadvantage or have a disability. Grants of up to £3,000 are available although usually limited to two-thirds of the total costs. The holidays can be to any locations so long as they are outside the area the children are from.
RYA (Royal Yacht Association)
Sources of funding which maybe on offer to support sailing/water activities
rya.org.uk/infoadvice/clubsclass/development/pages/funding.aspx
Confectionery giant Mars is offering grants of between £500 and £2,000 through its grants programme to organisations based near its offices in the UK. Projects that promote healthy lifestyles or environmental work can apply at marsinthecommunity.co.uk
The Family Fund - helping disabled children
We are the UK’s largest provider of grants to low-income families raising disabled and seriously ill children and young people. We help ease the additional pressures families face. We can help with essential items such as washing machines, fridges and clothing but can also consider grants for sensory toys, computers and much needed family breaks together.