We understand that subsidised and/or organised transport is essential for some people to enable them to take part in community activities and are willing to contribute a maximum of 50% towards the cost of providing that.

Organisations applying for transport costs must demonstrate that the contribution requested through grant aid is essential to ensure involvement (e.g. due to medical conditions/impairment, frailty or mental health problems), and that individuals and/or the organisation are also contributing.

Priority will be given to services providing transport with the intention of encouraging independence and promoting community involvement and physical activity whenever possible. We would welcome new initiatives, such as walking buses - these are more common amongst school children, but the concept of a walking bus could work for community organisations. The walking bus runs at set times and has allocated stops along the route to collect people joining the walking bus. This helps to improve confidence and independence by travelling to a venue as a group.

Before applying for a contribution towards transport costs, management committees need to show that they have considered all alternatives and ways of minimising costs, for example:

1. Schedule the activity at a better time for public transport users.
2. Volunteer drivers - they would need adequate insurance, CRB checks and be reimbursed their expenses in line with the organisation's volunteering policy.
3. Transport buddies - someone who is confident in using public transport or walking to a venue could accompany someone who isn't so confident and needs support to get there.
4. Access Bus - a West Yorkshire wide scheme run by Metro for people who struggle to use conventional public transport. Passengers wishing to travel must register with Metro who will advise on availability in their area. www.wymetro.com
5. Community Transport Schemes.
6. Where taxis are essential, people must share where possible therefore reducing costs to the organisation and the individual. For example, a taxi collecting 4 people and costing £16 equates to £4 per head.
7. Many taxi companies will offer fixed and discounted rates for regular off-peak fares.

Community Partnerships appreciates that going somewhere to experience something different and enjoy a change of scenery is important to people. There are many places of interest to visit in Kirklees and in other neighbouring towns and cities which would make an enjoyable day out and enhance quality of life, even inspire!

We also encourage organisations to visit other communities, sharing ideas and experiences.

The Lottery funded Altogether Better programme will run regular social outings training courses which will culminate in each organisation being able to apply for a Locality Grant of up to £1000 to enable new local outings.

• The grant will cover up to 50% of the total running costs in the first year, for a programme of regular local outings. This will reduce to 25% of the cost in year 2 and in year 3 we expect these outings to be run on a sustainable basis.
• To enrol on this course please contact  the Altogether Better Project.

Please note: Community Partnerships will no longer contribute towards one-off day trips

• Altogether Better project Part of a five year project aimed at helping people and communities across the Yorkshire and Humber region to eat better, be more physically active, and improve their mental well-being.
• Locality grants
  Grants of up to £1,500 per year for small scale projects that just need a little help to run.

Some organisations need to use sessional workers to deliver specific activities. We acknowledge this, but have to put a limit on how much we can contribute towards their hourly rate.

• Discuss whether you actually need a sessional worker. Many schemes now provide free training for volunteers to deliver things such as gentle exercise, walking groups, bibliotherapy, digital photography amongst others. For more information contact the Altogether Better project or the Moving more often programme.
• Community Partnerships may contribute up to £15 per hour for sessional workers depending on skills and/or qualifications. As an organisation you can decide to pay more than this and show how you will budget to make up the difference.
• Community Partnerships aren't experts in employment issues and would advise organisations to contact the Pay and Employment Rights Service if they need advice and/or support.

• Pay and employment rights service
• Altogether Better project
• Moving more often 01484 234095

Kirklees Council does not allow any grant funding for religious activities. We do however recognise the value that faith communities can bring to local activities. It may be helpful to consider the following questions;

• Can you confirm that the activity does not contain any religious aspects?
• Can you show that the project ensures that all feel welcome in the activity that you offer?
• Is the venue for the activity appropriate for all?

Please note Normally we would not fund activities in a church, although you may be able to show that rooms to the side with separate entrances are appropriate.

Community Partnerships expects every organisation it funds to ask for a contribution from its members/service users at each session. This is because we want organisations to be independent and able to continue to provide their activities if our funding comes to an end. This is called sustainability and is a key part of our assessment process.

• The minimum contribution we expect is now £1 per person per session and this must also reflect a fair contribution towards the cost of running the sessions. For example, if each session costs £40 to run and 20 people attend, a £1 contribution is reasonable. If each session costs £100 to run and 20 people attend, a £2.50 contribution is more in proportion.
• If an organisation does not ask for a minimum donation of £1, it must demonstrate significant fundraising activities to aid sustainability and cover the income that would have been brought in from the contributions.

Involving members and volunteers in growing, cooking and serving affordable, fresh food is an important part of many of the projects we fund. Community Partnerships will contribute towards the cost of food on a short term basis with the expectation that contributions should eventually cover the whole cost.

• Community Partnerships will contribute up to 50% of food costs, up to a maximum of £2.50 per head, for an agreed short term period.

We must make sure when organisations apply for funding that they really need the money; therefore we look at unrestricted reserves. We do this to acknowledge that organisations with large buildings to maintain and/or staff to look after must have large amounts in restricted reserves to cover redundancy, building maintenance etc.

• Organisations are eligible for a full award if they hold less than 100% of their annual running costs in unrestricted reserves.
• Organisations that hold between 100% and 200% of their annual running costs in unrestricted reserves are eligible for a 50% award
• Organisations that hold more than 200% of their annual running costs in unrestricted reserves aren't eligible for an award.