Introduction

The Rural Areas Community Initiatives Fund was established by the borough council to encourage the delivery of locally important capital projects in the rural areas that would not be able to go ahead without financial support from the council. 

Details of the scheme

Full details of the scheme, including the criteria that must be met, are provided in the Grants Policy, which can be downloaded towards the bottom of this web page.

Each scheme has to obtain at least 50% match funding.

Size of grant

The maximum grant for a capital project is £5000 and the minimum grant is £500. 

Revenue projects are not eligible.

Properly constituted groups and organisations, including parish councils can apply.

Organisations should be based within, or work within, the rural areas of the borough (the area outside the urban areas of Haverhill and Bury St Edmunds). The beneficiaries of the grant must be people living, working or visiting the rural communities of the borough.

The decision-making process is designed to be quick and streamlined, with your local borough councillor playing a key role. To find out who your local borough councillor is please see: St Edmundsbury Borough Council - your councilllors webpage

Applications will be assessed by the St Edmundsbury Grant Panel by the email voting system (or at a quarterly Grant Panel Meeting if an application is received within two weeks of a meeting).

The following information pack and application forms can be downloaded:

• Grants policy (PDF 69Kb)
• Application form for the Rural Areas Community Initiatives Fund (PDF 96Kb)
• Ward member response form (PDF11Kb)

If you would like to complete the form electronically, please email us at the address below and we will email you the application form in Word format.

Hard copies can also be obtained.