Introduction

The Rural Initiatives Grant Scheme (RIGS) 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 minimum grant for a capital project is £250 and the maximum grant is £10,000.

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.

When can groups apply?

Applications for this grant may be made throughout the year, although an individual organisation cannot re-apply for funding from the council within two years of a grant being awarded for up to £4000 and three years for grants approved between £4001 and £10,000.

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 councillors webpage

• Applications for grants up to £5000 will be assessed by the St Edmundsbury Grant Working Party by the email voting system (or at a quarterly Grant Working Party Meeting if an application is received near to a meeting).
  
• Applications for grants from £5001 up to £10,000 will be assessed by the Grant Working Party at one of their quarterly meetings (dates of these meetings are available via: Working party meeting details

The following information can be downloaded:

• Grant policy (PDF 67Kb)
• Application form for the Rural Initiatives Grant Scheme (PDF 78Kb)
• Ward member response form for the Rural Initiatives Grant Scheme (PDF13Kb)

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.