Grants & Donations
Cornsay Parish Council values the work done by local charities, voluntary organisations, and community groups to support our residents.
While we do not run a formal grants programme or have a dedicated annual budget for donations, we do consider individual requests for financial support from local groups. Any funding we award is at the Council’s discretion and depends entirely on our available resources and how the project benefits our parish.
Who and What We Fund
To be eligible for financial assistance your group or organisation must normally be based within Cornsay Parish (covering Cornsay Village, Cornsay Colliery and Hamsteels Estate) or be able to clearly show that the funding will substantially benefit residents of our Parish.
Please note that as a small Parish Council, our financial resources are very limited.
- Any assistance awarded is entirely at the Council's discretion and is strictly for small, modest sums.
- The amount of any award will vary depending on available funds, and the Council is under no obligation to make a contribution.
- We have very limited funding and cannot support large-scale projects or major capital funding requests.
We do not fund:
- Individuals
- Political organisations or activities
- Religious organisations where the funding is intended to promote religious activities
- Organisations operating for private profit
- National organisations, unless a clear and direct benefit to residents of the Parish can be demonstrated
How to Apply
All formal requests for financial assistance must be submitted in writing to the Clerk by letter or email.
This page provides an overview of our process but to ensure your application meets all of the Council's requirements, requests must be prepared and submitted strictly in line with our official policy and guidance documents.
Before applying, please download and review the full criteria in our Grants & Donations Policy.
The guidance document includes the full checklist of information you should provide, including details about your organisation, project timescales, financial information (such as bank balances and accounts) and governance.
What Happens Next?
- Review: Each request is considered on its own merits at a Council meeting. We assess applications based on local benefit, your group's financial position and the Council's available resources.
- Policy Compliance: All requests are formally assessed against the full criteria outlined in our official Grants & Donations Policy. The Council reserves the right to request extra information or defer applications that do not comply with the policy.
- Decision: You will normally be notified of the Council's decision within 10 working days of the meeting at which the request is considered.
Submission of a request does not guarantee that financial assistance will be awarded, and the Council's decision is final.
Contact the Clerk
Please send your formal written applications or any questions to the Clerk to Cornsay Parish Council.