What do we have to establish before making the application:
- What are the grant officers looking for?
- What questions do we need to answer?
- What is our aim?
- What is our evidence?
- What are the expected outcomes?
What are Grant Officers Looking for?
- That your project is robust;
- That you have done your homework;
- How the project will relate to them.
What questions do you need to be able to answer?
- What is the problem in your park?
- Why is it a problem?
- What needs to change?
You need to be able to show that the project will make a difference. Look at what will happen if nothing is done.
What is your Aim? What will your project achieve?
- Use buzz-words such as:
Enable – Improve – Reduce – Increase – Maintain
- If your aim is to get young people involved in your park or green space, tell that to the Grant Officers and tell them what your outcome is, ie train 20 young people in new skills and how you will do it, ie by community action days.
What is considered as Evidence:
- Proof that your project will make a difference;
- Proof that you have not just assumed what is needed but have asked the community and park users if that is what they want;
- Proof that your proposed project is the best way to deal with the problem.
What are the Outcomes:
- The difference your proposed project will make;
- The change you are aiming to bring about;
- Benefits which will happen as a result of your activities.
The Future
- List your intentions for the future, such as events, heritage or nature trails, furniture for your park or a monument to mark something specific.
Reproduced with permission of North West Parks Friends Forum
