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GRANTS POLICY
The Rochester Bridge
Trust began as a commonalty created by letters patent in 1399
and incorporated by statute in 1409. It is currently regulated
by a number of Acts of Parliament and a Charity Commission
Scheme of 1st June 1999. The Rochester Bridge Trust has two
primary purposes:
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to maintain and
improve the twin road bridges and service bridge at
Rochester and the Medway Tunnel
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to contribute towards the execution and maintenance
of works facilitating passage over, under, or across the
River Medway |
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Annual income not
required for the primary purpose is paid firstly into a sinking
fund for the reconstruction of the bridges and the Medway
Tunnel. Thereafter, the Trust may make minor grants for the
promotion of charitable purposes in the United Kingdom, primarily
in the County of Kent. The grant programme is intended to
reflect the Trust’s own history, values, activities,
and objectives. To this end applications are encouraged for
the following types of projects:
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conservation of the historic fabric of churches
and heritage buildings |
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education and conservation of artefacts in the fields
of Kent history |
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construction (particularly bridges and tunnels), and
agriculture |
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constructive and educational activities for children
and young people, particularly those with severe disabilities
or in deprived areas
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The Trust makes limited total funds available for grants and
applications are only likely to be successful if they fall
within one of the categories above and comply fully with the
conditions set out below.
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1. |
Grants will be
made only to a registered charity or to a body whose
purpose is charitable, operating in the fields of education,
health, heritage or community benefit within the historic
county of Kent. The historic county of Kent includes
the areas administered by Kent County Council, Medway
Unitary Authority, and the London Boroughs of Greenwich,
Bromley, Bexley, and Lewisham. |
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2. |
Grants will not be made to
individuals. This exclusion includes sponsorship
for expeditions and fundraising, and also to applications
for equipment, travel, etc. made for an individual's
benefit whether directly or through a charitable body. |
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3. |
Grants will not be made to pet-care charities or to
general animal charities. |
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4. |
Normally grants will be made for capital purposes only.
In particular, grants will not be made towards staffing
or other running costs, training events, or functions. |
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5. |
Grants will not be made for office equipment, including
IT equipment that supports the running of an organisation
rather than being available directly for the beneficiaries
of a charity or contributing directly to a charity’s
objectives. This exclusion covers computers for the
production of newsletters and other publicity or for communication
with volunteers and supporters; office furniture and adaptations;
printers and photocopiers; and other similar equipment. |
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6. |
Normally grants will not be
made towards construction, improvement, refurbishment
or other projects associated with community centres,
parish halls, or state funded schools or colleges. In
addition, to the above esclusions, grants are not usually
made to mainstream schools and colleges funded by the
private, faith, or charitable sectors. |
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7. |
Normally grants will not be made to care homes and childcare
nurseries, except those providing support to severely
disabled people and/or seriously disadvantaged children.
This exclusion applied to facilities operated as Industrial
and Provident societies and charities, as well as privately. |
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8. |
When an application relates
to major restoration and repair projects for buildings,
preference will be given to those applications which
identify a specific project, usually with a cost of
under £5,000. For example, an application might
apply for a grant towards "the restoration of the Norman
west door" as part of a major church refurbishment project.
The Trust will not make general grants to major
projects where its contribution would be a very small
proportion of the total required (e.g. less than 10%). |
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9. |
The Trust will consider making a grant to projects which
preserve the historic fabric of churches and heritage
buildings but will not normally fund modernisation initiatives,
such as kitchens, toilets, access improvements, heating,
or water supply.
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10. |
The Trust makes limited total
funds available for the making of minor grants. Therefore,
preference will be given to applications from organisations
which have not previously received a grant from the
Trust. A register of grants made each year is maintained.
If a second or subsequent application for funding is
made, it should set out any special case for further
funding in preference to first-time applications. |
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11. |
Every application must include
a copy of the applicant's latest available accounts.
The applicant's accounts will be reviewed by the
Chief Finance Officer and advice given to the decision-making
Panel regarding financial viability, sustainability,
and the level of unencumbered reserves. |
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12. |
Funds will not normally be
released until evidence has been received of the placing
of contracts or other relevant evidence of readiness
to incur expenditure. A copy of a relevant invoice
or order to a contractor or supplier will generally
suffice. Retrospective grants are not made towards the
cost of projects already completed. |
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13. |
A grant offered will lapse
(in the absence of good cause to the satisfaction of
the Court) if not taken up within two years from the
end of the Grant Year in which the application was made.
Applicants are requested to advise the Trust, if
the need for the grant has lapsed or if significant
delays to progress are anticipated. |
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14. |
Representatives of the Trust
do not expect to meet with applicants either prior to
consideration of their applications or after a grant
has been made. The Trust will notify applicants
by post during August about the outcome of applications.
It is not generally possible to provide details of the
Trust's decision by telephone. |
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15. |
Unless specifically requested,
no permanent acknowledgement of the making of a grant
is required, although it will be acceptable if a grantee
wishes to provide one. Any acknowledgement which
a recipient chooses to give shall be styled "The Rochester
Bridge Trust" or "The Wardens and Assistants of Rochester
Bridge". |
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16. |
Following the award of a grant, the Trust does not
wish to be kept informed upon the future progress of the
charity. To minimise administration costs for your
organisation, please do not add the Trust's details to
mailing lists. |
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