Restart+ Module 5 Financing your Community Regeneration Projects

Module 5
Financing your Community
Regeneration Ambitions
This programme has been funded with
support from the European Commission
www.restart.how
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This
publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the
Commission cannot be held responsible for any use, which may be made of the
information contained therein.

MODULE 5
OVERVIEW
It’s time to talk money. In this module
we demystify funding opportunities
and help steer you towards some
exciting community regeneration
funding opportunities.
You will also learn top tips in grant
writing and pitching and how to
leverage the funding power of many.
As you have become accustomed to,
the final section provide you with a
pack of useful exercises and templates
to help plan and execute funding and
financing related actions for your
community regeneration projects.
Intro
Top Tips for Success in Writing a Grant
Application
01
Pitch perfect – how to pitch your idea to
potential funders02
04
KEY
ACTION
PACK 5:
Innovative Community Fundraising and
Crowdfunding – leveraging the power of many
Community Regeneration Grants available at
Local, National and European levels
Useful exercises and templates to help you
secure funding/finance for your projects
03
Financing your Community Regeneration
Projects - during and post Covid19

RESTART+ communities in action
During and post Covid19
INTRODUCTION: FINANCING YOUR
COMMUNITY REGENERATION PROJECTS

RESTART + communities in action
How COVID19 has impacted
Community Grants and Funding
In many European countries, public
grant/community funding available changed in
response to the crisis. Funds moved into
emergency responses and away from
development projects.
In the years to come, we can expect many more
changes to happen. Competition for funds is
expected get more intense and well thought out
projects might find it more difficult to get the
funding they need.
Finding grant funding is about making connections.
It is about getting to know what funding is out there
and deciding whether it suits you or not.
Many larger funders stopped running their usual
programmes and diverted money to new fundsSource: UK National Council for Voluntary Organisations

C
New Fund established to help vulnerable communities with Covid-19 (Ireland)
www.communityfoundation.ie/insights/news/new-fund-established-to-help-vulnerable-communities-with-covid-19
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC FUNDING CALLS TO RESPOND TO THE CRISIS
COMIC RELIEF: Apply For A Covid-19 Community Grant (England)
www.groundwork.org.uk/comic-relief-apply-for-a-covid-19-community-grant/
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Community Fund - Funding during COVID-19 (UK)
https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/covid-19

Crowdfunder Trust for London Connected Communities (UK)
Connected Communities Matchfund | Crowdfunder UK

Orla Casey from the RESTART+ Ireland is a Community Regeneration
Funding Expert, in this section she shares 18 top tips for success
SECTION ONE: Top Tips for Success in Writing
a Community Grant Application

Orla Casey is at the forefront of community
regeneration in Ireland and work closely with
over local authorities and hundreds of
communities to bring their community
regeneration projects to life.
She has heled these groups raise millions of euros
in project funding and finance and she shares 18
of her top tips for Success in Writing a
Community Grant Application in the section
which follows.
Top Tips from a Community
Regeneration Funding Expert
Orla Casey is a member of RESTART+ Ireland Team, a funding expert (www.momentumconsulting.ie) and a director of
Leitrim Food Enterprise Zone CLG.

SUCCESS in SECURING
FUNDING is a bit like making a
cake!
For any community group or committee, the
challenge of pulling together finance for projects
can be quite daunting.
For smaller community regeneration projects you
may just need one finance source but for larger
scale projects multiple finance sources and funders
may be required. The way you approach funding
depends on ingredients (you and your project) and
you need follow a recipe.
Following the recipe is easy when you have a set of
guidelines and that is what we will try to provide
for you in this module!

Take a moment to review and focus on your community regeneration
project priorities.
• What are your priorities for next 1 – 3 years? 3 – 5 years?
• Survival, regeneration or growth ?
• New opportunities ?
• Same activities but improved?
• Same catchment area or further afield?
• Same management structures?
• Same modes of delivery / supports?
• Any digitisation changes etc?
All of these questions will help you define the ingredients for your
successful funding application.
Before you start…

Nationally, funders estimate that between 50
and 60% of all applications they receive are
immediately turned down because they are
ineligible and do not meet clearly laid out
guidelines.
“We are deluged with large numbers of poorly
targeted and poorly executed applications,
making it difficult for trustees to identify those
organisations most worthy of support” – ACT,
Association of Charitable Foundations
Did you know?

The primary concern of funders is that your
project is well planned and that it will truly make
a difference. In making an effective application
important questions to start with include:
• What are you trying to achieve?
• New community space or service?
• Purchase new community equipment?
• Further develop an ongoing community
project or asset?
• Provide community training?
Tip 1: Forget about the money! (At
least initially…) & define your project

Woodford Youth Hall, once a thriving hub of youth activity and
engagement, faces restricted activities and even closure due to an
unsafe roof which in urgent need of redevelopment.
With a rejuvenated committee in place (2018), the promoters wish
to complete building refurbishment to launch a new programme
of youth activities for it’s growing population.
In addition to roof repairs (removal, disposal and replacement of a
double skin asbestos roof), this redevelopment will see the
installation of acoustic panels (to increase the music and dance
use of the Hall) and the purchase of special needs sensory play
equipment which will be used by the very active Woodford Parent
and Toddler Group who meet weekly at the hall.
Tip 1: EXAMPLE Forget about the money! (At least initially…) &
define your project
EXAMPLE – WOODFORD YOUTH HALL, CO. GALWAY: APPLICATION FORM
EXTRACT – the problem and solution are presented very clearly at the outset

It is essential that you address how does your
project fulfil the funder’s aims? Link your project
to the funder’s key criteria and show how your
project furthers their aims and objectives. This
means that you need to research your funding
target thoroughly. Why? As we mentioned in the
intro up to 50% of applications received by
funders do not meet their published criteria.
As a very basic minimum you should read the
guidelines published by the funder. Consider the
funder’s motivation, the format for applying, the
level of funding, submission deadlines, eligibility
and the decision making process.
Tip 2: Show how your project aligns
to your purposed funders aims

Woodford village has undergone a community rejuvenation led by
the Town and Village Renewal Programme, with physical
improvements in streetscape and environment seeing new families
relocate to the village. The Youth Hall serves a catchment area of six
feeder primary schools- Derryoober, Woodford, Ballinakill, Drim,
Moyglass and Derrybrien; and one secondary school - Mercy College
Woodford with upwards of 360+ young people in the direct
catchment area.
The Hall requires urgent roof replacement and addition of new
youth facilities so that it can offer a strong comprehensive youth
service for the catchment area that builds on the existing services.
It will allow plans for a rejuvenated youth club (and contribution to
Comhaile na N’og). It responds fully to GRD Strategic Action 5.2 and
will offer a youth wellbeing and recreation hub.
Tip 2: EXAMPLE Show how your project aligns to your purposed
funders aims. EXTRACT.. show alignment with precision and with facts
APPLICATION FORM EXTRACT

• What are the real and positive differences the
funded project will make in your community?
• Who in the community stands to benefit and
how?
• How does the project meet the communities
needs and how were these needs uncovered?
• What is the economic impact of the project?
(Note - You can use our Local Economy Impact
Exercise from Module 4 as a basis for this)
Make sure to answer these questions in both a
qualitative and quantitative manner in your
funding applications. You could also bring in some
storytelling here to paint a vivid picture
Tip 3: Sell the benefits of your
community regeneration project

Tip 3: Sell the benefits of your community regeneration
project – use visual impact where you can

Tip 3: Sell the benefits of your community regeneration project – what
does the project meant to the community – this is especially vital for
economic regeneration projects.

One of the primary reasons why applications get
funded is that the funders are convinced that the
applicant organisation is:
1. well organised
2. has a good track record and
3. is a capable promoter to carry out the
proposed project
To convince the funders of this, you need to
approach the process of creating the funding
application in a professional manner.
Tip 4: Build on your credibility
and be professional!

“People will forget what you said. People will
forget what you did. But people will never forget
how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou
If you are excited about a project’s potential –
share that excitement. If you believe in it – share
that belief.
Remember that funders are people too and they
come from communities with problems that might
be very like the one you are trying to provide a
solution too.
People give to people – so always remember the
human element when crafting a funding
application.
Tip 5: Share your passion for the
project and remember people give
to people…

Often a good way to strengthen your funding
application is to try and ‘pick holes’ in it.
So ask yourself, ‘Why wouldn’t they fund this?
Having identified the weaknesses you can then
work on putting them right.
This is a great exercise to do with your
community committee as others might find
holes/gaps that you didn’t realise were there.
Tip 6: Ask yourself, ‘Why
wouldn’t they fund this?

Prepare your budget with great care
• Be thorough in your project financial
planning, costing your expenditure in line
with the tender process highlighted by the
funder,
• Be convincing you have your match funding
in place
• Know your overhead costs
• Have your last year’s audited accounts ready
• Financial projections – get a financial mentor
or a volunteer to help
Tip 7: Budget – know your
finances

As we’ve learnt in earlier modules, sustainability
is key. With this in mind, you should prepare
answers which address:
• How will impact continue?
• Risks (internal, external)
How will you implement:
• monitoring
• evaluation
• reporting
Tip 8: Pay particular attention to
the sustainability section

Tip 9: Don’t assume that the funder will have any knowledge of your organisation or
project. Describe your background and capabilities with conviction and describe your
project truthfully and succinctly.
Tip 10: Break down the writing of the application into bite-sized pieces. So many
people start well but fade as the application form progresses. Stay strong throughout!
Tip 11: Think carefully about the presentation of your application – appearances
matter. Most funders will read many applications and if an application is easy to read
and well presented it makes their lives easier.
More Top Tips for Success in Writing a Community Grant
Application

Tip 12: Do not over-promise - you will one day have to deliver.
Tip 13: It always takes a lot longer to put an application for funds together than you
think !
Tip 14: Remember it is a competitive process – your best foot forward, be competitive.
Tip 15: Write in an interesting way that captures the energy & spirit of your project
(journalist style)
Application

Tip 16: The power of evidence of need. It is not sufficient to say: “we know … we
think….” back it up with relevant research
Tip 17: Show that your project is additional – not competing with others
Tip 18: And last, but not least, definitely talk to the funding agency before you apply
Application

SECTION TWO: PITCH PERFECT
How to pitch your idea to potential funders and also use pitches in a
community fundraising setting

WHY AND WHEN WILL YOU
NEED TO PITCH
Sometimes when you are seeking funding, you
may have to present or pitch the project idea to
funders or even to businesses in your
community as you seek their financial support.
If you have seen TV shows like Dragons Den you
will have an idea the pitching process involves,
and what needs to be done to secure support.
In the section that follows, we share some key
insights into creating a near perfect pitch that
community regeneration projects can benefit
from

What is a PITCH ?
A pitch is typically a short and concise
presentation which provides all relevant and
realistic information on WHY the funders or
community should financially back the project.
The best pitches are those that tell a story and
are delivered with passion, knowledge of the
subject matter and confidence. They create an
emotional connection and draw people in to be
vested/invested in the project.
Finding out who is best storyteller in your project
will be key to your pitch success.

Your
solution/
project
Compelling
story/need
Your
Community
support
Evidence
the project
will succeed
– what
impact will it
make
How it
meets
funding
priorities
PITCH PERFECT
INGREDIENTS
Choose your
committee’s
strongest presenter,
regardless of their
position.
Use strong and/or
compelling visuals.
People only retain
10% of what they
hear
Know your
project costs
Provide a little
background on the
communities
development history and
the current leadership
team

In 2013 Sutton Community Farm Crowdfunding Campaign raised £17,172 from the
community. This pitch video was vital in helping their fledging enterprise expand.

Leveraging the power of many
SECTION THREE: INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY
FUNDRAISING AND CROWDFUNDING
In this section, we delve into new ways to attract funding.

Community Shares
Community shares are an innovative funding
mechanism that can be used to regenerate all
types of community projects including
Transformation of community facilities
Finance renewable energy schemes,
Support local food growing,
Fund new football clubs,
Restore heritage buildings,
and above all, build stronger, more vibrant, and
independent communities.

Community Shares
They are becoming increasingly popular in the UK
thanks to an organisation called Community
Shares | . Since 2009, almost a 120,000 people
have invested over £100m to support 350
community businesses throughout the UK.
Community Shares Step-by-Step is an online tool
that enables you to work towards launching a
community share offer. It is designed to help
anyone considering raising community shares at
any stage of development, from those
investigating the idea for the very first time, to
those who are on the verge of issuing an offer.
The Community Shares Handbook

Stockwood Community Benefit Society (Stockwood CBS) was established to ensure the long-
term community ownership of Rush Farm, a biodynamic-organic farm and the co-located
Stockwood Business Park. Since 2013, £431,000 has been raised. The society has 144 members

WHAT IS CROWDFUNDING?
Crowdfunding is a powerful funding approach
which communities can use to build financial and
collaborative support to develop and create their
own projects.
Crowdfunding is a form of fund-raising, that is
based on the theory that if lots of people are willing
to donate a small amount of money towards a
project, then the project is likely to be successful.
This is an old idea, that has been revolutionised by
the Internet and is now a common tool that is used
to help fund a project, collect money for a good
cause. Crowdfunding campaigns are usually
delivered via an online platform supported by
social media.
Source: Exeter City Futures

CHARITY is when
people donate to
an individual,
project or
organisation while
receiving no
financial or material
return in exchange
PRE-SELLING
when people donate
towards the creation
of a specific product,
such as CD, design,
gadget etc.
PEER-TO-PEER LENDING
is borrowing from a
number of lenders via
an online platform, each
lender lending a (small)
amount in return for
financial compensation
EQUITY LENDING when
people lend money to
individuals or
organisations in
exchange for company
shares
Common for
communities
Also quite
common
Not very
common for
communities
Sometimes for
larger projects
Crowdfunding stands
for a variety of
different ‘fundraising’
models. It can take
the form of:

Choosing a Crowdfunding Platform
Different platforms apply different charges depending on the model you chose. The Costs:
• Platform Hosting Fee: Some platforms, although not all, charge an initial cost just for
hosting your campaign. This cost varies from €0-300 and will be charged to all projects,
be that successfully fundraised or not. Ask platforms what fee applies to them before
starting the campaign.
• Success fee: The majority of crowdfunding platforms will take a percentage of the total
amount raised. The percentage varies from platform to platform and ranges between
3% and 12% of total raised.
• Payment processing fees: Look out also for a service fee for every transaction made.
Usually this fee is on average 3%. For instance, for every €100 donation/investment,
only €97 reaches the campaign.
Check each platform carefully to assess the real costs behind same. In the next slides we
introduce you to some of the most common platforms.

Spacehive
Spacehive is a civic-crowdfunding platform focusing on
supporting projects that make local places better.
Spacehive link projects to local councils, businesses and
grant makers willing to fund them.
Spachive operates an ‘all or nothing’ model, meaning
that if a financial target is not hit, none of the pledges
from the crowd are collected.
Visit: Spacehive - Crowdfunding For Local Projects
Examples of Crowdfunding Platforms for Communities

CASE
STUDY
Glyncoch Community Centre needed £30,000
but raised £792,021 on Spacehive
The town of Glyncoch, South Wales, had been fighting for seven
years to build a much-needed community centre. They had raised
95% of their funding goal but on March 30th, 2012 their grants
were set to expire.
Read More: Glyncoch Community Centre – About Spacehive
Crowdfunded
Communities
And so the community turned to Spacehive
in an effort to crowdfund the remaining
£30,000. 5 weeks after launching their
Spacehive campaign the community centre
received backing from 107 people and
businesses, including celebrity actor Stephen
Fry, the local mayor and Tesco Charity Trust
bringing their pledge total to £792,021!!

Crowdfunder UK
Crowdfunder is the UK’s No. 1 rewards-based platform
convening personal, community, business and
commercial projects in one place.
Extra funding can be accessed from their creative and
culture, community and social enterprise, innovation,
business and local authority partners. Crowdfunder
offers two options; all or nothing or keep what you have
raised.
Crowdfunder UK - Where Ideas Happen | Crowdfunder UK
Crowdfunding Platforms for Communities

CASE
STUDY
A Crowdfunding Campaign for Community
Allotments and Orchard for Polperro, Cornwall,
UK
The vision:
We hold a 50 year lease on a 5.5 acre piece of
land we call ‘Kellow Farm Allotments’. The land
is wild and overgrown on a sweeping slope of
hillside. We are aiming to clear the land, create
terraces and make allotments available for
members and families of our community as
well as reclaiming and growing the old orchard
a the far end of the plot. The production of
local food has, for many years, been held as a
positive, healthy, resilient and sustainable way
to live and we now have the opportunity to
offer these opportunities to our community.
Crowdfunded
Communities
Read More: A Community crowdfunding project in Polperro by Polperro Environmental
Group (crowdfunder.co.uk)

RESTART+ communities in action
What’s available at at Local/National and European levels?
SECTION FOUR: COMMUNITY REGENERATION
GRANTS

LOCAL/NATIONAL
GRANTS/FUNDS
Local and National funding is a starting
point for community regeneration
projects.
IRELAND
We now introduce you to key funding
opportunities typically available in
Ireland each year.
(note – correct as of November 2020, please
check each fund for availability, opening dates
etc)

Project Ireland 2040 is the government’s long-term
overarching strategy to make Ireland a better country for all
of its people. The plan changes how investment is made in
public infrastructure in Ireland, moving away from the
approach of the past, which saw public investment spread
too thinly and investment decisions that didn’t align with a
well-thought-out and defined strategy.
Alongside the development of physical infrastructure,
Project Ireland 2040 supports business and communities
across all of Ireland in realising their potential. The National
Development Plan and the National Planning
Framework combine to form Project Ireland 2040.
Project Ireland 2040

The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is a
flagship element of Project Ireland 2040. Under the stewardship
of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government,
the Fund was established to support more compact and
sustainable development, through the regeneration and
rejuvenation of Ireland’s five cities and other large towns, in line
with the objectives of the National Planning Framework (NPF)
and National Development Plan (NDP).
This will enable a greater proportion of residential and mixed-use
development to be delivered within the existing built-up footprints
of our cities and towns and to ensure that more parts of our urban
areas can become attractive and vibrant places in which people
choose to live and work, as well as to invest and to visit.
URBAN REGENERATION
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

It is one of four funds set up under the National Development
Plan 2018-2027, and is being implemented by the Department of
Housing, Planning and Local Government. A total of €2 billion has
been allocated to the URDF up to 2027, with €550 million
available up to 2022 and €130 million is available for 2020.
• Objective of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund
• Eligibility for the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund
• How to apply for the Urban Regeneration and Development
Fund
URBAN REGENERATION

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a
commitment of €1 billion by government to be invested in rural
Ireland over the period 2019 to 2027.
The purpose of the fund is to support job creation in rural areas,
address de-population of rural communities and support
improvements in our towns and villages with a population of less
than 10,000, and outlying areas.
The fund is supporting coordinated and integrated projects
between government departments, State agencies, local
authorities, other public bodies, communities and, where
appropriate, philanthropic funders and/or the private sector, which
will have an impact on sustainable economic and social
development in rural areas.
Funding is being awarded through a competitive bid process
RURAL REGENERATION

Eligibility
Proposals are invited from Local Authorities, and other
locally/regionally based organisations, such as Local Development
Companies, as well as government departments and State agencies. For
the purpose of accountability and oversight, the lead partner of all
projects must be a State funded body, but collaboration with the
private sector is encouraged.
Proposals may be made in respect of towns with populations of 10,000
or fewer and their outlying areas. A limited number of specified towns
with a population of 10,000 or fewer will be eligible for support under
the Urban Regeneration Fund ; however, funding will only be
provided under one fund for any particular project.
A list of the funded projects to date is available here.
RURAL REGENERATION

Where to find the information about open funding
opportunities ? PLUG IN TO FREE RESOUCES
www.activelink.ie
The online network for Irish non-profit organisations
The website is updated daily and the latest information is
published and circulated once a week by email.
Sign up to receive same.
Excellent Facebook page
www.facebook.com/ActiveLinkIreland

https://www.wheel.ie/funding

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is an
initiative under the Action Plan for Rural
Development and is part of a package of national
and local support measures to rejuvenate rural
towns and villages throughout Ireland through
the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 Rural
Regeneration Programme.
The Scheme is funded by the Department of Rural
and Community Development and administered
by the Local Authorities.
Town and Village Renewal Scheme (www.gov.ie)
Town and Village Renewal
Scheme - IRELAND

SICAP’s vision is to improve the life chances and opportunities
of those who are marginalised in society, living in poverty or
in unemployment through community development
approaches and targeted supports. SICAP aims to support
people who are at a higher risk of social exclusion from
disadvantaged groups and communities.
Target groups include children and families in disadvantaged
areas, lone parents, new communities, people living in
disadvantaged areas, people with disabilities, Travellers,
Roma, young unemployed living in disadvantaged areas,
NEETs.
Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme - ESF
Social Inclusion and Community
Activation Programme - IRELAND

The Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) provides
capital funding to community groups across Ireland. This
allows these groups to enhance facilities in disadvantaged
areas. Typical enhancements under the CEP include:
• IT and CCTV equipment
• minor improvements to buildings
• minor renovation of community centres
• development of community amenities
• purchase of equipment for community usage
• improvements to town parks, common areas and energy-
saving projects
Community Enhancement Programme (www.gov.ie)
The Community Enhancement
Programme (CEP) - IRELAND

The Community Services Programme (CSP) provides a
fixed contribution towards hiring additional staff for
organisations to meet local service gaps and provide
access to services and facilities that would otherwise
generally be unavailable.
Three strands are supported under the programme:
• Community Halls and Facilities (CSP Strand 1 and 1s)
• Community Services for the Disadvantaged (CSP Strand
2)
• Companies employing people who are distant from the
labour market (CSP Strand 3)
Funding Local Community Staff (www.gov.ie)
The Community Services
Programme (CSP) - IRELAND

The Community Foundation give
out grants to non-profits and
have an interesting and
informative video on their
website advising groups how to
make an application.
They are also the foundation
distributing the Comic Relief
Ireland fund.
https://www.communityfoundation.ie/
WHERE TO FIND THE LATEST INFORMATION ?

EUROPEAN
GRANTS/PROGRAMMES
Available across the EU, these grants are and have
been instrumental in helping communities to
regenerate, learn best practices and build their
regeneration skills. In this section we will get to
know:
1. LEADER Programme
2. European Social Fund Community Grants

LEADER is a local development method
which has been used for 20 years to
engage local actors in the design and
delivery of strategies, decision-making and
resource allocation for the development of
their rural areas.
It is implemented by around 3,000 Local
Action Groups (LAGs), covering 61 % of the
rural population in the EU and bringing
together public, private and civil-society
stakeholders in a particular area.
LEADER Programme
The short video above explains how the EU via programmes like
LEADERS seeks to promote community-led local development

David Ross talks about how the EU Leader programme funding helped develop the tourism
potential Drimoleague in Co. Cork and how new enterprises also developed from this.

ESF Community Grants enable small Third Sectororganisations to apply for
small grants through simplified application arrangements. ESF Community
Grants support a range of activities aimed at assisting the disadvantaged or
excluded to move closer to the labour market by improving their access to
mainstream ESF and domestic employment and skills provision. The grants
will support a wide range of activities including:
• Initial help with basic skills
• Taster work experience including voluntary work
• Training, advice and counselling
• Jobsearch assistance including the provision of equipment and other
assistance necessary to secure employment
• Confidence building
• First contact engagement activities
Community Grants | Network for Europe
European Social Fund - Community Grants

This short video highlights the work done by York based Tang Hall SMART with funding from
the ESF Community Grants programme administered by Your Consortium, UK.

This programme has been funded with
support from the European Commission

Restart+ Module 5 Financing your Community Regeneration Projects

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