Councillor Community Grant Fund

About the grants

The Councillor Community Grant Fund helps county councillors support local groups and community projects.

It funds projects that:

• support our council plan priorities
• bring clear benefits to residents
• meet local needs across Lincolnshire

There are two funding streams, totalling £500,000.

These are:

• divisional grants from £100, with up to £3,000 available per division
• strategic fund from £3,001 to £15,000 for larger projects with wider impact

Who can apply

County councillors can put forward projects from:

• town and parish councils
• residents’ associations
• registered charities
• constituted community and voluntary groups
• community interest companies (CICs) and social enterprises
• faith groups (for non-religious activity)
• schools and academies where there is wider community benefit
• sports clubs and cultural organisations with a community focus

What you can use the grant for

You can use funding for a range of community projects, including:

• community events and activities, including start-up or running costs
• equipment for events, sports clubs and community activities
• improvements, maintenance or repairs to community facilities
• neighbourhood improvements such as benches, planters and noticeboards
• community emergency resilience, including equipment or training

Funding can cover up to 100 per cent of project costs or contribute towards them.

You can find eligibility and organisational requirements online.

View grants awarded

Divisional grants

Each division has £3,000 available for the 2026 to 2027 financial year.

Councillors decide:

• which projects to support
• how much funding each project receives

Each grant must be at least £100.

Councillors can combine funding with other divisions for larger projects.

Key requirements:

• benefit local residents
• reflect local priorities and needs
• show community demand or involvement
• offer value for money
• be delivered within 12 months
• support wellbeing or reduce inequalities
• align with the council plan

Grants must be awarded by the end of February 2027.

Councillors must declare any conflicts of interest and must not fund projects linked to their financial interests.

Strategic fund

The strategic fund supports larger or cross-division projects.

Funding ranges from £3,001 to £15,000.

Applications must:

• be supported by one or more councillors
• include a delivery timescale

We assess applications throughout the year. We consider:

• scale of community benefit
• impact across divisions or countywide
• partnership working
• long-term benefits
• value for money
• contribution to the council plan

Assessment rounds

Grant conditions

All grants must:

• be used for the approved purpose
• provide evidence of spending
• return any unspent or misused funds

We will publish details of all grants awarded on the council’s website.

Successful projects must acknowledge: ‘Councillor Community Grant Funding from Lincolnshire County Council’ in publicity.

How to apply

Divisional grants

Councillors:

• identify suitable local projects
• complete the initial application form

We will:

• check eligibility
• contact the organisation to complete a full application
• record and publish decisions
• arrange payment

We monitor spending to ensure it matches the approved proposal.

Strategic fund

Councillors:

• identify suitable projects
• complete the initial application form

We will:

• check eligibility
• assess and score the application
• make decisions at each funding round
• publish outcomes and arrange payment

We will monitor delivery and report funded projects to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

Appeals and disputes

Councillors decide which projects to put forward. These decisions are final.

There is no formal right of appeal.

If an organisation believes the process was not followed, they can raise this with the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO).

The SRO makes the final decision on eligibility and funding.

Monitoring and transparency

We publish all grant awards online.

Funded organisations must:

• monitor their project
• provide evidence of spending
• share details such as attendance, outcomes and feedback

We may visit projects as part of our monitoring.

We review the scheme regularly to ensure it remains fair and effective.

Unspent or misused funds

You must return funding if:

• it is not spent within the agreed timeframe
• it is used for a different purpose

Divisional grants must be spent within 12 months.

Strategic fund must follow the agreed project timeline.