GrantRadar

House of Industry Estate (charitable trust administered by Bedford Borough Council)

House of Industry Estate grants

Grants from the House of Industry Estate, a historic charitable trust run by Bedford Borough Council, for registered charities helping Bedford Borough residents who are in need, hardship or distress. It funds one-off capital items up to £25,000, one-off emergency revenue up to £20,000, and project revenue (including extra salaries) for up to two years. Applications are considered by trustees through the year, with an annual deadline of 31 October; awards are paid as reimbursement against invoices and applicant finances may be publicly disclosed at committee.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £25,000
Closes in
13 days left
31 October
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Normally registered charities only; by exception, other not-for-profit organisations with robust governance that meet a need to relieve hardship in the Borough unlikely to be met by registered charities or public bodies
  • Beneficiaries must be Bedford Borough residents in need, hardship or distress; organisations that also serve others must show the funding will support only such residents
  • Organisations should normally have existed for at least two years (the September 2024 revision opened the fund to newer charities in the borough)
  • Normally one application per organisation in any three-year period

What it funds

One-off, non-recurrent funding for specific projects or equipment that relieve need, hardship or distress among Bedford Borough residents:

  • Capital items up to £25,000 that do not involve works to land or property (larger requests only exceptionally)
  • One-off emergency revenue funding up to £20,000 where the organisation cannot otherwise meet the cost (e.g. reserves would fall too low or insolvency is imminent)
  • Revenue funding for specific projects, including additional salary costs and marginal project costs such as recruitment, training and equipment for a new post, for up to two years for enhanced or additional services

Exceptionally, trustees may help with ordinary operating costs where an organisation is of exceptional benefit to residents in need (once in any four years).

Applications that lever in match funding are particularly welcome.

What it will not fund

  • Capital works to land or property
  • Contributions to an organisation's existing general overheads or management costs
  • Branding or marketing chargeable services
  • Retrospective funding (reimbursement for items or services already paid for)
  • Projects the applicant could fund from reserves after allowing for its reserves policy
  • Recurring projects (except by exception where there is a clear ongoing need)
  • Projects or services that compete with existing services where there is adequate provision in the Borough
  • Relief of rates, taxes or other public funds
  • Payment on a pro forma invoice

How to apply

  1. Read the House of Industry Estate guidelines (September 2024) to check eligibility
  2. For requests over £10,000, council officers may invite you to meet to scope the request before it goes to trustees
  3. Gather the required documents, including three independent quotes for any item over £1,000
  4. Register for or sign in to a Bedford Borough Council services account and complete the online House of Industry application form (about 20 minutes; can be resumed)
  5. Submit by 31 October; applications are considered at trustee meetings through the year, where your Chief Executive or fundraiser may be invited to answer questions
  6. If awarded, confirm acceptance in writing, buy the approved items and claim reimbursement on supplier invoices within two years, then complete the End of Grant Monitoring Report

All information, including your financial position, may be publicly disclosed at the committee stage.

A small sum is kept back so applications can also be considered after the 31 October deadline, subject to funds.

Have ready

  • Constitution / set of rules / memorandum and articles of association
  • Annual report
  • Business plan / programme of work for the next year
  • Latest audited or independently verified accounts, including balance sheet
  • Budget forecast (if applying for emergency revenue funding)
  • Equal opportunities policy
  • Environmental policy
  • Evidence of your quality assurance system
  • Child protection / vulnerable adults policy (if working with children, young people or vulnerable adults)
  • Information on how your target audience meets the 'in need, hardship or distress' criterion
  • Reserves policy, level of reserves and reasons held, and any designated funds with purpose and timing
  • Number of Bedford Borough residents assisted or expected to be assisted
  • Three independent quotations for each item of expenditure over £1,000

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