Enhancing Communities Programme

Enhancing Communities is the name of SITA Trust's funding programme for community improvement projects.

We support projects that make physical improvements to community leisure facilities and historic buildings / structures.

Not-for-profit organisations including community groups, parish councils, local authorities and charities can apply.

Full information on eligibility requirements can be found in the application guide for each fund, which can be downloaded from the links on this page.

We can support projects in any of 115 funding zones around qualifying sites owned by our donor, SITA UK.  To see if your project site is in a SITA Trust funding zone please visit our postcode checker.

The Enhancing Communities Programme offers two funds:

Core Fund

Grants of up to £60,000 are available to not-for-profit organisations whose community leisure amenity improvement project has an overall cost of no more than £250,000. Grants are available in 115 funding zones in England, Scotland and Wales.

There are 3 funding rounds each calendar year for the Core Fund.

Forthcoming dates are:. 

Application deadline		Notification of decision by
5pm on 26th November 2012		28th March 2013
5pm on 18th March 2013		19th July 2013
5pm on 22nd July 2013		22nd November 2013

Click here for the Core Fund Application Guide

Fast Track Fund

Our Fast Track Fund provides grants of up to £20,000, available to not-for-profit organisations with a community leisure amenity improvement project that has an overall cost of no more than £40,000.

Applicants will find out whether their application has been successful within 60 days of the application deadline date.

We can support projects in any of 115 funding zones around qualifying sites owned by our donor, SITA UK.

To see if your project site is in one of our funding zones please visit our postcode checker.

There are 6 funding rounds each calendar year, forthcoming dates are as follows:

Application deadline :		Notification of decision by:
5pm on 2nd January 2013		26th February 2013
5pm on 25th February 2013		25th April 2013
5pm on 15th April 2013		17th June 2013
5pm on 17th June 2013		17th August 2013
5pm on 19th August 2013		21st October 2013
5pm on 15th October 2013		23rd December 2013

      

Click here for the Fast Track Fund Application Guide

Contributing Third Party payment (CTP)

Before SITA Trust can release funding to a supported project we need to receive a payment called the Contributing Third Party payment (CTP). This payment is unique to the Landfill Communities Fund.

Why?

Under the Landfill Communities Fund scheme rules, SITA UK (our donor) can contribute some of the landfill tax it collects to SITA Trust, and reclaim most (but not all) as a tax credit. The scheme regulator requires a fee and each successful application also incurs other minor costs.

To make up the shortfall, SITA UK requires that 11% of the money provided is recovered from third parties. We call this element the Contributing Third Party (CTP) payment.

Under the rules, Landfill Communities Fund money cannot be used to provide the CTP so it must be raised from other sources. The CTP is paid to SITA UK and not SITA Trust but neither SITA UK nor SITA Trust will benefit financially.

CTP Calculator

To work out the amount of CTP required, please use the calculator below. Please round-up the amount you are applying for to the nearest pound.

Funding being applied for in GBP:
Check

 

Check to see if your project site is in a SITA Trust funding zone

 

How to apply

Full information on the Enhancing Communities Programme can be found in the application guide, please read this guide in full before attempting to apply for funding.

If you are a potential applicant but would like to discuss your particular project prior to submitting an online application, we invite you to give us a call on 01454 262910.

Full applications must be made online using our online application system. Once you’ve registered on this system you can revisit your form as often as you wish before submitting it to the Trust for consideration. We will not see the form until you submit it.

As part of the online application we will ask you to submit supplementary documents.

You will need to complete a PROJECT BUDGET document which can be uploaded to your application.

When you have read the application guide click here to  APPLY

If your project site is not within one of SITA Trust's funding zones

You may wish to see if your project meets the eligibility of another Environmental Body distributing grants through the Landfill Communities Fund. Our scheme regulator ENTRUST has a useful directory.

If your project site is in an area governed by Lancashire County Council or Cornwall Council you will need to visit the site of your regional funding body which distributes Landfill Tax collected by SITA UK in that area. Click the name of your area above to be redirected to the correct website.

Many potential applicants find the government's funding central website a very useful resource.