PCC News

I would just mention that not all trusts require you to fill in a form, so it is important to check how they wish you to apply. Some trusts ask just for a letter, but in some cases it is seen as an initiative test to see whether or not you can follow a simple instruction!

The next stage is to check that you fulfil the criteria of that particular trust. There is no point in spending time filling in a form if the trust that you are applying to only lends to one legged lion tamers, over the age of 75 with both sets of grand-parents living!

Job 1: Evidence of Need/Demand

This might require you doing a survey in your local area to prove that the public want what you are hoping to offer. What you are hoping to provide may be part of the strategy for your local authority and they are looking for organisations to provide this. You could also consult the Indices of Deprivation, Public Health Outcome Figures and reports from The Joseph Rowntree Foundation to see if any of them help you prove need.

If it is church repairs it will be a case of producing your Quinquennial report.

Job 2: Prove that you can deliver what is needed

If the project is a social group or say a post office in your church, you need to show that you have a plan to deliver this project. Part of the proof maybe that you or someone involved have run a similar project in another area. Basically this bit is your business plan. For example, expected turnover/expenses, number of employees/helpers, governance etc. Also trusts are quite often looking for you to be working in partnership with another organisation: if you are running a silver surfers club, you might be working with a local computer shop.

If it is church repairs, you will need to show who is going to project manage the development and what specialists you will be employing to carry out the work.

Job 3: To show the expected outcomes

This will include showing what positive impact you will be making to people’s lives, ie

• What difference
• To Whom
• Why it has made a difference

Job 4: Outputs of the project

This means how many people are expected to benefit from your project. It is important to think wider than your local parish. If you are setting up a dementia café, it is likely that you will not only help the people in your local area, but it is likely to be from a much larger catchment area. On top of the sufferers you will also be helping their carers and families. Measurement of outputs should be SMART (no, I don’t mean clever!) Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timebound.

Once you have completed your application, I would suggest that you have someone else read it. One of the Diocesan Ambassadors will willingly have a look at it or failing that get someone else in your parish to proof read it.