Download Sing Out! Guidelines 2012-13

LEWISHAM ARTS SERVICE
SING OUT! FUND GUIDANCE NOTES
Introduction
The Arts Service wish to promote the benefits of group singing activities. These guidance notes
provide information on applying to the Lewisham Arts Service Sing Out Fund. Please ensure that you
read them carefully before completing your application form. If you have any particular communication
needs please ask for help.
We anticipate a strong demand for awards from the fund so it is important that you answer all
questions as fully as possible in order that your application can be accurately assessed. You should
be aware that grants may not always be offered for the total amount requested. The maximum grant
award for this scheme is £750.
The deadline for applications is 12 noon on Monday 19 November 2012.
All projects must be complete by 1 March 2013.
Applications will be processed within two weeks. Projects should not begin before the award date and
should allow sufficient planning time.
What are the aims and objectives of the fund?
Aims
To get more people in Lewisham singing together – any size, any style.
To improve Lewisham residents sense of community and wellbeing
Objectives
Support new choirs to become established and sustainable
Help existing choirs to increase their membership
To encourage non-singers to start singing
Who can apply?
Grants are available to not-for-profit groups and organisations running community singing projects
taking place in the borough of Lewisham and for the benefit of Lewisham residents. This could be
schools, voluntary organisations, disability groups, older people’s groups, community groups,
networks, festival organisers or arts organisations.
If you are an individual wishing to apply, we can help you make connections with organisations who
could apply on your behalf.
Organisations receiving £15,000 or more in annual revenue funding from Lewisham are not eligible to
apply, (see the restrictions section for other exclusions).
What kind of projects are funded?
The project could be any event, workshop, performance or other activity that encourages people to get
involved in a choir or take part in some form of group singing activity. We are looking for really
exciting and innovative activities that would encourage people to get involved even if they have never
sung before.
Some examples are listed on the next page.
Project examples:
 Sing-along Screenings – choirs have previously partnered with a local film group to
raise awareness of their choir and encourage new, often younger, participants.
Partnering with a local film club could help to achieve this.
 Choiroke – group singing but in a karaoke format has been a successful way of
encouraging timid performers without the pressure of a solo or lots of rehearsals. A
local karaoke night may be interested in hosting such an event.
 Family Singing – some parents feel they lack the time to sing or skills to sing with their
children. A local parent group, school, nursery or children’s centre could help you
promote your project.
 New Choir – the community benefits of singing are strongest when it is a community
activity. If you live in an area lacking community singing opportunities you could start a
new choir.
Assessing applications
In assessing applications, we will also look at the following aspects of your project:
1. Quality - the artistic quality of the planned project.
2. Project management - how you will manage the delivery of your project, including your planning
group and their roles.
3. Financial effectiveness - value for money (ie, numbers of beneficiaries compared to total cost),
effective use of resources and a clear balanced budget.
4. Benefit to Lewisham residents – the activity must take place in Lewisham and mainly benefit
people who live in the borough.
5. Marketing - how you plan to promote the proposed project to reach a wide audience.
Application Priorities
We will prioritise the following applications:
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From new and emerging groups.
That engage with large groups of residents.
That benefit residents with restricted access to community singing provision (eg those living in
areas without a choir, disabled people, families).
Grant information and conditions
1. Applicants should show that at least 20% of the total project cost is covered by funding from
sources other than the Council, such as: a grant from another public funding body, trust or
foundation; sponsorships or donations; ‘in kind’ support; ticket sales and membership fees.
2. Grants are available up to a maximum of £750. However, the award may be for less than the
amount requested.
3. Seventy per cent of the grant will be paid in advance by BACS into the organisation’s bank
account, once any conditions of funding detailed in the offer letter have been fulfilled. The
remainder will be paid on receipt of the fully completed evaluation and monitoring report (including
full income and expenditure details).
4. The evaluation and monitoring form must be returned within 14 days of the completion of the
project and include equalities monitoring data e.g. ethnicity, age, gender, sexuality, disability. For
information on what data to collect and how to collect it, please contact the Arts Service.
5. The support of Lewisham Council should be acknowledged on all publicity and promotional
material using the Lewisham Council logo, which will be supplied electronically to successful
applicants. Copies of all publicity material must be supplied with the evaluation form.
6. Changes in the planned programme must be discussed in advance with the Arts Service. Where
the grant offered is less than the amount applied for, or you fail to obtain anticipated match
funding, you will need to either show that you have alternative sources of funding, or be able to
demonstrate how the project will be delivered on a reduced budget. If your event does not take
place and/or the grant paid is used for purposes other than those detailed on the application form,
your organisation will be required to repay the grant in full.
7. If you are successful, it is important that you fulfil the conditions in the offer letter. Failure to do so
will affect your eligibility to apply to future Arts Service grant schemes and you may be asked to
repay the grant.
8. You must have relevant governing and policy documents in place and may be required to provide
copies. Current CRB disclosures and insurance policies must also be in place.
9. Applications must be received by the closing date. Late applications will not be considered.
Restrictions
1. Grants are not available as a contribution towards study or course fees.
2. Grants are not available to individuals and cannot be paid into an individual’s personal
bank account.
3. Applications for events/activities that discriminate on the grounds of gender, race, sexuality, age,
nationality, disability, religion, economic status, responsibility for dependents or HIV status will not
be considered. Grants are not available to political organisations, or to activities that promote
religion, although faith groups may apply for projects that fulfil the criteria.
4. Grants will not be given to cover the cost of events/activities that are organised by or already
funded by the Council, or to make good any shortfall of funding from other Council sources.
5. Applications from profit making projects or commercial organisations will not be considered.
6. Grants will not be paid to support fund-raising events.
Completing your application
Please ensure that you complete all sections of the application form and provide the information
requested as clearly as possible. In particular, please ensure that you show how your application
meets the stipulated criteria and provide a detailed breakdown of all the costs related to your project
and sources of other income. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
If you would like to speak to someone before completing your form, or you have any difficulty in
answering any of the questions, please contact the Lewisham Arts Service, on 020 8314 7730 or
[email protected].
When you have completed your application form, please send it to [email protected].