Small Community Grants Funding
St Ives Town Council has powers to award grants to local organisations and good causes, to support their work in the Parish of St Ives. The Council has an annual budget of £10,000, from which to make small awards. The detailed criteria and eligibility can be downloaded in the documentation on this page. Key requirements are that:
- The organisation must operate locally within the parish or show how activities directly benefit the local community.
- An application can only be made for one off project costs (there is a separate policy in place to assist local organisations with core revenue funding on an on-going basis).
- Applicants must show how they meet the policy priorities.
- Applications must be from constituted organisations, not individuals, with a business bank account and joint signatories.
Decision making process
Applications can be made at any point in the year. Live applications are considered at the next meeting of the Council’s Finance & General Purposes Committee, which meets 4-5 times a year. Meeting dates can be viewed on the Council’s meeting calendar. Applicants are notified of the Committee’s decision. which will be an approval, deferral for more information or a rejection. Reasons are given for each rejection. Applicants are asked to consider the guidance and checklist carefully as applications are often deferred due to insufficient information. The Committee’s decision is final.
Please download the following documents to make an application.
Community Organisations Core Funding Grant Policy
The Council can also provide small revenue grants to established local organisations towards their running costs. Applications are considered on a case by case basis. Current recipients include Hayle Day Care Centre, St Ives Archive and the September Festival.
2025/26 Application Closing Dates:
5pm Wednesday 12 November for the 20th November 2025 Finance & General Purposes Committee Meeting
5pm Wednesday 25th February for the 5th March 2026 Finance & General Purposes Committee Meeting
Small Grants Awarded
Other Grants/ Funding available from local Community Organisations
Cornwall Council Councillors Community Chest
The Community Chest gives small grants to not-for-profit groups across Cornwall. Each Cornwall Councillor has a small grants budget to support projects in their area.
St Ives Community Fund was set up as a charitable trust in 2016 to provide rapid financial support to local individuals and families who find themselves in need. The Fund also supports community projects within the town. Visit our website www.stivescommunityfund.co.uk for further information, grant application forms and also donation forms. Alternatively ring 01736-795695 or email tamwill@hotmail.co.uk.
William Chard Trust is a St Ives Charitable Trust and the Town Mayor is one of three trustees. The trust receive applications from individuals in hardship and also from community organisations seeking to support children and young people with events, activities and education. CONTACT THE TRUST HERE
Funding Resources
The Rural Services Network provides a monthly FUNDING BULLETIN sharing current information on all national and regional funds which offer funding to rural communities, including in Cornwall.
