Dirtworks Environmental Scheme

DirtWorks is a funding programme aimed at getting young people between 16-25 years old to volunteer on environmental projects.

The Fund is specifically looking for organisations with capacity to supervise and deliver projects using youth volunteers.

Available Funding/Support
Grants of up to £20,000 (up to 80% of overall costs). The overall project cost should not exceed £25,000 and the capital works element of the project should be at least 40% of the cost.

Match Funding
Applicants must provide £5,000 or 20% of the overall costs in order to access the grant.

In certain cases, proposals may need to include a contribution from a Third Party to cover the 10% amount which cannot be met through Landfill Tax. A Third Party can be a private company, voluntary body or individual.

Eligible Activities
Costs associated with eligible projects, which include:
• Building a bird hide.
• Creating footpaths.
• Creating a new pond or wetland habitat.
• Improving a community building.
• Creating a community garden.
• Planting a woodland.

Who Can Apply
Eligible projects must:
• Fulfil the requirements of Object D of the Landfill Communities Fund:
o providing and maintaining public amenities and parks which are within ten miles of a landfill site, when the work benefits the natural social or built environment.
• Be registered with Entrust.
• Recruit volunteers aged 16 - 25 years to work on the project.
• Be based at a single site.
• Be keen to involve young people in the design and development of the project.
• Be prepared to provide regular practical activities to enhance local green spaces.
• Be conducting and working on a project which not only benefits children and young people, but also other site uses and the local community in general.
• Provide challenging learning opportunities.
• Be both fun and worthwhile.
• Be completed within 12 months of any funding being agreed.
• Recruit a minimum of 10 regular volunteers undertaking 25 days volunteering activity, over a 12 month period.
• Recognise the efforts of young people by providing accreditation for the volunteering scheme such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
• Be based within Lancashire, excluding Blackpool and Blackburn unitary districts.
• Be based within 10 miles of a landfill site.

The LEF will accept applications from any organisation or community group that operates on a not for profit basis, but is particularly keen to work with groups with a track record of delivering projects, experience of working with volunteers and the organisational capacity to supervise and organise the project.
All proposed projects must have unrestricted public access for a minimum of 104 days per year, including at least four evenings a week, two days a week or 12 weeks a year, in order to be eligible for funding.

Criteria
1. A supported dirtWorks project, once complete, must benefit as many people as possible. Therefore, public access is an important issue when we decided what projects to fund. All projects must have unrestricted access for a minimum of 104 days per year; that’s at least four evenings a week, two days a week or 12 weeks a year
2. Applicants may be asked to prepare a short presentation about their project and be interviewed by the Fund assessment panel as part of the judging process.
Application Deadline: 3rd October 2011
Link to guidelines:
http://www.lancsenvfund.org.uk/

Useful information:
Application forms are available to download on the Fund website, or a hard copy can be requested. Submission can be made by e-mail in the first instance; however, a signed hard copy, along with any supporting documentation, must also be sent by post.
All applicants will be notified of the outcome and successful applicants will be sent a formal grant offer letter, outlining the relevant terms and conditions

Contact:
Fund Manager
The Barn
Berkeley Drive
Bamber Bridge
Preston
PRS 6BY
Tel: 01772 317 249
Fax: 01772 628 849
E-mail: general@lancsenvfund.org.uk