1. Eligibility for Funding approval will be based on the information received, the reason for the request, how the funds will be used and benefits to the community it serves. Tipperary Credit Union will ensure that the community projects awarded funding are consistent with the ethos and values of the credit union movement. Please note Tipperary Credit Union has absolute discretion on the above and the eligibility, availability or not and granting or otherwise of funds (including amounts and frequency without limitation) to Community Fund Applicants. Tipperary Credit Unionās decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
2. Request for funding must be done on the official Tipperary Credit Union Application Form, the form can be found on our website at www.tipperarycu.ie. The application will be treated as incomplete without the form been completed in full. Letters are not accepted, however documents and further information in support of the application may be submitted and will be accepted. Late applications will not be accepted.
3. Evidence of authorisation to make the application will be required before a final decision will be made on funding. For example a signed letter from the Organisation, Board, Secretary, Chair, Treasurer, etc. Applications must be signed by persons who are 18 or over on the date of application.
4. By providing information to Tipperary Credit Union and completing the Application Form, applicants are deemed to accept these terms and conditions, any further instruction and or conditions that Tipperary Credit Union may communicate to applicants in whatever for, and medium. By providing information to Tipperary Credit Union and completing the Application Form applicants are also accepting any personal data provided will be processed in accordance with our Data Protection privacy policies and associated information to be found at www.tipperarycu.ie and for any other reasons stated in these terms and conditions.
5. Misinformation may lead to disqualification and/or the requirement that the applicant repay any funding received from the Credit Union.
6. All information and documents provided by the applicant group/organisation will be held by the Credit Union for a period of six years from the cessation of the relationship between the group and the Credit Union.
7. The credit union reserves the right to publish details of any funding granted on its website and in media including social media and newspapers.
8. The credit unions contribution must be publicly acknowledged in all materials associated with the purpose of the fund.
9. Evidence of receipts and invoices must be retained and provided to the Credit Union prior to the disbursal of funds by the credit union. The credit union will release the fund payment upon receipt of invoices/receipts for works done/goods supplied. Funds may be made payable to service provider named on the invoice. Cheques or cash will not be issued directly to the Applicant Group/organisation or to authorised persons in the Applicant Group or organisation. Approved amounts must be spent within 6 months of approval date.
10. Evidence of a written Constitution/Memorandum and Articles/Set of Rules/Legal Structure or proof of the existence and good governance of the applicantās operations must accompany the application, where appropriate.
11. Funding is available for new and proposed projects but specifically excludes funding for any of the annual running costs of an organization or any project already completed. For example, such projects might include the enhancement of premises used by an organisation, the acquisition of equipment or support for a musical or cultural event. The Community Fund will not fund the following:
ā¢ Any project/initiative not in keeping with the ethos of the credit union and intention of the fund and which does not offer a community benefit.
ā¢ Any current funding projects/initiatives.
ā¢ Annual running or operational costs.
ā¢ Employment costs
ā¢ Professional fees (Legal, Accountancy, Consultancy, Design, Feasibility studies, Certification)
ā¢ Insurance, advertising and promotional materials
ā¢ Administration equipment
ā¢ Branded merchandise
ā¢ Hire or rental of equipment/ premises/ facilities
ā¢ Routine maintenance ā normal wear and tear
ā¢ Repayment of loans
ā¢ Purchase of land
ā¢ Festivals
ā¢ Fundraisers/ Events
12. The Fund is open to all community or voluntary groups, local clubs, schools or associations, not-for-profit and charitable organisations working at a local level within our common bond area.
13. The applicant must have been operating for at least 12 months prior to the date of submission of the application.
14. The application must be for a minimum of ā¬2,000 and maximum of ā¬50,000. Requests for sponsorship up to ā¬2,000 may be made throughout the year and these will be reviewed internally. Applications must complete the Sponsorship Request Form.
15. Applicant/organisation must provide a copy of full planning permission where such is required.
16. If the organisation does not own the property where the project is proposed to take place, there must be a minimum of 5 years remaining on a long-term lease to be eligible to receive funding. If renting, there must be a minimum of 5 years remaining on the rental agreement to be eligible to receive funding.
17. Only one grant of funding per project/ organisation will be awarded in any 3-year period.
18. Applications for funding exceeding ā¬2,000 are open to eligible organisations from January to March each year. All submissions will be reviewed, and decisions will be communicated by the end of May. Subject to demand and availability, the fund may reopen for a second round of applications from June to August, with decisions issued by the end of October.
19. Applicants must submit details of an initiative that fits in one of the five categories below:
Qualifying initiatives in Arts & Culture include those that:
ā¢ Promote and contribute to projects of an artistic nature that directly benefit the local community and involve local people.
ā¢ Preserve and enhance local identity and the unique artistic and cultural assets of the community through a variety of activities.
Qualifying initiatives in Physical Activity and Sports include those that:
ā¢ Increase opportunities for people with all levels of abilities to engage with others in physical activity and sport.
ā¢ Encourage regular participation in physical activity, sport and healthy lifestyle.
ā¢ Re-engage young people through physical activity and sporting programmes.
Qualifying initiatives in Environment include those that:
ā¢ Promote civic responsibility by getting people involved in shaping and looking after their local environment.
ā¢ Assist in the upgrading (not replacement) or physical improvement and development of civic ownership of local amenities, e.g. allotments.
Qualifying initiatives in Community Development include those that:
ā¢ Develop and enhance facilities within the local community, e.g. a community centre
ā¢ Enhance local business integration within the community through community partnership projects.
Qualifying initiatives in Youth include those that:
ā¢ Provide additional access to youth facilities and youth activities.
ā¢ Promote active youth participation within the local community.
ā¢ Add value to existing youth facilities and programmes.
The above list is not exhaustive, and the committee reserves the right to consider other activities which, in its opinion, should merit inclusion.
20. If the proposed initiative includes children under-18 years of age or vulnerable persons, each applicant must have in place a policy for the safeguarding of children or vulnerable persons and show evidence of its implementation on request.
21. The applicant must include details of any additional funding required for the initiative and provide details of the source(s) of this additional funding.
22. Tipperary Credit Union reserves the right, at any time, to verify the validity of applications and have the right to inspect and/or to disqualify any application that is not in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.
23. Tipperary Credit Union will ensure that community projects awarded funding are consistent with the ethos and values of the credit union movement and distributed throughout the common bond in a fair and equitable manner.
24. Requests should fulfil a recognised need and benefit to the community at large as well as be relevant to the majority of Tipperary Credit Union membership. Requests will not prohibit the organisation from applying for a loan from the Credit Union.
25. Funding will be awarded to groups/clubs/entities and not to individual people.
26. Approval for all funding will be given based on the information received, the purpose behind the project, the benefit to the community and the perceived benefits Tipperary Credit Union can expect from participation.
27. The Community Committee decision will be final, and in the case of declined requests, the next reapplication may be made in the following financial year.
28. The Applicant group/organisation hereby consents to allowing the credit union or its auditors (internal and external) to carry out a full audit of Community Fund projects, assessments, recommendations, funding decisions, income and expenditure account and payments upon request. The Applicant group/organisation hereby agrees to notify the Credit Union as soon as possible where there is a change in the officers or management of the Organisation (e.g. chairperson, treasurer or secretary) or to the Organisationās external financial auditors (where applicable).
29. The Applicant group/Organisation hereby agrees to provide evidence of expenditure in respect of the fund payment to the Credit Union.
30. The Applicant group/Organisation hereby agrees to retain these records for the period required by relevant legislative requirements or for a minimum period of six years, whichever is longer.
31. At the request of the Credit Union, the Organisation will provide the Credit Union with reasonable access to accounts, data, and records of all transactions arising out or related to the purpose of the fund payment.
32. The nature of the Organisationās accounts may vary according to the size and nature of the Organisation and the requirements of its governing documents, and the Organisation will ensure that its accounts are examined or audited in accordance with relevant legal, regulatory and accountancy requirements and practices, as appropriate.
33. The Organisation must seek the advance written approval of the Credit Union to sell or dispose of any asset or equipment where the fund payment has been used to purchase or improve the asset or equipment. The Credit Union may attach a condition to any such sale or disposal that the Organisation must repay all or part of the fund payment used to purchase or improve the asset or equipment.
34. The Organisation will immediately notify the Credit Union and will ensure that all necessary notifications and actions are undertaken if fraud or misappropriation is suspected or if the Organisation becomes aware of circumstances suggesting fraud or misappropriation within or, in respect of, the Organisation or its activities or arising out of the fund payment. The Organisation shall cooperate with any directions of the Credit Union in this regard
