How to apply for a grant

Read the guidelines

Before submitting an application you should first read our guidelines to find out whether you are eligible to apply. To qualify your project must take place in the Borough of Bedford or be for the benefit of residents of the Borough.

You can download a copy of our Guidance notes in either pdf or word formats.

Most of our grants are made to organisations, but we do have a very small budget (less than 5% of our total grants budget) for Grants to individuals under our education object.

Talk to us

We advise all organisations, even those we have worked with in the past, to get in touch with us to discuss project ideas before moving to the next stage and filling in a Preliminary Proposal form. These early conversations help ensure that busy people do not spend valuable time completing a form for a project that is ineligible or unlikely to fare well. It is particularly important that organisations applying though our online application system speak to Lucy Bardner, Grants Manager on 01234 369500 before making an application.

Preliminary Proposal form

Once you have checked that you are eligible to apply you will need to fill in a short Preliminary Proposal form. This will enable our Trustees to give you some initial guidance.

Full Application form

If the feedback you receive from Trustees is encouraging, you will then need to fill in the Full Application Form.

Application process

There are three ways to acquire forms and apply for a grant:

1. You can apply using our interactive Online Application Process . Once completed this will automatically be sent to our Grants Manager.
   
   
2. You can download a Preliminary Proposal form and Full Application form onto your computer. Once completed you will be able to print this off to send to us, or alternatively send via email.
   
   
3. Alternatively, if you would like us to send you a hard copy of the notes and forms, please contact Lucy on 01234 369500 or at lbardner@harpur-trust.org.uk.

Forthcoming Deadlines

Meetings of Grants Committee and the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Grants Committee take place regularly throughout the year. The deadlines for submission of a Preliminary Proposal form or Full Application form are usually between one to four weeks prior to the date of the meeting. Forthcoming deadlines for 2008 are listed below:

Deadlines for submission of a Preliminary Proposal Form

28 March 2008 (meeting: 22 April)

9 May 2008 (meeting: 19 May)

30 May 2008 (meeting: 24 June)

25 July 2008 (meeting: 4 August)

15 August 2008 (meeting: 9 September)

20 October 2008 (meeting: 11 December)

5 December 2008 (meeting: 15 December)

Deadlines for submission of a Full Application Form (under £2,500)

28 March 2008 (meeting: 22 April)

9 May 2008 (meeting: 19 May)

30 May 2008 (meeting: 24 June)

15 August 2008 (meeting: 9 September)

20 October 2008 (meeting: 11 December)

5 December 2008 (meeting: 15 December)

Deadlines for submission of a Full Application Form (above £2,500)

28 March 2008 (meeting: 22 April)

30 May 2008 (meeting: 24 June)

25 July 2008 (meeting: 4 August)

15 August 2008 (meeting: 9 September)

20 October 2008 (meeting: 11 December)