This Grant is a scheme which aims to encourage activity and events in the Town Centre and increase footfall and prosperity to the town. The grant is available to community groups, town councils, organisations, businesses and individuals. The events or activities must be completed by no later than 15 November 2024. There is a limited amount of funding so we encourage you to apply early as we anticipate significant amount of interest in this grant and funding will be awarded on a first come first served basis (subject to panel outcomes).

The main purpose of the fund is to try and make a difference to our town centres making them more appealing to the public to visit and work; encouraging people to spend their time and money there. The Council will, therefore, support events and activities within the main commercial centre (generally the high street - or similar - and locations immediately adjacent).

The proposed activity and events could be creative and range from large events to small activities. Some ideas for events/activities are:

• Town Centre Gardening Group
• Street Party (to celebrate local heritage for example)Community Training Events (First Aid for example)
• Fun run / Marathon
• Themed Day
• Tea Club (Weekly/monthly tea Club)
• Music festival
• Local produce festival
• Treasure Hunts
• Food Festival
• Monthly/regional Mega-Markets
• Business Showcasing event
• Business Ambassador scheme
• Tourist in your town events
• Community Arts Festival

All applications should be for new events however you may apply for grant funding for enhancements to existing scheduled events/activities. For example, annual events that would like to enhance their event could be awarded grant funding but this would only be for enhancements and not the pre-existing event itself.

The first stage is to contact the Regeneration Team by email on regeneration@flintshire.gov.uk to discuss your application. The Regeneration Team will ensure that you are fully informed and supported throughout the process. The Regeneration Team can provide an application form and event guidance – these are also available on the Council’s website here: https://www.flintshire.gov.uk/en/Business/Town-Centre-Regeneration/Grants-and-Funding.aspx

The grant application form should be completed in line with the guidance produced to assist applicants and should include full details and costings for the event/activity. Applicants may need to provide all, or some, of the following dependent on the project:

• Relevant statutory consents and licences (such as traffic regulation orders) where applicable
• Insurance Documentation
• Financial information is required for due diligence purposes so that there is confidence that public money is being invested properly
• Information on business planning to support the proposed venture
• Quotations from suppliers for the event/activity

Yes, you will need to have the relevant permissions approved or pending before any applications can progress such as public liability insurance and traffic regulation orders.

All applicants will need to provide evidence of expenditure along with evidence of what has been achieved as a result of the grant funding awarded (i.e. evidence of outputs and outcomes achieved in line with details outlined in the Town Centre Activities and Events Grant guidance document)

All applications received will be presented to the Flintshire Regeneration Panel for a consideration and a decision. The deadline for submission of applications to be considered by the panel at one of its monthly meetings is outlined below. In addition, the dates of the panel and the date by which the outcome of the application will be communicated to the applicant is noted.

Please note not all panel meetings will be held if the grant funding available is fully allocated to projects sooner than the meeting dates. Applications are therefore encouraged for the earlier panel dates, as the funding is limited and expected to be in high demand.

Applications are assessed on the basis of its positive benefit to the local area, but the level of grant (subject to state aid rules) may be limited by the size and nature of the project, viability gap or the company’s financial contribution.

Grant funding would be awarded for a minimum of £500 up to a maximum of £10,000 which is a maximum of 80% of the total project cost with the remaining to be funded by the organisation/group/individual applying.

Applications for TCAEG funding will be fully assessed with recommendations presented by a member of the Regeneration Team. Intervention rates can be determined by each individual local authority based on local market conditions up to a maximum of 80% grant support.

Decisions made will be:

• Approval
• Approval subject to conditions
• Reject - Full justification will be provided to any applicant whose application is rejected.

As part of the terms and conditions of the grant, the event must be held no later than the 15th November 2024.

It is your responsibility to monitor the work and ensure that the event goes ahead. You will need to provide the evidence that the event took place to the regeneration team. For example, ticket sales, photos of event etc. This evidence must be provided as soon after the event as possible.

Flintshire County Council will take a tailored approach to stage payments of funds to the applicant. Once the event has taken place final invoices can be submitted for the grant claim. The Regeneration Team will work with you to arrange payment in a timely manner.

Please note that the funding will need to be approved before the event/activity can take place. Costs incurred prior to the date of the grant application being assessed by the Council’s Regeneration Panel will not be able to be funded.

All grant money is claimed in arrears so if your event does not take place and Flintshire County Council has paid anything out pre-event such as deposits, marketing etc then you would be liable to repay full costs.