Outdoor Community Spaces Fund

1. Read the full criteria to ensure your group/project is eligible to apply for this grant. You can use the online Eligibility Check to help with this.

2. To start your application, complete the Eligibility Check and if your group meets criteria, the ‘apply now’ button will become visible.

3. By clicking the ‘apply now’ button, you will access our Grant Management System, hosted by SmartSimple. You will be prompted to register your organisation (if you haven’t already registered).

4. Once registered, you will receive an email to reset your password and log in. You will then be required to complete your Organisation Profile by uploading all relevant documentation (see Essential Criteria). Once uploaded, you will be able to apply for an Asda Foundation Outdoor Community Spaces Fund in the Funding Opportunities section.

5. Once your group’s application is fully complete, and all required documents are provided, Asda Foundation will review your application. Applications which don’t meet all criteria points or are missing required documents will be unsuccessful.

6. Completed applications that meet criteria will be assessed and any update will be communicated within 8 weeks of applying.

For a more detailed step-by-step guide on the registration and application process, please refer to our handy guide here.

This grant is for community groups who are looking to improve or transform an outdoor space near to them. In addition, we encourage applications that:

• Increase access to outdoor spaces, particularly for marginalised or vulnerable groups of people. Asda Foundation is committed to enabling as many people as possible to be able to benefit from our funding.
• Bring local communities together – this means outdoor spaces which are open and accessible for a wide range of people on a regular basis.
• Make a lasting and demonstrable difference to an outdoor space.
• Enable groups to undertake a project that truly enhances a local space – applications that focus on just one or two expensive items are unlikely to be successful.

We are unable to consider applications from:

• Organisations based outside the UK or benefitting people/communities outside of the UK.
• Third party grant making organisations (grantees must directly deliver the service/activity).
• Schools and academy trusts, although PTAs (with their own bank account) are eligible to apply, providing that the funding would impact the wider community outside of the school.
• Groups who have a clear affiliation with a particular political party.
• Religious organisations whose services are only open to people of a particular faith.
• Animal charities or groups which have animal welfare as their main focus.

All criteria below must be met in order to be eligible to apply and to be considered for this grant.

Groups must have:

A total annual income of £250,000 or below

• What we need:
  • Evidence that your group has an annual income of £250,000 or below. If we’re unable to find such evidence, this will be requested.
  • If your group is a local branch or project that is managed by a parent organisation whose annual income exceeds £250,000, you will only be eligible for this grant if you can demonstrate you have a separate bank account, independent annual accounts, and your own constitution.
• Why we need it:
  • Asda Foundation is committed to supporting grassroots organisations, and therefore we have this income limit to ensure that our funding has the most meaningful impact at a local level.

Governing Documents

• What we need:
  • A full copy of your organisation’s Constitution (or Articles of Association / Memorandum, if applicable).
  • Your documents should be finalised (i.e. not a draft/template) and must outline your group’s name and charitable aims, confirmation of non-profit status, and what would happen to your assets upon dissolution.
• Why we need it:
  • We want to ensure that all groups in receipt of our funding have suitable governance in place.
  • Please refer to this handy guide from the NCVO about what your governing document should be like.

A Safeguarding Policy

• What we need:
  • A Safeguarding policy which is up to date and specific to your group’s service users. Further details on our safeguarding guidelines can be found here.
• Why we need it:
  • Safeguarding is important to ensure the protection of all service users in your organisation. Your policy helps us to understand the processes you have in place and how your organisation handles concerns.

A bank account in your group’s name that accepts cheques

• What we need:
  • Proof of your group’s bank account payee name i.e. a bank statement, paying in slip, letter from your bank.
  • Please check that your bank will accept cheques before completing your application.
• Why we need it:
  • Cheques are our only means of payment; we are unable to make payment any other way.
  • We can make cheques payable to your group but we cannot make cheques payable to individuals or to personal bank accounts.

The following list provides some examples of the kinds of items and services that our funding could be used for. Please note that this list is not exhaustive, but any items and activities that we fund must still fit within our general criteria as detailed on ‘Who Can Apply’.

• Materials to build and transform outdoor areas, such as planters, raised beds, benches, paint
• Equipment to be able to deliver a community clear up, such as litter pickers, bin bags, hi-vis vests (items relating to community clear ups are capped at £500 in total)
• Machinery hire/purchase, e.g. rotavator hire (this must fit within a more comprehensive application and not be the only element we would fund)
• Permanent fixtures and features, such as sheds, outdoor furniture, pathways, gates and fencing
• Gardening tools and equipment, such as spades, wheelbarrows, polytunnels, water butts, compost bins
• Plants, shrubs, trees, bulbs etc.

Unfortunately, sometimes we have to say no; below is a list of items and activities that we are unable to fund through this grant. Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and The Asda Foundation reserves the right to make funding decisions based on each individual application:

• Projects which improve indoor spaces
• Projects for spaces with restricted or limited access to community members
• Non-essential clothing or uniforms
• Equipment which will be kept by individuals, rather than the organisation applying for funding
• Core running costs, including salaries
• Contributions to general fundraising, or sponsorship
• Projects which could negatively impact the reputation of The Asda Foundation
• Projects which will benefit only one person

Once you have submitted your application you will receive an email confirming that we have received your application.

As the review of your application progresses you may receive emails updating you of status changes or we may request additional information, so please ensure that you let us have your up-to-date and accurate contact details. Please keep an eye out for these landing in your inbox or, you can log in to your SmartSimple account to view the progress of your application.

Successful grants

If your application is successful you will be notified by email. We will also copy in your local Asda Community and Customer Champion, who would love to visit your group and celebrate with you. A cheque made payable to your group will then be posted to the address you provide in your application form.

Unsuccessful grants

We receive a lot of applications and sometimes we must make difficult decisions. The decision of The Asda Foundation is final and at our discretion.

If a grant is unsuccessful

You will be notified by email. You will be unable to submit a new application but are welcome to apply for any future funding opportunities (provided that any concerns raised by Asda Foundation have been addressed, and subject to any new criteria and guidelines for those future grants).

After you have read the grant criteria in full, you can check if your group are eligible to apply by completing the Eligibility Checker here.

Should your group meet the grant criteria and you begin the application process, you can find tips and guidance on the registration and application process by using the guide here.