The BIG Weekend Grant

Nottinghamshire Scouts aims to provide every young person aged 4 to 25 years old and adult volunteers the opportunity to participate in Scout activities and events irrespective of any additional needs^[1].  In some cases, individuals may be unable to meet some or all the event costs.  To ensure that no one is excluded from attending events on financial grounds, Grants are available for up to 30% of the participant's costs, but additional support may be given for extreme hardship cases.

Event entry fees may be applied for. To receive a grant, the Scout Group must demonstrate the group, it's members, and/or their families are of one of the following:

• Located in a deprived area - defined by being IMD (Indices of Multiple Deprivation) 1 to 3 as set by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.
• Exceptional short-term hardship (eg. Short-term unemployment, awaiting payment of benefits).
• Hardship combined with multiple siblings also taking part in Scout activities.

Evidence of hardship may be requested; all grant applications and payments will be treated as strictly confidential.  Hardship cases will be judged in accordance with the Scout Association’s rules that define financial hardship.

[1] Additional needs refer to the individual requirements of a person with a disadvantaged background or a mental, emotional, or physical condition or high risk of developing one.

All applications must be made by Scout Groups in Nottinghamshire, authorised by the Group Lead Volunteer and the District Lead Volunteer. If there are District sections wishing to apply, authorisation is required from the Section Lead volunteer and the District Lead Volunteer.

Scout Groups serving more deprived communities are more likely to be successful applicants. Deprived communities are defined by indices of multiple deprivation (IMD). Taking public data across several different categories of deprivation across all parts of the country are grouped into IMD deciles. Deprived communities are IMD decile 1 to 3 ( about the 30% most deprived parts of the country).

• The County Grant Awards Panel (CGAP) is responsible for awarding and approving all grants and managing associated funds. It is responsible to the County's Board of Trustees (the Board) through its Finance Team.  The CGAP is chaired by a member of the Finance Team.
• Applications will be sent to the CGAP Chair, who will carry out an initial review of the application.
• If the CAGP Chair assesses that an applicant should be considered for an award it will then be reviewed by the CGAP. Where the Chair is uncertain about an application, it must be reviewed by the CGAP.
• The CGAP may decide to award the full amount applied or recommend a lower grant depending on the information provided by the applicant.
• If approved, the applicant will be informed and arrangements for payment will be made. The payment will be made directly to The BIG Weekend Team against your registration number(s).
• If the application is not approved, the applicant will be informed in writing by the Chair of the CGAP.
• The decision of the CGAP may be Appealed once where an application is not approved. The County Lead Volunteer and County Chair will review any Appeal and their decision is final.
• Whilst Nottinghamshire Scouts will aim to ensure that grants are awarded consistently across all events, the amount awarded may be reduced where an event has many applications. In that case, priority will be given to supporting those who have demonstrated the greatest need.
• Nottinghamshire Scouts may refuse grants at any time – for example, if funds are exhausted.