Member Awarded Funding
Local councillors can award Member Awarded Funding (MAF) grants for community projects that benefit residents in their wards. Each councillor has a budget of £1,000 to spend.
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Who can apply
You can apply to your ward councillor for a grant to support a local community project if your organisation is one of the following:
- a voluntary or community group
- a charitable or social enterprise organisation
- a town or parish council
- a public sector organisation
How the grant can be used
Grants can be used to fully fund or contribute to community projects or be used as match funding.
Each councillor can award all their annual budget to:
- one project
- divide it amongst several project
- contribute funds with other councillors to give greater support to a project
Find information about how MAF is used in our annual reports and case studies in the downloads section on this page.
We publish all grant awards and project descriptions on the open data webpage.
How the scheme works
The steps in the process are shown in the process diagram.
Grants can only be made to registered organisations.
The minimum grant is £250.
To be eligible for funding, projects must contribute to one or more of the priorities and aims within the Council Plan 2024 to 2028.
Awards cannot be made to projects that have already taken place. Read the principles document for full information on restrictions and exclusions.
Organisations must use the grant for the purpose detailed in their application within 12 months of award payment.
For information you can read the terms and conditions and the frequently asked questions.
How to apply
Contact your local councillor to request a MAF application form and guidance document.
Make sure you tell them about the benefits the project will bring to your community, the amount of funding you have raised and the value of the grant you need.
Complete the application form and return it to your local councillor for a decision.
Applications can be made to councillors at any time during the financial year.
Records of members’ budget balances are regularly updated to show the funding available.
Registration
You must provide full details of your organisation using our online registration form. This helps us to communicate with you and process payments.
Create or update an account on our registration page
Advice and support
The grants helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, if you need advice. You can book a telephone appointment to discuss your project plans or help you register online.
Phone: 01454 865865
Email: grants@southglos.gov.uk