BACKGROUND
What is the marine communities fund?
The Crown Estate’s marine communities fund provides funding for community projects which contribute to development of best practice and make a significant contribution to the environmental management and stewardship of our marine estate.
How much money has The Crown Estate awarded through the marine communities fund?
Since it was established in 1999 the marine stewardship fund has contributed over £2m to a wide range of coastal and marine environmental projects. The fund forms part of The Crown Estate’s marine stewardship programme which has provided over £5.5 million to research into aquaculture, dredging, and community projects.
What types of projects are considered for funding?
Marine stewardship fund projects that may (but not exclusively) receive funding include:
- Practical projects, including beach litter cleaning schemes, marine archaeological investigations, restoration of redundant buildings as coastal lookouts, renovation of slipways, installation of new pontoons / moorings, habitat creation initiatives.
- Provision of environmental information and interpretation such as information panels, codes of conduct, good practice guides, publications.
- Education and applied research related specifically to the management of Crown Estate property and the local community, support of seminars aimed at raising public awareness of offshore renewable energy.
More information on the types of projects we have supported in the past can be found on our marine stewardship fund case studies page.
What projects will not be considered?
The marine stewardship fund will not support projects that offer either commercial gain or which bring personal financial benefit to the applicant. Marine stewardship fund awards will not be made for the development of business plans.
Must there be a link to The Crown Estate?
The Crown Estate Act 1961 means that projects supported by the marine stewardship fund must have a clear link to Crown Estate land, either by demonstrating good management of specific areas of The Crown Estate’s property or enhancing stewardship of the foreshore and seabed, by furthering and disseminating best practice in coastal and marine management. If you are unsure as to whether the area in your application is owned by The Crown Estate please contact us with the location co-ordinates and we will advise.
APPLICATIONS
Who may apply for funding?
Applications for funding are welcomed from community groups, voluntary or other organisations, but support is not intended to replace statutory funding.
How much money is available?
Applications can be made for up to 100% of project costs although projects which can demonstrate partnership working are equally as important. There is no guarantee that we will contribute the entire sum applied for and it is important that the sum requested from The Crown Estate is at an appropriate proportion of the total costs and in keeping with the level of impact the project will have. Your application must contain a breakdown of costs, including any VAT to be incurred. Where applicable the total amount requested must stipulate whether VAT is included. Please note that any award made through the marine stewardship fund will include any VAT project costs as appropriate.
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Do other funds need to be in place before an application is made?
No. Even though we encourage proposals that bring together a range of partners to ensure that the local community benefits as much as possible, we can provide ‘seed’ money which allows a project to get off the ground and attract funding from other sources. In this instance you are advised to provide a concise business plan to indicate how your project will secure further funding. For projects which involve several partners we might offer funding that can only be drawn upon once all other partners have confirmed funding. In this case we would place a time limit on our offer of funding.
Over what period can funding be requested?
Funding may be awarded for one year or phased over a maximum of three years. In exceptional circumstances funding may go beyond three years (e.g. for national projects which have been very successful in terms of furthering best practice and raising the profile of The Crown Estate). Funds of up to 100% can be made towards revenue, capital or project expenditure.
How is the award paid?
Although the timing of award payment is ultimately at the discretion of The Crown Estate, there is flexibility as to how awards are paid. The Crown Estate’s offer to fund a project is dependent upon agreement of a set of predetermined terms and conditions. Receipt of a signed acceptance letter is necessary before any payment is made. These terms and conditions will include references to project outputs and milestones, and publicity. In some cases we may decide to make a payment at the commencement of the project but it is more usual to make payments on an annual basis once the project has delivered the proposed outcomes or met specific objectives as set out in your project plan. We will also indicate how long the offer of funding will remain open.
How do we apply?
The application form is available in PDF format. This form outlines the information that we require in order to assess your project proposal so please address all the sections on the form. Supplementary information may be attached as appendices if relevant. Please contact us should you require a word document version of this form or if you would like us to send you a paper copy.
The application form is available via the link:
Contact us: Enquiries
Is there a deadline for applications?
Yes, the fund operates two funding rounds each year, usually held in December and June. Please refer to our marine communities fund page for confirmation of the deadline.
How are applications assessed?
Applications are assessed by a panel chaired by the Head of Coastal Operations with input from managing agents and members of the Coastal Team. The decision of the assessment panel is final. If your application is successful we will send you an offer of funding, setting out the amount we are prepared to contribute and the terms and conditions of the funding. You will be required to accept the terms and conditions by signing and returning a form of acceptance. This will form the basis of the contract between the applicant and The Crown Estate.
How long does it take for an application to be assessed?
You can submit your application at any time prior to the next application deadline however it will only be formally assessed at assessment panel meetings. On receipt of your application we will send you an acknowledgement and an indication as to the timescale for assessment. We aim for an eight week turnaround between funding round deadline and formal notification of the assessment panel decision.
Why might an application be unsuccessful?
As with most types of funding there is substantial competition. As a result meeting the qualifying criteria is no guarantee of being successful. Submitting an appropriate and well researched proposal consistent with the terms of reference for the fund will ensure your organisation makes the best possible case. Your application must also comply with the terms of the Crown Estate Act (1961) and demonstrate how it will benefit The Crown Estate’s property. For partnership projects we must be satisfied that you are requesting an appropriate level of funding in relation to other partners, the impact of the project and the amount of land owned by The Crown Estate in the area. For projects which involve construction, such as slipways, there must be additional environmental benefits to the facility. The decision of the assessment panel is final.
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RUNNING AND EVALUATING PROJECTS
Why must we publicise The Crown Estate’s involvement with our project?
We value the importance of the work undertaken by each project and place great emphasis on our commitment to furthering environmental awareness and sustainable practices, and working in partnership with coastal communities. Successful applicants must ensure that The Crown Estate’s contribution is fully acknowledged at launch events, throughout the duration of the project and in any published outputs. We may also request opportunities to visit your project and use any photographs or published materials for our own publicity purposes (e.g. newsletter, annual report) or to disseminate the results of the work more widely through our website. Successful applicants will receive further information about using The Crown Estate logo on any published materials produced by the project and we will need to see drafts of press releases and outputs before they are published.
Why must the project be evaluated?
Evaluation is a key element of all projects receiving support from the marine stewardship fund so that we can measure the success of the project against the agreed work programme. Applicants are required to propose a methodology for evaluation which measures the impact of the project and assesses whether the project objectives have been fulfilled. We require regular updates on progress throughout the year and expect applicants to take part in our online evaluation process. This process asks applicants to consider how well their project has performed across a number of specific topic areas directly related to the principles of stewardship and good management. This process is aimed at identifying the project’s contribution towards issues such as: creating / improving public amenities and accessibility, establishing and enhancing partnership working, identifying ways to improve or enhance biodiversity and landscape, considering ways to raise awareness within the community of key issues such as the role of marine renewables in combating climate change, identifying ways to reduce waste and pollution and to encourage the use of sustainable materials wherever possible. This helps us to consider the success of individual projects as well as the fund and wider marine stewardship programme.
Do we need legal consents?
Depending upon the nature of your project, you may require consents from a range of statutory organisations. We require proof that such consents have been given (a photocopy will suffice) prior to any funding being finalised. Furthermore, The Crown Estate cannot be held liable for any accidents, actions, proceedings, costs, claims or demands that may arise from your project.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If having read the above information you are unsure whether your project proposal is eligible, please contact us.
If you have any questions about the application process or would like to check whether your project is eligible, please contact us. Once your application is complete, please send this form to:
Fiona Wynne
The Crown Estate
16 New Burlington Place
London
W1S 2HX Email: Fiona Wynne |
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