Supporting Documents

To be eligible for funding from Northamptonshire Community Foundation you'll need the following supporting documents.

Reference form
We require a supporting reference for each application. You'll need to identify someone independent and knowledgeable about your project and your work. We may contact your referee for additional supporting information. 

This cannot be someone who works/volunteers for the organisation or a relative, and we suggest someone professional (eg a local councillor, someone from another community group, a teacher, local GP etc).

Download a PDF version 
Download a Word version

Constitution or a Governing Document
All groups applying to the Foundation must be independently and locally constituted. Every voluntary group should have an up-to-date, adopted constitution (sometimes referred to as a group’s governing document).

• A constitution is the document that has been agreed by the members of the group (i.e. adopted) that sets out the aims of the group, how it will be managed (or governed), who can be members and other important items. 
• Even if you are part of a national network or a branch of a national organisation, we will require you to be an independently locally constituted group
• Your constitution must have a dissolution clause that states in the case of your group winding up or dissolving, there is a commitment to allocating any remaining funds and assets to a VCSE organisation with similar aims and objectives based in Northamptonshire
• The constitution must be signed by 3 management committee members
• If you are in need of support to create your constitution, please contact your local infrastructure organisation or you can see an example constitution here.

Please note - For CICs you must have a minimum of two directors, who can not be related. There must be no Person with Significant Control (PSC); we are unable to fund social enterprises with a person with overall significant control.

A bank statement in a community group name
You'll need to supply us with a signed copy of a recent bank statement. There must be a minimum of two authorised signatories on the account.

A copy of your most recent set of accounts
You'll need to supply us with a signed copy of your accounts for the last financial year. 

If your group has been running for less than one year, we will need to see a copy of your last two bank statements. If another group has agreed to accept the payment on your behalf, we will need to see a copy of their latest accounts.

Regardless of the size or age of your community group, it's important to be financially accountable to your members, funders, and donors.

We have put together a document that outlines recommended best practices for improving financial management for small community groups, whether new or existing - Basic Financial Controls for small community groups

Child Protection Policy

If your project involves working with children, you must have an up-to-date child protection policy adopted by your management committee. If you do not have one, please view this example as a guide to creating your own.

Vulnerable Adults Policy

If your project involves working with vulnerable adults, you must have an up-to-date vulnerable people's policy adopted by your management committee. If you do not have one, please view this example as a guide to creating your own.

Download our supporting documents checklist to ensure you have all the supporting documents required when applying.

Equality Policy

All groups must submit an equality policy to demonstrate their commitment to equality. If you do not have one, please view this example as a guide to creating your own.

You may wish to review this guidance regarding creating an equality policy, kindly provided by the Brighton and Hove Resource Centre.

We look for the following in your policy:

• References Equality Act 2010

• Policy should cover age, gender reassignment, being married or in a civil partnership, being pregnant or on maternity leave, disability, race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation (protected characteristics)

• Equal access to services

• Employment

• Preventing harassment and ensuring everyone is treated equally

• Complaints are dealt with fairly