Anglers' Net - The UK Online Fishing Magazine: GRANTS & OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR FISHERY PROJECTS GRANTS & OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR FISHERY PROJECTS ================================================================================ Dr.-Bruno-Broughton on 12 May, 2003 02:00:00 General guidance notes prepared by Dr Bruno Broughton, Fisheries Management Consultant Introduction In the last decade there has been burgeoning interest in the creation of purpose-built, stillwater fisheries and the use of existing bodies of water for angling or fish-farming purposes. Most projects have been funded entirely by the land owner or tenant, the financial return being used to offset the initial capital investment. However, there is a wide variety of possible grants and other forms of financial assistance that may be available for these (and other) projects. This briefing paper describes some of them and sets out advice on where to enquire about others. General Advice Almost all forms of financial assistance come ‘with strings attached’, but these are not necessarily onerous or restrictive. The most important condition, which is almost universal, is that: Most grants cannot be made retrospectively, once a project has begun or has been completed Clearly, this means that a degree of financial planning and preparation is essential if financial support is to be accessed successfully. There is plenty of help available, but accessing it is not always easy. Preparation and research are essential Generally, it is a far better tactic to think about the general outline of a fishery scheme, then ask what grants may be available for what particular aspects of a scheme. You can them amend your project accordingly so that when you finalise the details, it meets the requirements of the grant-awarding body. Be flexible and adapt your scheme to meet the grant requirements Remember that some forms of financial assistance apply to specific initiatives only, but these could be incorporated into the overall scheme – assistance with tree planting or disabled access, for example. Such grants can be cumulative, rather than exclusive, and you may be eligible for several different grants. Don’t ignore small or specific grant opportunities Finally, it is worth discovering how the site for your project relates to Europe as a whole, to the UK, and to the particular region, county or area in which it is located. In each case, there may be special grants available. Know how your project relates to the wider world Key Words Most grants are awarded against the expectation of specific benefits (‘goals’, ‘outcomes’). Typically, you will need to prove or demonstrate (not just state) that some or all of the following benefits will be achieved through the grant-aided project:- § Job creation/retention § Environmental improvements/biodiversity § Financially viable/adds value § Incoming tourism § Tuition/coaching § High quality, permanent/sustainable § Open to all/social inclusion § Improved access for users (especially non-ambulant people) § Recreational benefits to meet demonstrable demand/need Specific Grants 1. National Lottery Awards Sport is one of the good causes that benefits from the National Lottery. Since 1994 the Sport England Lottery Fund has distributed £1.3 billion to some 3,500 projects across all 63 eligible sports. 36 angling projects have received support worth £2.1 million. Under the revised application procedure, grants are divided between the Community Projects Fund (CPF) and the World Class Fund. The CPF itself is divided into:- § small projects to which grants of