Rees Foundation Grant Making Policy & Procedures

1. The Objects of The Rees Foundation
The Charity’s objects (“Objects”) are specifically restricted to the following:
For the public benefit, to relieve by such means as are charitable, children and adults who have had foster care or residential care experienced, by the provision of support, advice, resources, assistance (financial or otherwise), grants, programmes and other activities to:
a) advance education,
b) relieve unemployment,
c) promote the social inclusion among these beneficiaries who are excluded from society, or parts of society, due to their social or economic position,
d) develop their capacity and skills in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet their needs and to participate more fully in society

2. Priorities for support
The number of applications which can be supported by The Rees Foundation Charity is, by necessity, limited to the amount of funds available for distribution in line with the Charity’s general reserves policy. The Board of Trustees will set-aside an annual budget for grant giving which will be reviewed at least annually to ensure appropriate allocation of resources.

3. Principles
In awarding grants, the Trustees will apply the following principles:
3.1 Applications from any geographical area within the UK are eligible for consideration.
3.2 Applications may be made by individuals;
3.3 All applications from previous recipients of grants or from previously unsuccessful applicants will be considered by the Charity on their own merits. Although the Charity will have regard to the outcome of the previous application, any new application will in no way receive preferential or adverse consideration.
3.4 Applicants will normally be aged 18 and above. In exceptional cases, the Charity may consider applications from people under 18.
3.5 The Charity will not, save in exceptional circumstances award single grants for sums in excess of £5,000 per year.
3.6 The Charity may work in partnership with other organisations and establishments to fund grant applications.

4. Exclusions
4.1 The Charity does not accept applications for grants from organisations.
4.2 The Charity will not normally award grants for applications that do not meet with the Charity’s objects.
4.3 The Charity reserves the right to decline any application and there is no obligation on the Charity to provide a reason for its decision. Each decision is final and there is no appeal process.

5. Grant application process
All applications for grants should be completed in conjunction with this policy. They must be made by using The Rees Foundation application form, completed in full and may be emailed to The Rees Foundation at: contactus@reesfoundation.org or alternatively posted to us at Craftsman House, De Salis Road, Hampton Lovett, Droitwich, Worcestershire, WR9 0QE

6. Information requirements when making a grant application
Before awarding a grant to any individual; the Charity require that the application should:
6.1 Inform the Charity of the purpose of the application and the way in which the grant will be used including expected outcomes to the applicant;
6.2 Where the application necessitates an individual subcontracting work to another organisation, eg therapy or training provider; it is essential that the applicant confirms that they have undertaken a full due diligence of all relevant qualifications & processes carried out by the individual or organisation providing them with a service. The charity takes no responsibility and accepts no liability whatsoever for assessing the suitability of third party products or services purchased from funds awarded.
6.3 Applicants must inform the Charity of the full names and contact details of two referees (as detailed in the grant application form) who are prepared to support their application. Agreement must have been gained by the applicant for the Charity to contact the referees and for their details to be utilised for such purposes;
6.4 Applicants must provide adequate information regarding their current education, housing or employment status.
6.5 Applicants will be required to provide information regarding their identity.  The Charity may request this during the assessment of the application (it is not required on initial application).
6.6 Applicants must provide adequate information regarding the financial status of their household.
6.7 Applications must be signed or verified by the applicant (or in the case of applications by persons under the age of eighteen years by his or her parent or guardian) to confirm that all information provided is correct so it can be verified by the Charity.

7. Assessment process
7.1 All grant applications will be subject to initial assessment to ensure they meet the basic criteria for funding. Applicants must be prepared to provide further information as the Charity may reasonably require in order to assist them in their decision-making and due diligence process. Grants will be considered by the Charity and the Charity will aim to write to all applicants informing them of the outcome of their application for funding within 12 weeks. urgent applications will be considered as soon as possible, following receipt of a completed application (including all necessary paperwork to accompany the application).
7.2 Applicants should note that, as with many other charitable trusts, The Rees Foundation may well receive far more applications than it has funds to support. Even if an application fits within the criteria and priorities of the Charity and a detailed assessment has been made, the Charity may still be unable to provide a grant.
7.3 The Charity will not be obliged to provide an explanation to the applicant should the applicant’s application be unsuccessful.
7.4 If the application is successful; the Charity reserves the right to issue the grant funds directly to the supplier/provider of the goods or services that the applicant has specified that the grant is to be used for rather than make a payment to the applicant.  For example, University fees may be paid directly to the University.
7.5 If the application is successful, and the applicants circumstances change; the applicant must inform the Charity regarding any changes that relate to the purpose of the award.  The Charity will consider the change of circumstance but reserves the right to withdraw the award where appropriate.  It may be that where circumstances have changed significantly, the applicant may be required to submit a new application.

8. Monitoring outcomes from grants awarded
8.1 It is the policy of the Charity to monitor all grants made. To this end, before a grant can be confirmed, conditions may be stipulated appropriate to the application and progress may be assessed against agreed targets and/or milestones.
8.2 If the grant is payable in instalments, then payment of subsequent grant instalments may be dependent on satisfactory progress having been demonstrated and the Charity reserves the right to withdraw the grant on receipt of unsatisfactory progress update reports.
8.3 The Trustees also will expect to receive copies of any published articles, papers or other outputs which may result from the grant. Should any of the articles refer to The Rees Foundation it is essential that the CEO of The Rees Foundation is informed and provides consent for the detail to be published.
8.4 The Charity may contact the grantee in the period following the award of the grant in order to identify progress against the objective of the grant.

9. The Rees Foundation Grant Making Policy must be read in conjunction with The Rees Foundation Privacy Policy by submitting a Grant Application the applicant confirms that they have read, understood and agreed to Rees Foundation Policies.

10. The Charity may require repayment of all OR any part of the grant if:
10.1 the project or purpose for which it was awarded does not proceed.
10.2 part of the grant remains unused when the activities that the grant was intended to fund have been completed: or
10.3 the grant is used for a purpose other than that which has been agreed.

11. Variations to this policy
11.1 The Board of trustees may vary the terms of this policy from time to time. 
Approved by the Board of Trustees .