FOR ACTION: Childcare Expansion Capital Grant Funding and Green Impact Funding

Schools and Ofsted-registered early years and childcare providers are encouraged to apply for capital grants. The funding is being delivered by Devon County Council specifically to enable providers to create more childcare places.

The focus of the funding is to allow new and existing childcare providers to create more places for children aged two years and below; schools can also apply for funding to create more wraparound care places through breakfast clubs and after-school clubs.

There is no upper limit on the grant that can be applied for, but applicants should bear in mind the total amount of funds available and local authorities need to create as many places as possible, especially in areas where the need is greatest. The grant can be spent on capital costs such as extensions or refurbishment of buildings, installing central heating, new facilities such as toilets or kitchens, furniture and equipment and improvements to outside spaces – just so long as new places are being created.

Devon County Council has a total budget of £1,482,972 for these grants.

All you need to apply can be found on our website: Childcare Expansion Capital Grant – Information for childcare providers

Applications have been coming in more slowly than we were expecting. We are aware of some larger applications that will be submitted, these are taking a while to complete due to design and planning reasons. We will now appraise applications as soon as we can rather than waiting for the appraisal panel meetings. Do not hold back your application. If it is ready, please submit it.

If you intend applying, please carefully read the information and guidance. Several applications that we have received did not reach the appraisal stage because:

• The application form and all supporting documents were not submitted in a single file in one email
• The required number of quotes was not included
• There was no written evidence from the landlord that they give permission for the project to be undertaken
• A copy of the lease with at least 5 years remaining was not included
• Invoices did not have a date on them/ were not produced within the last 6 months

Some applications that have gone through to the appraisal panel were unable to be scored because:

• There was not a clear description of the project that will be undertaken
• The costings for the project were not broken down so they were unable to tell exactly what the grant would be spent on

The quotes submitted were not like for like – so they could not be compared

Please let us know if you intend to apply by emailing buildingchildcare@devon.gov.uk there is support available to help you with completing the application form. We also want to alert you to the additional capital funding from the Green Impact Fund.

This may be of interest to you:

Green Impact Fund launched for local businesses and organisations

A new £1.8 million funding programme has been launched to support local businesses and community organisations in their efforts to adopt sustainable practices and technologies.

We have introduced the Green Impact Fund as part of our ongoing commitment to fostering economic growth while protecting the environment. The initiative is one of the projects supported with a share of the £16 million of capital funding from the Devon and Torbay devolution deal.

The Green Impact Fund is a capital grant scheme which is open to all businesses and community organisations located within the Devon and Torbay area. Grants of between £5,000 and £49,999 are available to businesses and community organisations that are developing or implementing innovative solutions to reduce their environmental impact and help move towards a carbon net-zero economy.

Eligible projects may include, but are not limited to, renewable energy installations, energy efficiency improvements, waste reduction programmes, and sustainable product development.

Applications must be submitted by Friday 29 November 2024. Awarded grants must be spent by 31 March 2025.

You can find more information in the news story on our website, or on the programme webpage: Green Impact Fund – Economy, enterprise and skills