Clacton Carnival Association

 

Application for Main Charity Status

 

Before writing your application for Main Charity status, please read these notes to ensure that you present your application in the best possible way.

 

Entry Criteria

 

  1. You must be a not-for-profit organisation.

 

  1. You must be based in Clacton: if you are not sure whether you qualify, please ask the people below before devoting time to writing your application.

 

  1. Your activities must be for the direct benefit of local residents – those living in and around Clacton.

 

Writing Your Application

 

  1. We are looking for organisations and activities which local people will readily identify with, so they will be willing to give generously to the Street Procession collections.  If you are not a widely-known organisation, describe what you do, giving some practical examples of your work in the past.

 

  1. Make sure that when writing your application, you clearly state the use to which you will put the money.  ‘Running costs’ is unlikely to prompt the public to give generously, so it is not likely to make you our number one choice either.

 

When describing the way you plan to use the money, be as specific as possible.

 For example:

 

·              ‘heart defibrillator’, not ‘medical equipment’

·              ‘swings for the playground’, not ‘play equipment’

·              ‘Christmas dinner for the pensioners’, not ‘social activities’

 

If your description paints a clear picture in our minds of what you are aiming for, we

are going to be more confident in awarding Main Charity status to you.

 

3.   Tell us roughly how much money you need.  The maximum possible sum is £4,000

 

4.   Tell us, if possible, roughly when you expect your activity/purchase/construction to take place – for example:  ‘replace aging kitchen units in the Scout Hut in January/February 2011’.  This helps us to publicise you as a Main Charity.

 

5.   Make it easy for us to contact you: we may well want to ask further questions.  Please  give an address with postcode, land-line telephone, mobile phone number and e-mail address if you have them.

 

6.   Don’t hesitate to contact us if you are unsure about any aspect of your application:         you don’t lose points for asking questions!  The people to contact are:

 

Nicky Freeman, Publicity Officer: 01255 426262; e-mail: nicky.carnival@clactonnet.co.uk.

 

Betty Dawson, Secretary: 01255 222897; e-mail: betty.dawson1@btinternet.com

 

John Sowton, Chairman: 01255 431420; e-mail: johnsowton@supanet.com.