The government has agreed funding to local authorities to support ‘businesses’, including charities, who have not up to now been able to attract government support during the pandemic.
Small businesses were able quite early on to apply for grants if they had Small Business Rate Relief but charities will have usually been claiming the Charity Rate Relief.
Also, the scheme was not available to those who were in shared accommodation and so were not responsible for paying business rates.
The BCP Council Scheme went live on Friday and you have until 9am on Monday 15th June to apply and grants will be given as soon as possible after this date. The value of grants awarded will vary depending on your circumstances up to £10,000. In exceptional circumstances, taking into account local priorities and impact on residents of the area they may award grants up to £25,000 (see Appendix A of the Guidance)
So the scheme is available to, amongst others,:
- Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces
- Charities in receipt of Charitable Rate Relief, who otherwise would have received Small Business Rate Relief
- Tourism & hospitality sector – specifically small event management / catering firms and businesses with licences to trade on pontoon or similar
- Nurseries e.g. day nurseries, nursery schools
- Local care and health practitioners.
You must:
- Have been operating on 11 March 2020
- not been eligible for grant support so far
- demonstrate a significant fall in income because of the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e. at least 50% loss in April and May 2020 compared to last year)
- have ongoing fixed property-related costs
- occupy property or part of a property with a rateable value or annual rent / mortgage payments below £51,000
Find out more and apply here.