Project Manager guidance

Following the terms of a grant funding agreement

If you are offered a grant you will need to follow the terms of the Offer Letter and Grant Funding Agreement throughout the whole period of the project – and for 5 years after the date of the final payment. This will have been explained in more detail when the grant was offered. If you don’t, New Forest LEADER may:

• withdraw the grant;
• apply a penalty by deducting payment from a grant; or
• work with the RPA to recover some – or all – of any grant monies already paid.

Changes during the grant period

You are expected to use the grant to buy items as specified in the application and Offer Letter and Grant Funding Agreement. During the grant period, exceptional circumstances may arise where you need to change elements of a project. You must inform the New Forest LEADER Programme Manager in writing immediately and where appropriate seek a formal contract variation.

You must inform New Forest LEADER about any changes to a project, for example:

• changes to use of buildings, equipment or any other assets bought with the grant;
• disposing of or selling any of the assets;
• closing, selling or transferring the business that’s associated with the grant.

This applies during the project and for five years after payment of the final claim.

Agreement to an amendment is not guaranteed and if you go ahead with a change that New Forest LEADER does not agree to, it may constitute a breach of the Offer Letter and Grant Funding Agreement which could result in your grant claim being reduced, withdrawn or reclaimed.

Information is contained within your Offer Letter and Grant Funding Agreement, as well as the ‘Guide to Managing a Successful LEADER Project’ (G8). You will have been issued with this document when you met with the LEADER Programme Manager to discuss the Grant Funding Agreement.