Development Fund Applications

What is the allotment site development fund?
A fund of £6,000 a year (from April to March) set aside by Brighton and Hove City Council to spend on projects that improve facilities or encourage greater community spirit on site. You can view successful bids here to get an idea of the broad range of projects supported.

The fund is managed by Brighton and Hove Allotment Federation.

How does it work?
A bid for a project is submitted by the site to the Brighton and Hove Allotment Federation officers. The officers consider, and hopefully, agree grants from the fund. Applications are considered at BHAF committee meetings and can be considered between these meetings by email.

Are there any restrictions on what I can apply for?
The maintenance of hedges, gates, fences and other boundary markers is the responsibility of the Council and not intended to be funded through this process.

The fund is not for personally portable equipment like brush cutters, hedge cutters, mowers or rotovators. For larger pieces of equipment for communal use, please answer these points in your application:

Purpose:  Why is the piece of equipment needed at a particular site? The answer may be obvious but please state it.

Access: How will the equipment be made available to all plot holders on the site? This might mean that a number of trained people are prepared to use the equipment on behalf of plot holders. It might mean that training will be offered to anybody who wants to use the equipment. State how the equipment will be advertised to plot holders, including who to contact to arrange use.

Sustainability: There should be some way of collecting money to save towards to equipment’s maintenance and eventual replacement. This can include charges to other sites and to the Federation itself.

Safety: What are the health and safety procedures for use of the equipment? This includes training and supply of personal protective equipment.

Ownership: The equipment must be purchased by the site for the site.

Storage: Where will the equipment be stored? What arrangements will be made in the event of a person storing it leaving the allotment site.

Environmental: What consideration has been given to other plot holders who may be disturbed by the use of the equipment? Some noise is to be expected, but peace and quiet on allotments is important. (The answer may just be “We don’t expect to use it that often”).

BHAF has also decided not to fund new site toilets.

You application form can be downloaded below.

Please download and fill in the form and email to bhaf.contact@gmail.com. Please also download and read the notes.

If you require any help in your application please email us.