How it works

There are a number of features of CPI’s Community Change programme
that make it different, workable and very effective. It encourages community involvement  with

• Grants that are not huge, usually only a few thousand pounds
  • the risks are small and sparkplugs cope with this level of responsibility

• Projects last only a few months
  • the end results and benefits are quickly seen
    
    
• Sparkplugs are energetic people – the sort of person that gets things done and gathers a team together to work with them

• The grant application process is very easy – sparkplugs are invited to attend workshops where they produce project plans and costings which are the basis for their applications

• Grants are given quickly – once the plan is agreed, the grant is given immediately and the project can get going

• There’s on-going help – one vital ingredient is the support and advice given to sparkplugs by local mentors while their projects are running. This quickly highlights and solves any problems that arise

• Big thank you’s – once the project comes to an end, there’s usually a celebration and award ceremony to recognise the important work that has been done and the efforts of the volunteers
  
  
• Confidence building – many sparkplugs are bouyed up by the succees they achieve and are helped to stay involved, go on to greater things or run other schemes and find other sources of funding.