Wiltshire Money

CRF-funded Training Places Eligibility and Allocation Policy

Applying for a CRF-funded place?

Please also read our Training Cancellation, Substitution and Refund Policy, which explains how substitutions, cancellations, waiting lists and training changes are managed.

At a Glance

Who are CRF-funded places for?

✅ Local charities, voluntary organisations, community groups, CIOs and CICs delivering advice, welfare support or related services that benefit Wiltshire residents.

Who will be prioritised?

✅ Small and community-based organisations

✅ Volunteer-led organisations

✅ Organisations with limited training budgets

✅ Wiltshire Money member organisations

✅ Organisations supporting vulnerable or underserved communities in Wiltshire

Who may receive lower priority?

⚠️ Larger charities and independent advice organisations

⚠️ Housing associations and social landlords providing advice-related services

⚠️ Smaller statutory or public-service organisations where there is a clear benefit to Wiltshire residents and limited alternative funding or training provision is available.

Who is not eligible for funded places?

❌ Private sector and commercial organisations

❌ Organisations charging clients for advice, unless Wiltshire Money is satisfied that there is a clear charitable purpose or community-benefit case.

❌ Organisations with no demonstrable link to Wiltshire residents or communities

❌ Large statutory or government organisations, and services or programmes that have access to separate ring-fenced, commissioned, or nationally funded training budgets.

How are CRF-funded places allocated?

  • CRF-funded places are normally allocated on a first-come, first-served basis amongst eligible applicants.
  • If demand exceeds available CRF-funded places, Wiltshire Money will apply the prioritisation criteria set out in this policy.
  • A waiting list will be maintained when training events become fully booked.

Key limits and conditions

  • Maximum of 4 CRF-funded places per organisation per training event (unless otherwise agreed).
  • Attendees are expected to attend, complete evaluation requirements and share learning within their organisation.
  • If the named attendee cannot attend, an eligible substitute from the same organisation may be accepted for the CRF-funded place with Wiltshire Money’s approval.
  • Cancellations should be notified as soon as possible. A £25 administration charge will apply to cancellations made fewer than five working days before the training or to non-attendance, unless exceptional circumstances apply.
  • Further cancellation and refund arrangements are set out in the Wiltshire Money Training Cancellation, Substitution and Refund Policy.

Wiltshire Money's aim

To use limited CRF funding to strengthen the resilience, capacity and sustainability of Wiltshire's advice sector by ensuring training support reaches organisations that will deliver the greatest benefit to Wiltshire residents.

Policy Purpose 

Wiltshire Money (WM) has been awarded a grant from the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF). This allows us to offer CRF-funded training places to local organisations that meet the criteria outlined below. As CRF funding is limited, Wiltshire Money must ensure that CRF-funded places deliver the greatest possible benefit to Wiltshire residents and the local advice sector.

The Wiltshire Money training programme is not restricted to organisations receiving CRF-funded places. Organisations that do not meet the funding criteria may still book paid places, where places are available and subject to the applicable booking terms.

This policy has been developed to define who can access CRF-funded training places for training events commissioned by WM so that the training programme meets relevant CRF objectives: strengthening the local advice landscape, building organisational resilience, improving access to high-quality advice services and promoting equitable access to training opportunities, and to prevent unintended capture by large for-profit and/or statutory providers.

WM does not provide direct training services. We act as a broker by commissioning relevant training events for our members. We have developed this policy to mitigate the risk that limited CRF-funded training places are allocated in a way that does not maximise community benefit, strengthen local advice provision, or achieve the intended objectives of the fund.

Please note that there are a limited number of places per training event. CRF-funded places will normally be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis among eligible applicants. Where demand exceeds available places, WM will apply the prioritisation criteria and quotas set out in this policy. There will also be a limit on the number of CRF-funded places offered per organisation. Once all CRF-funded places are allocated, subsequent eligible applications for CRF funding will be added to a waiting list. Applicants may also be offered a paid place where one is available. We will aim to run training events multiple times depending on the level of interest.

Core principles of the funded training programme

  • CRF-funded places are primarily intended for organisations/individuals delivering frontline advice, casework or client-facing support in Wiltshire (or to Wiltshire‑linked clients) whose capacity-building aligns with WM/CRF objectives.
  • They are also intended to support organisations whose activities contribute to addressing financial inclusion, financial resilience, welfare support, poverty reduction, or cost-of-living challenges affecting Wiltshire residents.
  • Funding aims to reach smaller, community-based and voluntary providers, increase resilience in local advice provision, and support organisations with limited training budgets.
  • Transparency, fairness and simple administration are priorities.

Definitions

  • For the purpose of this policy:
    • Charity includes registered charities and charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs).
    • Community Interest Company (CIC) refers to a non-profit, distributing CIC that delivers community benefit.
    • Community organisation includes unincorporated community groups and grassroots organisations.
    • Volunteer-led organisation means an organisation where volunteers undertake the majority of frontline delivery.

Higher-priority applicant types for funded training places

  • Higher priority applicants: 
    • Small local voluntary/community advice organisations, charities and grassroots groups delivering advice or welfare support to Wiltshire residents.
    • Organisations with limited access to alternative training funding and a clear potential to apply the learning for the benefit of Wiltshire residents will normally receive the highest priority.
    • Local independent advice charities and not-for-profit organisations, particularly smaller organisations and those with modest turnover or limited training budgets (including smaller Citizens Advice branches and independent welfare rights groups).
    • Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) and non-profit Community Interest Companies (CICs) whose primary purpose is community benefit.
    • Public-facing staff or volunteers from community organisations (peer advisers, caseworkers, outreach workers) who deliver or support advice-related work.
    • Named practitioners from WM member organisations (subject to membership status).
    • Organisations that are predominantly volunteer-led.

 Lower-priority and unsupported applicant types

  • Lower priority:
    • Larger charities and larger independent advice organisations that have access to wider organisational resources, established training budgets, or support from regional or national structures. CRF-funded places may still be allocated where there is a demonstrable training need, limited alternative funding available, and a clear benefit to Wiltshire residents.
    • Smaller statutory or public-service organisations may be considered for CRF-funded places where the training will provide a clear benefit to Wiltshire residents and the organisation has limited access to alternative training funding or provision.
    • Social landlords and housing associations delivering advice-related services to Wiltshire residents (see geographic criteria below). 
    • Where organisations are part of larger regional or national structures, WM will take into account access to funding, training resources, and support available through the wider organisation when determining priority.
  • Unsupported:
    • Private sector, commercial training delegations, or organisations charging clients for advice (unless demonstrable charity/CI status and clear community benefit).
    • Applicants outside the geographic scope without demonstrable links to Wiltshire clients, as set out in section 7.
    • Large statutory or government organisations, and services or programmes with access to separate ring-fenced, commissioned, or nationally funded training budgets.

When determining whether this exclusion applies, Wiltshire Money will consider the organisation’s size, its access to internal or external training resources, and whether the relevant service or programme already receives dedicated funding that can reasonably be used to meet the cost of training.

Unsupported applicants are not eligible for CRF-funded places but may be offered paid places where available.

Priority of geographic scope

  • Higher Priority: 
    • Organisations based in Wiltshire delivering services to Wiltshire residents.
  • Lower priority: 
    • Organisations based elsewhere but with clients, staff and/or volunteers in Wiltshire.
    • Organisations based in immediate neighbouring areas only if the training demonstrably supports Wiltshire-resident clients (e.g., cross-boundary outreach by organisations that serve Wiltshire populations). 
  • Unsupported: 
    • Organisations with no demonstrable Wiltshire activities or client base.

Priority order when funded places are oversubscribed

  1. Small local voluntary/charitable advice providers with limited or no training budget. Organisations with an annual turnover below £150,000 will normally receive higher priority where demand exceeds available places.
  2. Community organisations whose work supports highly vulnerable or underserved groups (e.g., homeless prevention, mental health, asylum seekers, low-income households).
  3. WM member organisations not otherwise funded for training. As a membership network, WM gives additional priority to member organisations where this does not conflict with CRF objectives.
  4. Larger local charities/independent advice organisations with demonstrable training needs and limited alternative funding.
  5. Statutory services — only in exceptional cases and where agreed in advance with WM.

 Limits and quotas for funded places

  • Per-organisation cap: default maximum of 4 funded places per organisation per training event instance (adjustable depending on cohort size).
  • WM will aim for at least 60% of CRF-funded places to be allocated to small community organisations (target to be adjusted by WM based on demand).

 Information required at application/booking

  • Attendee details:
    • Attendee email address
    • Attendee name
    • Role/title of attendee and brief statement (1–2 lines) on how the training will be used to support Wiltshire clients.
    • Confirmation that the attendee is client-facing or directly supporting advisors/casework.
    • Confirmation that the applicant accepts the conditions applying to cancellation, substitution and non-attendance.
  • Organisational details:
    • Organisation name
    • Organisation sector
    • Organisation geographical area of activity
    • For organisations outside Wiltshire: brief explanation of Wiltshire client link.
    • Invoicing contact details for the organisation, to be used only if an administration charge becomes payable.

Selection and prioritisation process

  • First-come, first-served for confirmed eligible applicants until funded places are filled, subject to prioritisation and quotas.
  • If oversubscribed, prioritisation follows the Priority Order (section 6) and quotas (section 7).
  • WM may hold a small discretionary reserve of funded places for targeted outreach (e.g., newly established community groups or underrepresented localities).
  • Applicants will receive confirmation within 7 working days of application.
  • Where a confirmed place is cancelled, Wiltshire Money will normally offer it to an eligible applicant on the waiting list, applying the priority criteria and organisational limits in this policy.

 Conditions, cancellations, substitutions and non-attendance

Conditions of a CRF-funded place

Recipients of CRF-funded places are expected to:

  • Attend the training for which the place has been awarded;
  • Notify Wiltshire Money as soon as possible if the named attendee cannot attend;
  • Complete any required feedback or evaluation form to: 
    • Measure the extent to which those who attend are able both to apply their knowledge and share it with others in their organisation
    • Gather information on the wider impact of the training
  • Share relevant learning within their organisation where appropriate; and
  • Provide a brief impact statement within three months if requested for CRF monitoring and reporting purposes.

Substitutions

A funded place is awarded to the organisation and named attendee identified in the booking confirmation.

Where the named attendee cannot attend, the organisation may request to substitute another person from the same organisation. Substitution requests must:

  • be made in writing to Wiltshire Money;
  • provide the substitute attendee’s name, email address and role;
  • confirm that the substitute meets the relevant eligibility conditions; and
  • be received before the training begins.

Substitutions are subject to Wiltshire Money’s approval. Approval will normally be given where the substitute is from the same organisation, meets the eligibility requirements and the substitution does not undermine any allocation priority or condition attached to the CRF-funded place.

A CRF-funded place must not be transferred to another organisation without Wiltshire Money’s prior written approval.

Cancellations by an attendee or organisation

An organisation that no longer requires a funded place must notify Wiltshire Money as soon as possible so that the place can, where practicable, be offered to an eligible applicant on the waiting list.

No administration charge will normally be applied where cancellation is received at least five working days before the training.

A £25 administration charge will be applied to the organisation where:

  • cancellation is received fewer than five working days before the training;
  • the attendee does not attend; or
  • an approved substitute does not attend.

The charge may be waived where Wiltshire Money accepts that there were exceptional circumstances or where the place was successfully reallocated without loss or additional cost.

Repeated late cancellations or non-attendance without good reason will be taken into account when considering future applications for CRF-funded places.

Cancellation or alteration by Wiltshire Money

Wiltshire Money reserves the right to cancel or reschedule training, change the venue or delivery format, or replace the trainer or facilitator where necessary.

Where Wiltshire Money cancels or reschedules a training event, recipients of funded places will be informed as soon as reasonably practicable and, where available, offered a place on a rearranged or alternative training event.

Wiltshire Money will not apply an administration charge where the training event is cancelled or changed by Wiltshire Money.

Relationship with the general cancellation policy

This policy determines eligibility and allocation for CRF-funded places. Organisations that do not qualify for a CRF-funded place may be offered a paid place where capacity is available. All cancellations, substitutions, refunds and non-attendance arrangements are governed by the Wiltshire Money Training Cancellation, Substitution and Refund Policy, including any provisions that apply specifically to CRF-funded or paid bookings.

Monitoring, reporting and audit

  • WM will record organisation type, geography, number of funded places awarded, and anonymised impact metrics for CRF reporting.
  • Organisations may be asked to provide evidence of eligibility on request; misuse will lead to a requirement to repay costs or suspension from future funded offers. Evidence may include charity registration details, CIC registration details, organisational websites, funding information, or a brief explanation of Wiltshire client activity.
  • Wiltshire Money reserves the right to verify application information and organisational status before confirming funded places.
  • Wiltshire Money will record cancellations, substitutions, attendance and administration charges for programme administration, monitoring and audit purposes.

 Appeals and exceptional cases

  • Organisations refused a CRF-funded place may request a review by emailing WM within 10 working days with additional justification.
  • Routine decisions regarding eligibility and allocation of CRF-funded places will be made by Wiltshire Money staff responsible for administering the programme.
  • Despite the unsupported applicant criteria, an exceptional case may be approved where specialist training for a statutory or government service is essential to meeting the needs of a vulnerable or underserved Wiltshire cohort, no suitable alternative funding is reasonably available, and written approval is provided by Wiltshire Money and the Wiltshire Citizens Advice CRF leads.

 Review of criteria

  • These eligibility criteria will be reviewed at least annually and more frequently if required by CRF guidance or programme demand.