Many twinning related activities are eligible for a grant from the Council. Check the scheme below to see if your group is entitled to financial support.  For further information and application forms contact:

Janette McCluskey
Secretary to the Director of Corporate and Adult Services
Derby City Council
PO Box 6292
Derby    
DE1 2ZL
Tel: 01332 255449
Fax: 01332 256232
Email: janette.mccluskey@derby.co.uk

Scheme of assistance available to persons taking part in twinning arrangements

Effective from 1 July 2005 

A) Eligibility for assistance 

There will be four categories of eligibility for assistance:

1. School groups made up of Derby children attending schools in Derby and Derby children attending schools outside the City, including students at Derby College sites within the City and the University of Derby. Teachers or lecturers accompanying the group shall be assisted as members of the group whether living within or without the City.

2. City youth groups or organisations whose objects are sporting, educational, cultural or recreational, but excluding trade union, political, professional or trade groups or organisations. A City youth group is one where at least 75% of the members live within the City and where at least three-quarters of the members are under 21 years of age at the time of the visit. Members of the group living outside the City are eligible for assistance as long as the above mentioned 75% criteria is met. Adults, whether living within or without the City and accompanying the group in an official capacity, shall be assisted as members of the group.

All exchange visits involving groups of mentally or physically impaired persons will be assisted at youth group rates and the maximum limit on travel allowances will be waived.

3. City adult groups or organisations whose objects are sporting, educational, cultural or recreational, but excluding trade union, political, professional or trade groups or organisations. A City adult group is one where at least 75% of the members live within the City and where less than three-quarters of its members are under the age of 21 at the time of the visit. Members of the group living outside the City are eligible for assistance as long as the above mentioned 75% criteria is met.

4. An individual living or working in or closely connected with Derby not falling within the categories 1 to 3 above who, because of the nature of his or her visit, in the opinion of the Director of Corporate and Adult Services, can make a noteworthy contribution to twinning.

B) Types of Allowance

Assistance will be of three kinds:

(a) An allowance towards travel expenses to Osnabrück

(b) An allowance towards out-of-pocket expenses in Osnabrück

(c) An allowance towards "hosting" expenses in Derby

(a) Travel Expenses (irrespective of the mode of travel)

(i) School Groups (category 1 above)

The allowance will be £38.50 per person subject to a maximum allowance of £1,250.00 for any one school group. (No allowance however will be paid to school children who live outside the City.)

(ii) Youth Groups (category 2 above)

The allowance will be £38.50 per person subject to a maximum allowance of £1,250.00 for any one group of persons.

(iii) Adult Groups (category 3 above)

The allowance will be £27.50 per person subject to a maximum allowance of £880.00 for any one group of persons.

(iv) Individuals (category 4 above)

The allowance will be £57.50 and will also be payable to people who take part in visits to Osnabrück organised and led by the Osnabrück Envoy to Derby.

(b) Out of Pocket Expenses

These will be paid to all persons falling within categories 1 to 3 above. The rates will be:

• £3.00 per day per member of a school group
• £3.00 per day per member of a youth group
• £2.00 per day per member of an adult group

subject to the following maxima:

• £825.00 for a school group
• £825.00 for a youth group
• £605.00 for an adult group

Payments will be made to the leader of the group who will be responsible for the distribution amongst the members. Expenses will be paid in respect of the days of departure and return from and to Derby.

(c) Hosting Expenses

These will be paid to:

(a) school, youth and adult groups hosting Osnabrück groups; and

(b) a person living or working in or closely connected with Derby who receives in his or her home an individual from Osnabrück whose visit, in the opinion of the Director of Corporate and Adult Services, will make a noteworthy contribution to twinning.

The rates will be:

• £3.50 per day per member of a school group
• £3.50 per day per member of a youth group or individual under 21
• £2.50 per day per member of an adult group or individual aged 21 or over

Subject in every case to a maximum of 14 days stay (including the days of arrival in and departure from Derby).

C) Legal Situation

There is no legal entitlement to expenses and payment is made at the discretion of Derby City Council. The Council will normally only approve one application for travel expenses and one application for hosting allowances from any particular group in any one financial year.

D) Verification of Expenditure

Applicants must provide the Director of Corporate and Adult Services with confirmation of group details by way of:

• a list of names and addresses of those persons travelling to Osnabrück in respect of claims for travel and out of pocket expenses
• a list of names of visitors received in respect of claims for hosting allowance

at the time of making the application and within 14 days of visits taking place:

• confirmation that all those claimed for actually took part
• refund to the Council all appropriate sums.

E) Time of Payment

Payments will wherever possible be made in advance but applicants (or their parents in the case of allowances paid to persons under the age of 18) will be required to refund to the City Council any allowance paid if any activity for which assistance has been given is cancelled for any reason.