Advisory Council Role

Introduction

The Granada Foundation was established in 1965 (initially known as the Northern Arts and Sciences Foundation until its name change in 1972) to encourage the study, practice and appreciation of the fine arts and sciences and to promote education, with a particular interest in activity in Northern England.

Its funds originate from a generous donation from the settlors, Cecil G Bernstein and

Sidney L Bernstein (the founders of Granada Television). It has supported hundreds of arts and science organisations and has awarded over £6 million in grants, both large and small, focusing primarily on a geographical area that references the majority of the coverage area of the Granada TV company.

The Granada Foundation is governed by four Trustees. An Advisory Council of ten advises the trustees. The Foundation looks for imaginative proposals from organisations (preferably with charitable status) which will in some way contribute to the cultural and scientific life of our region. We prioritise applications from the North West – defined as Lancashire, Cheshire, Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland, Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region and the High Peak.

How we work

We have a part-time administrator who is responsible to the Trustees and manages our applications and grant giving processes and a Finance Trustee who oversees our finances, investments and annual reporting to the Charity Commission.

The Granada Foundation meets for half a day 2 or 3 times a year to consider applications for grants. We generally consider about 30 grants at each meeting.

Grant sums of £500 – £10,000 are available. Our average grant currently stands at £2,000. Larger grants can be awarded if the project is felt to be particularly innovative and imaginative and has a strong artistic or scientific content. From time to time when funds allow, we offer awards for capital projects.

The Advisory Council interprets its criteria (see attached) in a flexible way, realising that it cannot hope to achieve a true balance across all the areas of activity. It does, however, examine the context of each application and endeavours to make grants in areas where the benefit will be most widely felt.

The role

As an Advisory Council member, you will use your specialist and working knowledge and experience to support the decision making at our grant giving meetings. You will work with other council members drawn from across our region to advise the trustees on the most appropriate use of the Foundation’s resources in response to the applications received. In return for your involvement with the Foundation you will acquire an overview of activity in our region and the opportunity to attend a range of events and activities supported by Granada’s funding. Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

Person specification

Excellent working knowledge of the region and/or a particular artform, the public understanding of science or other relevant discipline

Understanding of project planning and basic budgeting

Collegiate approach to decision making

Ability to make the case for the applications that you support

Commitment to attend as many of the grant meetings as possible in person (up to 3 a year) and, where absence is unavoidable, offer comments on applications in advance (especially those relating to your area of expertise). A willingness to travel to meetings at various venues in our region (expenses will be reimbursed). From time to time members will be asked to visit and report back on a funded event or venue