FAQs
We hope you'll find all of the answers to your questions on this page, but if you need advice please contact us here.
42 Answers to your questions
CommunityForce
It's all about helping those causes and charities that make a difference in your local community.
- What is CommunityForce?
- CommunityForce is one way in which RBS delivers its Customer Charter commitment to support local communities. CommunityForce gives charities, projects and groups an opportunity to promote their work, and the chance to access funds and skills as well as volunteers to make a lasting difference in their local communities.
- How do I get involved in CommunityForce?
- Whether you're a member of the public or you actually help to run a local charity, project or group, everyone can get involved in CommunityForce.
- Why are you doing this?
- As part of our Customer Charter, we're actively supporting the local communities in which we live and work. In 2010, our Community Fund provided financial support to hundreds of local charities and projects in Britain. CommunityForce 2011 is doing even more to help local charities and good causes, offering skills and volunteering as well as financial support.
- What difference will it make to me?
- If you're part of a local charity, project or group that wants to make a difference in your community, or if you have a great idea that could really benefit your community (and you need support to make this happen), CommunityForce can help. What’s more, whether your cause wins the cash award or not, you can still benefit from offers of time from volunteers including RBS staff, who are willing to help with a wide range of tasks, from building improvements to budget control. And as a member of your community, of course you can vote for the local cause you consider most worthy, and/or volunteer to help achieve its objectives too.
- Are there any key dates I should look out for?
- The closing date for 2011 applications was 4 September. The voting stage in now underway with everyone welcome to vote for their favourite projects before midday on 24 October. The winners will be announced in November once the votes have been counted and verified. Opportunities to get involved with CommunityForce through volunteering will continue to be posted through to Spring 2012.
Applications
Applications for CommunityForce 2011 are now closed. You can still register to get involved with voting and volunteering.
- My organisation was entered into the Community Fund last year, can I apply for CommunityForce 2011?
- Anyone who was involved in last year's Community Fund programme could apply for CommunityForce this year, as long as their circumstances still fitted the eligibility criteria. Essentially, CommunityForce is building on the foundations laid by last year's Community Fund. Now, we're looking to support local causes with time, energy and skills as well as providing financial assistance.
- When do I need to apply by?
- The deadline for applying for CommunityForce 2011 was 4 September 2011 and applications have now closed.
- Who can apply for CommunityForce?
- Most local charities, projects or groups can apply to be considered for CommunityForce. To find out if you're eligible, read our eligibility criteria.
- Is there a minimum age for applicants?
- Yes, applicants should be 18 years old or over.
- Can I apply more than once?
- Only one application is allowed from each good cause, so make sure that your application includes everything you want us and the public to know about your charity, project or group. Branches of national organisations are eligible to apply, but the impact of any award received must benefit the community local to that particular branch.
- What happens if I already receive funding/support/sponsorship from somewhere else?
- You can still apply for support from CommunityForce, regardless of other support you receive.
- Can I submit my application in another language?
- Applications must be submitted in English.
- How will I know that my application has been received?
- On submitting your application, you will receive an automated response confirming it has been received by us.
- When should I expect to hear back?
- Once we have received your application, we will review it against our eligibility criteria. We aim to get back in touch within one week to let you know whether your application has been accepted. If you still haven’t heard, then please get in touch with our CommunityForce helpdesk on 0800 2100 245 to find out more about your application. Customers with hearing and speech impairments can contact us by Minicom number 0800 0155 545.
- I have received an email saying that my application has been rejected, but I don’t understand why?
- Unfortunately, not all projects will be eligible for CommunityForce support. The eligibilty criteria will provide you with more information.
- I am unable to make an application online, is there any other way I can apply on behalf of my project?
- Yes, we offer an alternative paper-based application route for those who need it. Please call 0800 2100 245 and ask for an application form if you are not able to apply online. We’ll be happy to post this out to you. We would encourage you, however, to apply online if possible. Customers with hearing and speech impairments can contact us by Minicom number 0800 0155 545.
- How long can I upload pictures and videos for?
- The deadline for adding new images/videos was the 18 September, as this has now passed no new submissions will be accepted.
Voting
Want to vote for your favourite project? Everything you need to know is here. Remember, voting closes at midday on 24 October.
- When does voting start?
- Voting opened on 26 September 2011, following reviewing all of your applications and publishing applicants' profiles on our website. The deadline for voting is midday on 24 October.
- How do I vote?
- Voting takes place on the CommunityForce website, where you can view all of the applications made in your local area.
If you are not registered with Community Force, you will need to register first before you can vote. Here is how:
1) Click on the ‘Register’ link at the top of the page;
2) Enter your name, email address and password in the form provided;
3) You will receive a confirmation email sent to your inbox. Click on the link supplied in this email to confirm your registration;
4) Log in on the site, entering your email address and password
5) Find a project you want to vote for, using the map on the website
6) Tick the ‘I accept the NatWest CommunityForce Voting Terms and Conditions’ box;
7) Click on the “Vote for us” red button;
8) That’s it! - How many times can I vote?
- Each person can vote up to three times, and votes can be cast in any area. You can only vote once for each cause.
- Can I vote for my own project?
- Yes. You'll have up to three votes, and one of these can be cast for your own charity, project or group.
- What are CommunityForce areas?
- There are 27 CommunityForce areas. These areas are linked to the location of our branches and are outlined on the search maps.
- Can I vote for applicants anywhere in Scotland?
- Yes, votes aren't restricted to just your local area.
- How will I know that my vote has been received?
- When you cast a vote you will see an automated message to let you know we’ve received it, and it will be logged on your CommunityForce profile page.
- How are votes counted?
- The total number of votes will be counted from all the votes cast online and via the telephone helpline we have set up for voters without online access.
- How can I attract votes for my charity, project or group?
- Applicants will be responsible for drumming up support from the local community, and directing them to the CommunityForce website to cast their votes. We'll be giving hints and tips to all successful applicants on how to get the most from their campaign.
- Are there rules to follow – can I post a link to the voting site on Facebook, for example?
- Links to the CommunityForce site can be posted on social media sites etc. This is a great way to help your application receive as many votes as possible.
- How will my data/information be used after I apply?
- If you've signed up to receive updates, then we'll use your details to send you information about CommunityForce. We'll always give you an opportunity to opt out of receiving these updates.
- I have registered my email address but did not get the confirmation email – what can I do?
- We have experienced a few cases where email providers have blocked our automated confirmation email. If you have not received your email please contact our Help Desk on0800 2100 245 or at helpdesk@rbscommunityforce.co.uk We can then manually validate your email address to allow you to register your votes. Customers with hearing and speech impairments can contact us by Minicom number 0800 0155 545
Financial Support
All applicants will be able to raise awareness of their cause and give details of their volunteering needs. However, only the applications receiving the most votes in each area will receive a cash award.
- How many awards are there?
- There will be three awards of £6,000 available for each CommunityForce area. The winners will also be able to take advantage of volunteering support.
- When will I find out if I have won?
- Winners will be announced in November 2011, after the votes have been counted and verified.
- How will I find out whether my charity/project has been successful?
- An email will be sent to the winning applicants, telling them about the award they'll receive and what to do next. If you've registered for updates, then we'll let you know when the winners have been announced.
- What do I need to do if I win?
- You'll need to provide us with details of your charity, project or group's bank account and meet with your local CommunityForce representative by 23 November 2011 with proof of identification so that we can credit your payment.
- How soon will I receive the funding if I win?
- Providing we have received your proof of identification and bank account details by
23 November 2011, you should receive your CommunityForce award by 31 December 2011. - If I am successful, will I need to take part in PR or marketing?
- Winning a CommunityForce award is a great way to raise awareness of the work of your organisation. We will be actively communicating news of winners in each area to update everyone who has been involved, and there may be opportunities to do more.
- What happens if a winning project has to pull out or is disqualified?
- If one of the top three charities, projects or groups in an area is no longer eligible for any reason, then the local charity, project or group with the next most votes will receive the award.
- What are the rules on how I can spend the money?
- The award should be spent on the initiatives outlined in the initial application, because that is the information the public will have used to cast their votes. We'll stay in touch as winners work towards achieving their goals and make sure that the award is spent as originally planned.
- Where can I find details of the winners of the 2010 Community Fund?
- You can see the difference that the awards made to beneficiaries of the 2010 CommunityFund by visiting our Facebook site: www.facebook.com/RBSCommunityForce
Volunteering
Get involved with your local CommunityForce projects - find out more about volunteering here.
- Who can volunteer for CommunityForce?
- Our employees will be getting involved, but CommunityForce welcomes support from anyone else who would like to volunteer.
- How do I volunteer?
- If you'd like to volunteer with one of the charities, projects or groups, then use the contact details on the charity profile to get in touch and lend a hand. You can register as a volunteer anytime from 26 September 2011.
- Do I need insurance to volunteer?
- It's up to each applicant to make sure that they have insurance in place to protect them and their volunteers. When you get in touch with the charity, project or group, they'll let you know of any action you need to take.
- Do I have to volunteer within a certain time?
- You can register as a volunteer anytime from 26 September 2011. Fill in your details and sign up to receive information from your favourite causes about key dates and opportunities to get involved.
