Last updated September 2016

The Technology Grant Scheme enables members to claim financial
assistance towards the cost of computer hardware, repairs and upgrades.
On this page you will find the following information:

• Who is eligible?
• How much can I get?
• What things are covered by the grant?
• How do I make a claim?
• How does the process work?
• Other important information.

Please be sure to read all the information here carefully before making a request for a grant, and if you have any questions then please contact us.
Contact The Exec

Who is eligible?

Anyone who has been a full member (either UK or Overseas) for at least one year can make a request for a grant.
They must be active on the server for 6 months or more.

How much can I get?

If you have only been a member for one year then
you can make a request for up to £100 If successful then you may not
make any further Technology Grant requests for a period of eighteen months
from the date your claim is honoured. If you have been a member for at
least two years then you may make a request for up to £200. If you are
successful then you may not make any further Technology Grant requests
according to the following scale:

• For grants up to £100 no further requests for 12 months.
• For grants between £101 and £200 no further requests for 36 months.

What is covered by the grant?

Computer Hardware Purchases.

Computer Hardware Purchases.
The grant can be used to purchase a new computer or laptop as long as it
is capable of running the team talk software
Computers which are sold with pre-installed operating systems that do not support the
running of the Team Talk software will not qualify for a Grant. PC desktops, laptops and netbooks
running Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 will be eligible together with other devises such as iPhones, Android phones, Tablets, etc., which will allow access to the Team Talk Server.

Computer Hardware Repairs.

The grant can be used towards the cost of repairing an existing PC
including both parts and labour. All such repairs should be carried out
by a professional, and preferably one working for a business. It is not
acceptable to get your friend to fix it for you and claim labour cost
unless it is done as part of his/her normal job as a computer repairer.

Computer Hardware Upgrades.

The grant can be used to purchase new components and peripherals for the purpose of upgrading an existing PC system. Labour costs may also be claimed as with repairs if needed. Examples of qualifying items would be but are not limited to memory chips, processors, sound cards and external hard drives for backup purposes.

How do I make a grant request?

1. First ensure that you are eligible to make a request.
2. Next check that the item you are requesting a grant for is covered by the scheme.
3. Purchase the item or have the work completed and obtain a full detailed receipt.
4. Contact our grants email address providing details of your request and attaching a scanned copy of the receipt. (If you do not have access to a scanner you may post a copy of the receipt and details of how to do this will be provided at a later date.).
5. In due course you will be notified whether your grant request has been successful, and if it is then arrangements will be made for the money to be transferred to you.

How does the process work?

Each month we budget to honour grants of up to £200. This can be either one grant for the full amount or a number of grants totaling £200. If the full amount is not paid out in a month then the remaining balance is rolled into the following month so that a larger amount is available. This is done to ensure that a fair distribution of grants throughout the year is made.

When you make a grant request it is assessed alongside all other requests made in the same month, and the executive committee decides which one or ones to honour based on the available money left in the budget. This decision is normally made at the first meeting of the executive committee after the end of the month. If a request is not honoured due to lack of budget in the month then the request will be carried over to the next month where it will again be assessed alongside any other requests. This method of Carrying over will be continued until either the person making the requests withdraws the request or the request has been carried over for 6 consecutive months. As much as we would like to honour all requests made to us we are not able to do this. If a request is not honoured for reasons other than limitation on budget then the request will not be carried over and the person making the request will be informed by email as soon as possible.

Other Important Information

• All requests are kept strictly confidential and treated equally and without prejudice by the executive committee, and in return we expect that the details and handling of your request are not made known to any third parties by yourself.
• All decisions made by the executive committee are final and not open to appeal, unless in cases where the person making the request feels that they have not been treated fairly or equally according to the rules in which case complaints should be made to the Mediation, Arbitration and Development committee.
• All grants are considered retrospectively and a decision to purchase should not be made on an indication or suggestion that you may receive the grant. In order to keep the scheme fair and protect it from abuse it is necessary to work in this way. All grants are considered after the purchase of goods and services and making a request is no guarantee that you will receive the grant.
• A request for a grant may not be made on any goods or services that were purchased more than 3 months prior to the original request date. If a request is carried over then the 3 month rule is applied to the date that the first request was made.
• No grant will be made until all detailed receipts are received and if necessary verified.
• Requests for grants may not be pooled by multiple members. All members who meet the requirements are entitled to make requests but they must be for separate items and will be considered individually.
• The scheme runs from November to October and is subject to review by the executive committee on an annual basis.
• the provision of a monthly budget is no guarantee of available funds, and should circumstances change the executive committee reserves the right to alter the amount available, suspend the scheme or cancel it permanently if it deems it necessary.
• The executive committee reserves the right to alter the terms and conditions of this scheme at any time.
• At the commencement of the scheme in March 2011 the initial budget was calculated by adding the £200 monthly allowance for November and December 2010, and January thru March 2011 and then subtracting the total amount of claims made under the terms of the old tech support fund during that same period.

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