Apply for a Grant

G8

What is G8?

G8 is a grant scheme supported by the Federal, English, Scottish and Welsh parties. It is managed by the G8 committee and administered by ALDC.

Grants for the 2022 local elections

The application process for G8 will open in the autumn of 2021 – check back here for details!

What has G8 funded in previous years?

In 2021, the G8 Committee funded hundreds of council candidates – across dozens of different council areas – with additional funding for tabloid newspapers for hand-delivery in many shire counties, or former counties that are now unitary authorities.

Kickstart Subsidy

G8 funding is also used to reduce the price of the first 125 places at each Kickstart Weekend, to make this training as affordable as possible for members. In recent years, it has also been used to fund the Future Leaders programme.

ALDC Local Election Appeal

In 2020/21 we raised £30,000 to support 120 Liberal Democrat candidates in target wards.

We worked with local teams to produce 50,000 items of direct mail, delivered by Royal Mail to postal voters in key target wards in every English region. The funding helped 91 local campaigns, helping to elect 72 new councillors.

Donate to the Local Election Appeal >

ALDC Fighting Fund Grant

Our Fighting Fund consists entirely of individual donations. Find out more about making a donation and the difference your donation could make.

There are two types of Fighting Fund grant:

1. By-election fast track grant: if you have a local by-election that we stand a realistic chance of winning.
2. Start-up grant: designed for council wards we are targeting to gain during the current electoral cycle, in a local party/council area with two or fewer councillors.

By-election fast track criteria:

• The person making the application has to be a member of ALDC.
• The candidate must be a member of ALDC.
• Grants will be made following the submission of a plan.
• Town and parish council candidates are only eligible if standing as a Liberal Democrat.
• The maximum grant is 50% of the election expenses limit.

Start-up grant criteria:

• The person making the application has to be a member of ALDC.
• Grants will be made following the submission of a plan.
• Town and Parish council candidates are only eligible if standing as a Liberal Democrat.
• The maximum grant is £200.
• There must be two or fewer councillors in the council area or local party area.

Apply for a Fighting Fund grant >

The ALDC Management Committee set the criteria for Fighting Fund grants with day-to-day management delegated to the Chief Executive. The fund spends whatever’s been donated and grants can be made when money is available.