Parish and town councils will for the first time be able to make applications to the government’s £150m Community Ownership Fund, from 31 May.
The third round of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ (DLUHC) four-year programme – which aims to help communities take ownership of assets at risk of closure across the UK – was launched today (12 May).
The amount of funding all projects can bid for will be increasing from £250,000 to £1m, DLUHC said. The requirement for match-funding is also being reduced to 10%, which DLUHC said would make it easier for communities to acquire assets without raising additional private funding.
The fund was previously only available to charities and community groups. It aims to support community ownership projects such as sports facilities, arts and music venues, museums and galleries, parks, pubs, post offices and shops.
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The National Association of Local Councils (NALC), which has been lobbying the government to extend the fund’s eligibility to local councils, welcomed the news.
Keith Stevens, chair of NALC, said: “NALC is delighted that England’s local (parish and town) councils will now be able to apply to the government’s Community Ownership Fund for the first time. Since the fund was first introduced, NALC has lobbied for the fund to be open to local councils, and I am pleased the government has listened.
“This vital funding will help local councils, the first tier of local government in most areas, continue to work with their communities to protect, enhance and preserve their treasured community assets. I strongly urge local councils to consider applying and take full advantage of this direct funding opportunity.”
Dehenna Davison, minister for levelling up, commented: “From far-flung pubs to prized community centres, the Community Ownership Fund is putting vital assets back into the hands of communities, to be enjoyed for generations to come.
“We want even more communities to benefit from the fund and that’s why we are making these changes so community groups can apply for even more money to save much loved local assets.
“We will continue to grow this fund to empower local people, restoring their pride in the places where they live and levelling up communities across the United Kingdom.”
Applications to bid for round three of funding through the Community Ownership Fund will open on 31 May, and can be made here.
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