The £150 million Community Ownership Fund will run over 4 years across the UK

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This is a £150 million fund that will run over 4 years to support community groups across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to take ownership of assets that are at risk of being lost to the community.

It forms part of a substantial package of UK wide levelling-up interventions, helping to support recovery, build opportunity and empower communities to improve their local places.

Voluntary and community organisations can bid for match funding.

The Community Ownership Fund has 4 strategic objectives:

• provide targeted investment for communities to save community assets that would otherwise be lost
• strengthen capacity and capability in communities to support them to shape their places and develop sustainable community businesses
• empower communities in left-behind places to level up
• strengthen direct links between places across the UK and the UK government.

Funding may support the purchase and/or renovation costs of community assets and amenities, subject to the full eligibility criteria.

The fund will support a range of community ownership proposals. For example, projects may include:

• sporting and leisure facilities
• cinemas and theatres
• music venues
• museums
• galleries
• parks
• pubs
• post office buildings
• shops

Proposals will need to prove the value of the asset to local people and that the asset can run sustainably for the long-term benefit of the community.

To read the full prospectus, please visit the government website.

A full guidance document for applicants can be accessed through the government website. The online portal for applications will open on 30 July 2021.

A full application template can also be accessed through the government website.

Applicants should use the template and guidance document to prepare all the information required for their application, prior to submitting via the online portal from 30 July 2021.

For more information regarding this fund, there will be a webinar on Thursday, 29 July from 11  am to 12 pm. You can register for the webinar on Eventbrite.