The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities has announced that Round 3 of the £150 million Community Ownership Fund is now open for expressions of interest.
The fund is part of the government’s strategy to build back better from the pandemic and to foster a sense of community, and will make grants (on a matched funding basis) available to help communities across the UK take ownership of local facilities, community assets and amenities such as at-risk local pubs, theatres, post offices, sports grounds, parks and corner shops, etc.
Expressions of Interest will be accepted from all communities across the UK. In most circumstances, bids should be made from community and voluntary organisations with formal governance in place
Applicants can apply for of up to £250,000 match funded capital funding. Revenue funding of up to £50,000 or 20% of total capital funding applied for is also available.
Full applications will need to be submitted by 12pm on the 19th August 2022.
You can find out more about it or apply online here the scheme is aimed at sites that might be at risk of closure, sale, neglect or dereliction under current ownership or unsustainable operations under their current business models.
Successful projects in the past have included tennis courts, pubs, cultural and heritage buildings and football pitches, so if you think there's something which could be better ran by the community - step up! Place a bid! Happy to help with a letter of support where I can.
