The Community Ownership Fund is a £150 million fund over 4 years to support community groups across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to take ownership of assets which are at risk of being lost to the community.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has just announced the latest allocations from the second round of the £150 million Community Ownership Fund.
The funding will help community groups take ownership of local institutions that have fallen into disrepair or are under threat of closure and give them a new lease of life. This will ensure they continue to provide vital services, create opportunities and boost local economies, while restoring optimism, hope and pride in UK communities.
Successful projects include the restoration of the derelict Paignton Picture House in Devon, which used to be frequented by detective novelist Agatha Christie, and the creation of a new live music venue at the historic Crown pub in Birmingham. Rugby union club Blackheath FC in London – the oldest independent rugby club – will also be able to buy their ground and facilities for the first time in their 165-year history with the funding.
Recent changes to the fund now mean that the amount of funding all projects can bid for has increased from £250,000 to £1 million. This is making it easier than ever for community groups to seize back control of prized local assets that are at risk of being lost forever.
A list of all successful bids to Round 2 Window 3 of the programme is available on the GOV.UK website.
Image: the Paignton Picture House Trust, one of the successful applicants to Round 2 Window 3 of the Community Ownership Fund.