Successful applicants to Round 1 of the Community Ownership Fund have just been announced by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
The government is providing £150 million over 4 years to support community groups in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to take ownership of assets and amenities at risk of being lost.
Voluntary and community groups can bid for match funding to acquire important assets and run them for the benefit of the local community.
The Fund will run until 2024/25 and there will be at least 8 bidding rounds (3 per year) in total.
Round 1
The successful applicants in Round 1 can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Round 2
Round 2 of the Fund is currently open to applications. Expressions of interest can be submitted at any time. Those who are successful will be invited to submit a full application, which they do not have to do immediately.
Applicants should check the bidding window timings for the full application stage in the prospectus. For example, if they plan to apply in bidding window 1 (Round 2), they need to express their interest at least three weeks before the closing date of 19 August 2022.
Further information about Round 2 is available at this LINK.
Image: Hartcliffe City Farm in Bristol, a working city farm, providing a green space with market and flower gardens for local people to enjoy, was awarded a grant of £300,000 in Round 1 of the Community Ownership Fund.