The first round of the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund opens from 30 July

Overview

The £150 million Community Ownership Fund is for communities across the United Kingdom. It has been set up to help communities take ownership of assets and amenities at risk of closure. It will run for 4 years.

The first bidding round opens on 15 July 2021.

Voluntary and community organisations can bid for match funding.

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

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.

This prospectus sets out information on the:

  • funding available
  • how to apply
  • eligibility
  • assessment criteria

Key dates

The Fund will run until 2024/25 and there will be at least 8 bidding rounds in total.

This prospectus contains details for round 1.

Other key dates are as follows:

  • 13 August 2021 – deadline for submitting applications to the first bidding round
  • December 2021 – round 2 will open
  • May 2022 – round 3 will open

We will publish further details and an updated prospectus and guidance notes for round 2 in the autumn.

If you do not think you will be ready for the first round, we are planning to have regular bidding rounds a year.

The government will learn from the first bidding round and amend the criteria as necessary to ensure that the Fund has the reach and impact intended to support communities.

For more information on the fund go to the Policy Paper on Community Ownership Fund: Prospectus