STOP PRESS! The Big Lottery managed Community Asset Programme has been launched!
£30 million Community Assets programme launched
The Community Assets fund, a £30 million programme to transfer public buildings to local organisations, is now open to applications. The programme is being launched with a series of regional workshops across England.
Community Assets will offer grants of between £150,000 and £1 million to refurbish local authority buildings, ensuring they are appropriate for transfer to the third sector. The programme is being funded by the Office of the Third Sector and delivered by the Big Lottery Fund.
The programme will strengthen third sector organisations, which will be able to be more imaginative in providing services to their communities; and benefit local people, who will be able to use high quality spaces for community activities.
The Big Lottery Fund is holding regional seminars on Community Assets for local authorities and their third sector partners between 4 and 14 September.
Phil Hope, the Minister for the Third Sector, said:
“It's great that Community Assets is opening for applications. This is a real opportunity for community groups and local authorities to transform assets like community centres and other buildings into more vibrant and valuable resources for the whole community.
“Community Assets is about bringing people together and giving communities control over their own affairs, not simply painting buildings and fixing roofs. Taking on ownership of an asset will help third sector organisations to develop a base of independence and sustainability, which will enable them to grow and respond better to the needs of local people.”
The Government recently ran a consultation on how Community Assets should work. A summary of the consultation and the Government's response can be found in the
consultations section of the website.
