The government’s Community Ownership Fund, round 3, opened on 11th May and, following lobbying by NALC, has for the first time been extended to allow applications from parish and town councils.
The Community Ownership Fund is operated by the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities to help communities take ownership of assets at risk of closure. Assets might include sports facilities, arts and music venues, museums and galleries, parks, pubs, post offices, and shops.
Round 3 aims to support community ownership projects and local councils can apply for grants up to £1m, with a requirement for 10% match-funding.
Find out more about the Community Ownership Fund
Read the government’s full statement
The Wessex Water Environment Fund supports charitable and community activities that improve local biodiversity or have a positive impact on the local environment for local people. Groups including councils can apply for a grant of up to £2000. Applicants must have an annual income of less than £500,000, be based and working in Somerset, and demonstrate one or more of the following outcomes:
involving communities in environmental activities that benefit the local area
having a positive impact on the local environment
sharing learning with local people about supporting the environment
Find out more from Somerset Community Foundation and apply by 22 May
The Somerset Fund is here to support the places, spaces, events and activities that bring your whole community together. Groups including councils can ask for a grant of between £250 and £2,500 if your annual income is under £100,000. The fund will support your work connecting people in your community so that they have a range of different activities that reflect local needs.
Find out more from Somerset Community Foundation and apply by 26 May
Growing and cooking grants are available to support community-led food projects that make healthier food accessible for everyone.
This year, SCF is particularly keen to receive applications from projects that promote, encourage, or carry out cooking activities in the community. Groups including local councils can apply for a grant of between £500 and £5,000, which would need to be spent within 12 months. Somerset Community Foundation can consider requests up to £10,000 to be spent over 24 months.
Find out more from Somerset Community Foundation and to apply by 9 June
If your council is looking to improve its bid writing skills for grant applications, join Spark for its free sessions where you will pick up some practical tips and advice on how to craft a compelling bid for a grant.
The online workshop on 25th May covers the basics of bid writing, and you can drop-in to an in-person session on 12th June where you can receive help with writing your funding applications. Spark’s expert team will be on hand to provide advice, tips and guidance on how to write effective bids that will stand out from the crowd.
Find out more about the workshop on 25/05 and book
Find out more about the drop-in session 12/06 and book
We know that some of you were unable to attend SALC’s hybrid networking event on 16th May. Please be aware that the event will be repeated at future dates in other Somerset locations.
We will promote the new dates and venues in the newsletter, which you can always read on the homepage of our website. Member and non-member councils can come along to these free sessions, explore ideas to support the health & wellbeing of your community, and learn about making applications to SALC’s grant fund.
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