Apply for a grant to improve your community
We invited applications for the Community Grant Fund, a capital grant funding scheme that aims to improve local communities, neighbourhood, buildings and equipment.
Applications closed at 10am, 3 November 2023
The bidding round has now closed.
This capital grant scheme is part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) programme, which provides a total of £4.6 million of government funding for local investment in Central Bedfordshire.
How to apply
The bidding round has now closed.
The applications for 2023/2024 have now closed and we will not be accepting any applications that are emailed to us after 10am Friday 3 November.
Why apply?
This is a new opportunity to make a lasting difference in your community. This capital grant could help you to deliver projects that:
- Create or enhance community and neighbourhoods, such as buildings, facilities, or green spaces, and increase resilience to natural hazards, such as flooding
- Support local community-based groups and organisations to develop their capacity and infrastructure, such as equipment, sports and other equipment, tools for better engagement, or improvements to facilities
- Establish or improve local green spaces, such as parks, gardens, or woodlands, and promote their environmental, community and social benefits
- Invest in capital assets that support local arts, cultural and creative activities, such as venues, equipment, or materials
How much funding is available?
We are calling for applications from our 2023/2024 allocation - £260,598 in total. You can apply for between £5,000 to £40,000 of funding. The funding application will be scored, then funds allocated on a competitive basis, based on the quality and feasibility of the proposals, until the fund total is depleted. Successful applications will be required to invest a minimum of 20% of Matched Funding. More details on the application form are available in the guidance pack (PDF).
Who can apply?
We welcome applications from a range of local organisations, such as:
- Registered charities, voluntary, community groups and not for profit organisations with a constitution
- Parish or town councils, schools / parent associations (in relation to their wider community role)
- Community interest companies / community benefit societies, faith organisations (in relation to their wider community role) and social enterprises
We encourage collaboration and partnership among different stakeholders to maximise the impact and sustainability of the projects but do require a single partner to lead an application and hold the agreement.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for impactful capital projects that can transform the community and neighbourhoods in our area. These projects should achieve one or more of the following outcomes:
- An increase in the users of facilities/amenities
- An increase in the number of people who report an improvement to the facility/amenity as a result of the project
- Levelling up through the promotion of equality in respect of nine protected characteristics; age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation
This grant scheme is reserved for capital expenditure only, which means acquiring, building, or upgrading or purchasing equipment or tangible assets that support your projects. Please note: This grant cannot be used for operational or maintenance costs.
Meet the Funder sessions
We recently invited you to join one of our online Meet the Funder sessions to learn more about the UK Shared Prosperity and Rural England Prosperity Funds (UKSPF and REPF), focusing on the Community Grant Fund.
The sessions were held online, via Microsoft Teams on the following dates:
- Tuesday 3 October: 6pm until 7pm
- Thursday 5 October: 10am until 11am
We recorded the session and allowed for time at the end of the presentation for a Q&A with the team.
For a copy of the recording or the presentation slides, please email community.grants@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
The session covered:
- Overview of UK Shared Prosperity (UKSPF) and the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF)
- UKSPF and REPF investment themes and objectives of the fund
- What will be funded and who can apply
- Timetable
- How to apply
- How will your application be assessed?
- What we will need from you
- Support available