Capital grants for community ownership

Do you have a critical role to play in developing your community?

The East of England has a growing population and one of the strongest, fastest growing and most diverse economies in the UK. As part of that, there are many community projects with the potential to make a lasting difference to the lives of many groups of people across the region.

The Building Communities Fund is managed by a consortium of specialists in social enterprise: Co-operative & Community Finance is working in partnership with The Plunkett Foundation and Social Enterprise East of England (SEEE).

Are you eligible to apply?

You are likely to be a community-owned organisation committed to social enterprise and social ownership, such as a:

• registered charity
• development trust
• not-for-profit enterprise or company
• social business
• social enterprise owned by a community group
• Local Authority divesting assets to an independent trust
• cooperative organisation or employee-owned business
• community land trust

What are the preferred criteria?

The buildings and land will have community ownership and, through your plan, will help meet a particular community economic need. The following are preferred features of any successful bid:

• Will your plan have a significant economic and social impact on your community?
• Will it help people who are disadvantaged in some way?
• Will it be in an area of financial disadvantage?
• Does it create long-term employment or business opportunity?
• Does it celebrate excellence in environmental responsibility?
• Will it promote diversity?
• Can it be financially sustainable?
• Can it draw in other sources or types of finance?
• Might it be part of a Local Authority plan for divesting assets?

Now you can take your proposals forward – and turn your plans into reality

You may not have had the resources before to take on and develop the use of buildings and land, and you may have found it hard to attract funding. Apply now – and show us how a grant or bursary will help benefit your community and the region.