GMCVO offering support for Community Ownership Fund bids

The first bidding round for the £150m Community Ownership Fund is currently open for communities across the UK. It has been set up to help communities take ownership of assets and amenities at risk. Funding may support the purchase and/or renovation costs of community assets and amenities, subject to the full eligibility criteria outlined in the fund prospectus (link below).

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.

As well as providing general support around business and financial planning, GMCVO can work with Voluntary and Community organisations and Social Enterprises to potentially access social investment to meet the match funding requirements either from our own GM Social Investment funds or our national partners.

To read the fund prospectus with all the key info for this fund please click here.

The deadline for submitting applications to this first bidding round is 13th August 2021, but this timescale is expected to be too short for most groups. As well as supporting organisations ready to go, GMCVO are looking to support groups to be ready for the subsequent rounds.