[WiLT] Community Assets Programme

[WiL Admin]

Community Assets Programme

Funding area: England
Next Application Deadline: 15/11/2007

The Community Assets programme is funded by the Office of the Third
Sector and delivered by the Big Lottery Fund. The aim of the programme
is community empowerment. It offers capital grants for third sector
organisations and local authorities to refurbish local authority
buildings in England for third sector ownership. Community Assets aims
to empower communities by facilitating the transfer of genuine assets
from local authorities to third sector ownership for the benefit of
the community. Genuine assets will generate operational, financial and
other benefits for third sector organisations without significant
liabilities over a long-term period.

Capital grants of between £150,000 and £1million will be made
specifically for the refurbishment of buildings, for projects lasting
up to two years. If the project involves the transfer of two or more
assets to the same partner, up to £2 million in funding is available.

The development of Community Assets has been strongly influenced by
the findings from Making Assets Work: the Quirk review of community
ownership and management of public assets (June 2007), which can be
downloaded at the bottom of this page under 'Documents and Links'. The
Quirk review demonstrated the real opportunity for community
empowerment offered by asset transfer. It also showed that this worked
best as part of a wider strategy of good partnership working between
communities, the third sector, and local government.

The Office of the Third Sector is seeking to fund projects that
demonstrate the aim to achieve all three of the following programme
outcomes in their projects:
* local third sector organisations have greater security and
independence, and are better able to meet the needs of the communities
they serve;
* communities have more access to better quality facilities that
respond to their needs;
* there is more effective partnership working between local
authorities and the third sector.

For help and advice on using an outcomes approach, see the Big Lottery
Fund's 'Explaining the Difference' booklet which can be downloaded via
the link at the bottom of this page.

The Office of the Third Sector and the Big Lottery Fund are also
particularly interested in funding projects under this programme
where:
* local authorities and their partners can demonstrate that the asset
identified for transfer is the most appropriate for the needs of the
third sector and the wider community;
* the asset is genuine and will offer real opportunities for
successful and independent third sector organisations to become more
sustainable in the long term;
* the asset will be made fully available for use by a range of local
groups, especially those working with disadvantaged communities;
* the refurbishment of the asset is planned to reflect the priorities
of all the groups and communities who will use it;
* the asset is environmentally sustainable: refurbishment plans should
consider energy efficiency as a priority, and use good quality,
environmentally sustainable materials and construction policies.

Community assets will not fund the transfer of assets to:
* individuals;
* sole traders;
* for profit organisations, except social enterprises (social
enterprises are eligible, as their surpluses are principally
reinvested for social or environmental purposes, rather than being
driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners)
* organisations in poor financial health;
* organisations not established in the UK;
* statutory bodies, including other local authorities, schools, parish
or town councils (as these are not third sector organisations);
* more than one third sector organisation per application;
* professional fundraisers.

Local authorities should be a partner in no more than two applications
to the Community Assets programme.

Community Assets will not fund refurbishment of any of the following
assets:
* land or equipment not associated with the refurbishment of a local
authority building. Please note: assets to be transferred must be
owned by a local authority and therefore parish and town councils are
not eligible to apply;
* housing;
* open spaces, except where they form part of as asset alongside a
building;
* assets that have already been transferred from a local authority to
a third sector organisation;
* assets already owned by a third sector organisation.

Community Assets will not fund transfer of assets for:
* religious activities. However, projects where a local authority is
looking to transfer an asset to a religious organisation may be
considered;
* projects that primarily provide space for political activities;
* projects purely associated with increasing disability access, unless
the costs are part of a wider project.

Grants will only be made to third sector organisations and local
authorities that have a strong partnership in place. Partnerships
should be between one local authority and one third sector
organisation. Therefore, applications must be from either:
* a local authority that owns the asset to be transferred, or;
* a third sector organisation that the asset will be transferred to.

Grant funding will only be paid to the organisation that owns either
the leasehold or the freehold of the asset. This can either be prior
to transfer to third sector ownership (where the local authority is
the grant recipient), or once the asset has been transferred (where
the third sector organisation is the grant recipient, as long as there
is a satisfactory agreement to lease in place). Please note: for
transfer to be considered, the leasehold interest held by the local
authority should be at least 20 years.

In both cases, applications must be endorsed by the other partner and
be supported by the wider community. Applicants must have an agreement
with their partner organisation(s) and a copy of the agreement,
contract or service level agreement must be sent with the application.

Successful partnerships will be given six months to put together a
capital delivery plan for the refurbishment, transfer and long term
management of the asset. Plans for the refurbishment of assets should:
* be made fully available to a range of local groups, especially those
working with disadvantaged communities;
* be carefully planned to reflect the needs of the local community and
the groups who will use it;
* meet high environmental standards, ensuring that the asset is
environmentally sustainable;
* consider energy efficiency as a priority and use good quality,
environmentally sustainable materials and construction practices.

This programme funds up to 100% of eligible capital costs for
improving the asset. Capital costs will include refurbishment costs,
associated professional fees, and equipment to be used specifically
for the project. Revenue costs or overhead costs cannot be funded.
Prospective applicants should refer to the Guidance Notes for a
detailed list of eligible and ineligible costs.

Before making an application, applicants should read the Guidance
Notes thoroughly and have planned their project in detail. Grants will
only be made to organisations that demonstrate they have the capacity
to manage them effectively.

The application process consists of an initial application stage
(including a completeness check, eligibility check, initial and full
assessments) followed by a capital delivery plan, and a final
decision. A full explanation of each stage of the application process,
and help with completing each section of the application form is also
available in the Guidance Notes. Applicants should also carefully
consider the requirements of the grant, details of which can be found
under 'What happens if you are awarded a principled grant' in the
Guidance notes.

Completed applications should be sent to the address provided under
'Contact Information' below, and must be received by 2pm on Thursday
15 November 2007 to be eligible for consideration. Please note: only
one application should be submitted for each individual project.

All applicants will be notified by 31st March 2008 if their
application has been successful or not.

Contact Information:

Community Assets Programme
BIG Lottery Fund
2 St. James Gate
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE1 4BE
Phone: 0845 4102 030 (textphone 0845 602 1659)
Email: general.enquiries at biglotteryfund.org.uk
Web: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

The following Documents and Links
* Appendix - BLF Explaining the Difference booklet
* Making Assets Work: the Quirk review of community ownership and
management of public assets (June 2007)
* Community Assets Programme: Application Form
* Community Assets Programme: Guidance Notes
* Community Assets Programme: Questions and Answers
can be found at
http://www.governmentfunding.org.uk/VCSSearch.aspx?WCI=htmSchemeView&WCU=DSCODE=DSCLIVEGF,SCHEMEID=12-S112,SEARCH=DS=DSCLIVEGF

Posted on WiLT blog at
http://www.freecharity.org.uk/~womeninlondon/?p=412