Organisations in East Dunbartonshire are being invited to bid for a share of the new UK Community Renewal Fund.
The scheme will provide £220 million to help prepare for the introduction of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The aim is to boost national recovery efforts following the COVID-19 pandemic and to provide funding for projects supporting people and places across the UK, growing local economies and helping communities.
Investment from EU Structural Funds will continue to be spent until 2023. The UK Government has committed support through the new UK Shared Prosperity Fund, on average reaching around £1.5 billion a year, to be launched in 2022.
The UK Community Renewal Fund will prepare the way in 2021-22 by helping local areas to trial new approaches and innovative ideas – including building skills, supporting businesses, communities and places, and providing employment assistance - via grants worth a total of £220 million.
Potential applicants could include voluntary and community sector organisations, local education providers and umbrella business groups.
Proposals are sought which:
- Build on local insight and knowledge
- Align with long-term strategic plans for local growth
- Prioritise people most in need
- Support community renewal.
Successful UK Community Renewal Fund bids will be for 2021-22 only and any activity must end by March 2022. Applications must be received by 5pm on Friday 21 May 2021.
Thomas Glen, Depute Chief Executive - Place, Neighbourhood and Corporate Assets, said, "The Council will be collating bids for grants from the UK Community Renewal Fund - supporting innovation and new ideas by investing in pilot projects which draw on local knowledge and help areas to prepare for the introduction of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in 2022.
"I would encourage local organisations to visit eastdunbarton.gov.uk/UKCRF for full information and criteria before the deadline - 21 May 2021."
It has been confirmed that 90% of support available through the UK Community Renewal Fund will be revenue funding, with a small amount of capital funding. The focus is on bids which are either wholly or predominantly revenue based.
Projects must be in line with the UK Community Renewal Fund Prospectus - available via eastdunbarton.gov.uk/UKCRF - and address at least one of the following priorities:
- Investment in skills
- Investment for local business
- Investment in communities and place
- Supporting people into employment.
The UK Community Renewal Fund is a UK Government programme. You can access the prospectus by visiting the Government website [opens in a new window].
The UK Government is encouraging applicants and lead authorities to maximise the leverage of other funding.
Bids can be made by any legally constituted organisation delivering an appropriate service - including, but not limited to, local authorities, universities, voluntary and community sector organisations, and umbrella business groups.
For FAQs, visit the Government website [opens in a new window].
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