Charity run schemes are among almost 200 community ownership projects to receive a share of £50m in government levelling up funding.
The projects are the latest successful bidders for grants through the government’s Community Ownership Fund, which is worth £150m in total over four years.
Among the latest successful bidders are 131 projects in England, which have been awarded £35m. Meanwhile 28 in Scotland will share £6.2m, 18 in Wales share £4m and 18 on Northern Ireland will share £4.1m.
The fund has been set up by the government as part of its levelling up commitments to ensure local people can continue to benefit from local amenities and services, such as village shops and local sports teams, whose future is in doubt.
Those receiving funding include charities, community interest companies and local councils.
Among successful charity bids is Cornwall based Sterts Arts and Environmental which has received £300,000 to rebuild Sterts Theatre.
Meanwhile, West Yorkshire based Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR) has received £1m to rebuild an historic local bridge in need of repair.
Keighley MP Robbie Moore said he was “delighted” by the funding announcement.
“Funding will allow KWVR to complete rebuild of Bridge 27 at Haworth,” he said.
“Originally built 1867 & partially reconstructed 1889, Bridge 27 had reached the end of its useful life. Closure would have meant cutting railway line in half, causing huge negative impacts to the area.”
🚨🚂 £1 MILLION SECURED FOR KEIGHLEY & WORTH VALLEY RAILWAY
— Robbie Moore MP (@_RobbieMoore) September 25, 2023
Today, I’m delighted to announce £1 million for our amazing @WorthValley as part of our Conservative Government’s Community Ownership Fund - that’s the biggest investment for any UK project announced today. 1/4 pic.twitter.com/MNxL5EPoIM
Others to be backed by the Community Ownership Fund include Wales museum charity The Judge’s Lodging Trust, which has received £187,557.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced earlier this month that applications for the next round of Community Ownership Fund grants is open until 11 October. This funding round focuses on capital funding for up to £2m, although the government expects most funding awards to be up to £250,000.
📷 Round 3, Window 2 of the Community Ownership Fund is now open! It helps communities take ownership of their cherished local spaces, saving buildings like the Queen's Ballroom.
— Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (@luhc) September 1, 2023
⤵️ Learn more about applying here: Community Ownership Fund: prospectus – https://t.co/lJvqDciEow pic.twitter.com/VVy0s8gBEM
There will be four bidding windows each year.
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