11th February 2025
Last call for ‘Levelling Up’ grant aid
TIME is running out for people, and projects, to apply for grants from the Government’s Community Levelling Up (CLUP) fund (the pot of money that provided £180,000 towards the Morval Parish Play Park at Farriers Way, Widegates).
The primary goals of the programme, which supports community-level investment plans for ‘Good Growth’ across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, are to put communities at the heart of delivery, to tackle deprivation and strengthen communities.
But Cornwall Councillor Armand Toms told members of Morval Parish Council at their monthly meeting that grant applications for the fourth year of the programme have to be received at County Hall before 5.00 pm on Friday, February 28.
All proposed projects must show that they can be completed by December 31 this year and the amount of grants available range from £25,000 to £200,000, with the average award expected to be in the region of £80,000.
Eligible applicants include charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs), Charitable Incorporated Organisations and the public sector (town and parish councils).
The cash distribution is expected to be highly competitive since, in the previous round, fewer than 30 per cent of applications were funded. A minimum of ten per cent match-funding is required.
Cornwall Council are holding a webinar tomorrow (Wednesday, February 12; 2.00 pm until 3.00 pm to provide more information about the priorities, eligibility criteria and application process for this funding opportunity.
For full details, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/good-growth-spf-year-4-community-funding-opportunities-tickets-1204715619849?aff=oddtdtcreator
Sustainable and accessible infrastructure will take priority in the awarding of grants; that includes capital improvements to increase an organisation’s sustainability, limit impact on energy bills, make local infrastructure resilient to change, and improve accessibility to create inclusive community buildings.
Said a County Council spokesperson: “For example, improving accessibility in a Community Hall (such as a ramp, accessible toilets or hearing loop), installation of new green energy systems in a Village Hall (such as heat pump or solar panels), refurbishment of local community infrastructure.
“But such improvements would need to demonstrate additionality and lead to outputs such as more events, more sessions, more engagement with local communities and the like.”
Green spaces and well-being could be appropriate, especially where an application includes investment in public parks, paths, playgrounds, green gyms, and other projects that deliver a social programme engaging the local community.
Another avenue for potential grant funding could be events and culture. “This includes support for projects offering an event, or a programme of events, to rejuvenate town centres or villages and create opportunities to come together and celebrate local places, boost the economy and increase footfall,” said the spokesman.
“For example, new local celebrations or events such as markets, festivals”.
However, CLUP does not fund one-off events, although projects that will create/kick-start/launch a new programme or service which will continue beyond the lifetime of the funding, could be considered.
Projects that don’t have approved planning permission (if required), or those in need of feasibility studies, are not eligible, neither are those that create competition with similar organisations in their local area.
Other restrictions include NHS and formal educational scheme; projects that cannot demonstrate financial sustainability after the funding, and those that major on general replacement, repairs and renewals to buildings.
Existing recurring cultural events and festivals are not eligible, either.
Successful projects will address at least one of the following three priorities:
- Be an excellent fit with their local strategies;
- Deliver a significant level of outputs and outcomes, and
- Support the wider principles driving ‘Good Growth’
The grant scheme is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Cornwall Council is managing the delivery of the Shared Prosperity Fund on behalf of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
For full details, please visit: https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/business-trading-and-licences/economic-development/community-levelling-up-programme/