Community Capacity Building and Infrastructure Support Fund

This fund is open for applications until the end of Wednesday 6th March 2024.

Chorley Council recognises the valuable role that the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise sector plays in enhancing the life of people in Chorley and is evident through our community commissioning programme and annual Community Grant Fund which provides an avenue of funding to support these organisations, along with continued partnership working across the borough to help develop community initiatives.

We are excited to launch our latest Community Capacity Building and Infrastructure Support Grant scheme in which we are inviting partners and organisations from the VCFSE sector to apply. The funding is provided by the UK Government as part of the United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). This is a one-off community grant fund programme which builds on our core delivery and will enable Chorley's Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise sector to further enhance and sustain their delivery, react to the current challenges our communities are experiencing, and help in providing services that support our most vulnerable. In total, £200,000 is available from which we will award grants between £15,000 and £30,000.

Please read the criteria below which is required to ensure your organisation and project meets expectations for you to receive this funding.

What is the funding for?

This funding is available to build capacity, deliver social action projects and improve community infrastructure that will help create more vibrant, engaged, and resilient communities. Funding is designed to support and enhance existing services. The grant scheme will be an open competitive process and projects should support the work the council has undertaken, and provide delivery that reacts to the pressures our communities are experiencing. They should be innovative and creative, addressing local needs and clearly demonstrating the difference the project will make to local people and communities. Bids may address gaps in services or complement and enhance any existing offer. We want to capitalise on known successes so will consider supporting activity that has proved to add value.

Value for money will be a leading assessment criterion for all submissions. Additionality is key and funding will not be used simply to displace existing or committed funding. It's about helping organisations to grow, deliver more and /or expand its reach into different areas of the borough. Applicants will need to show they can deliver lasting legacy for our residents and communities, enhancing the life of people in Chorley and supporting better outcomes.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for a funding award, applicants must:

• Be based in Chorley.

• Be a registered charity, voluntary, community, faith, or social enterprise sector group/organisation.

• Those trading as commercial business, or private individuals are not eligible.

• Have a bank account registered to their group or organisation.

• Able to commence delivery by April 1st, 2024.

• You must be able to complete your project by March 2025

• Ensure that it is addresses one or more of the key priorities of the fund.

• Ensure the project is based on local need.

• Demonstrate the positive impacts which will be made through the project.

• Any works to buildings or property must be less than £5,000 as we cannot provide capital-based funding.

• Funding will not be awarded to any retrospective spending.

• The Council must be satisfied that the applicant has the necessary expertise and resources to see the project through to successful completion.

• Grants are not generally available to fund permanent staff positions, but consideration will be given to maintain some hours-of-service delivery, or exceptionally towards posts on fixed-term contracts. Consideration will be given where salaries are included as part of the organisation's start-up costs.

• Grants are not generally available to fund an organisation's running costs.

How to apply

To find out more information about the grant, including eligibility criteria, and how to apply please use the links below:

View more information on about the requirements of this grant using the Community Capacity Building and Infrastructure Support Fund Guidance Notes.  Community Capacity Building and Infrastructure Support Fund Guidance Notes (PDF) [131KB]

Complete the application form to apply. Details of where to send your completed application forms are available at the bottom of the application form.  Community Capacity Building and Infrastructure Support Fund Application Form (PDF) [190KB]