Investing in Communities: Growing Community Assets

Investing in Communities: Growing Community Assets is designed to support communities to take more control and influence over their own future through ownership of assets. These are usually physical assets, such as land, buildings or equipment, but may also include other types of asset such as energy.

There are no deadlines and applications can be submitted at any time.

• Communities work together to own and develop local assets 
• Communities are sustainable and improve their economic, environmental and social future through the ownership and development of local assets 
• Communities develop skills and knowledge through the ownership and development of local assets 
• Communities overcome disadvantage and inequality through the ownership and development of local assets. 

• Voluntary and community organisations
• Social enterprises
• Private companies (provided our grants do not contribute to the profits they distribute).

In addition, we ask that applicants meet the following criteria:  

• Your organisation must be community-led and controlled and be open to all members of that community. The majority of people on the management committee or board must be individuals from the community and elected by that community.
• The community itself must be within an identifiable local geographical area. Membership must be made up of 10 per cent or 100 (whichever is the lesser) of the members of the local community  
• We want to encourage financial viability and sustainability, so we can fund organisations that distribute profits provided they are set up mainly for community benefit. Certain specific conditions may apply to the distribution of profits, and we will discuss these with you.