About the Coastal Communities Fund
The Coastal Communities Fund (CCF) will encourage the economic development of UK coastal communities by giving them funding to create sustainable economic growth and jobs.
The government has committed £27.8 million to support the CCF in 2013/14 with money generated by the Crown Estate's marine assets. The Big Lottery Fund is delivering the CCF on behalf of Government, operating under the name Big Fund.
CCF is a UK-wide programme but there are some country specific requirements and priorities. Information about these is contained in the help notes to accompany the application form – available on this website.
Funding awards of over £50,000 are available for projects lasting up to two years. The following types of organisation can apply:
- charities
- voluntary and community sector organisations
- social enterprises, including cooperatives and community ownership initiatives
- local authorities
- development agencies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- local enterprise partnerships in England
- private sector companies.
Opening and closing dates for 2013/14
The Coastal Communities Fund is now closed for applications for 2013. First round applications are in assessment and the strongest applications will be invited to submit a full application in summer 2013.
When will funding be announced?
We will aim to tell you a decision by the following dates:
For projects in England – January 2014
For projects in Northern Ireland – December 2013
For projects in Scotland – December 2013
For projects in Wales – end of September 2013
When can I apply to the programme?
The Coastal Communities Fund was launched in 2012 and is initially due to run for the following:
Year one – April 2012 to March 2013
Year two – April 2013 to March 2014
Year three – April 2014 to March 2015
It is likely that the programme focus will change each year as awards are made and new policy issues emerge, although the overarching aim will remain the same. The funding available for 2014/15 will be announced in 2014 on this website.
Details of CCF-funded projects in year one
The programme generated a great deal of interest in year one and we received substantially more applications than we were able to fund. Applications which were able to demonstrate the following were prioritised:
- Clear outputs which can be evidenced
- Creation of jobs (particularly direct and indirect jobs within the project timescale)
- Ability to deliver outcomes within the project timescale
- Sustainability of activity and longer term impact.
Find out which projects received funding in the first year of CCF:
State aid
State Aid is a specific legal term arising from the European Union treaty which constitutes financial aid to organisations carrying out economic activity (whether or not for profit), which could distort competition.
We will expect applicants to self-evaluate how their project is compliant with European State Aid rules. More information on State Aid rules is available here
Applicants should also be aware that State Aid rules that are in place to protect competition within the fisheries, aquaculture and agriculture sectors may limit the extent to which economic projects can be supported by the CCF.
Enquiries
Contact our enquiries line on 0845 4 10 20 30 or email us at ccf@bigfund.org.uk