Office of the Third Sector Homepage
Last updated: 23 November 2008
The £30 million Community Assets programme aims to empower communities by encouraging the transfer of underused local authority assets to local organisations. The fund provides grants for refurbishment of local authority buildings, to ensure that high-quality spaces and facilities are transferred to third sector ownership.
The refurbishment of assets and their transfer to the third sector aims to achieve the following outcomes:
Community Assets is a key part of the Office of the Third Sector's support for a thriving third sector, one that is confident and capable of taking on public assets for the benefit of their community. The importance of community assets has been recognised by the Government in two key publications:
Following these publications, the Quirk Review of Community Management and Ownership of Public Assets in May 2007 concluded that community ownership and management of public assets can bring substantial benefits, and recommended an integrated package of measures to enable third sector organisations to take on assets. The Government accepted the Quirk Review recommendations in full, and Community Assets aims to support its implementation.
The Office of the Third Sector and the Department for Communities and Local Government are working together to ensure that Community Assets and the implementation of the Quirk Review form a broad programme of support for local authorities and the third sector, recognising that they will be at different stages in developing partnerships around asset transfers.
The measures include:
The Advancing Assets for Communities Programme also offers tailored consultancy and advice to help partnerships become ready to transfer assets. This is being delivered by a consortium led by the Development Trusts Association [external website], funded by the Department of Communities and Local Government.
In March 2007 the Office of the Third Sector announced that the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) would manage the Community Assets programme, and launched a 12 week public consultation on how the fund would operate.
The Office of the Third Sector and BIG listened to the responses to the consultation and used them to ensure Community Assets meets the needs of the third sector and local communities. Details of the consultation and Government reponse can be found in the completed consultations section.
The programme was launched in September 2007, with guidance for applicants available from BIG. Until November 2007 Community Assets was open for applications for grants of £150,000 - £1 million, from partnerships of local authorities and thrid sector organisations.
In total 220 applications were submitted from across England, seeking grant funding to a total of just over £155 million. Of these, 164 were complete and eligible. BIG used an initial assessment to identify the strongest applications; as a result 128 applications went to full assessment, which included a visit to each project.
In March 2008 the BIG England Committee decided which applications were offered an in-principle grant. The Committee was informed by external experts, who provided broad advice on the policy and practice of asset transfer.
The list of successful projects offered an 'in-principle' grant was published in April 2008. From listed buildings in urban areas to small village halls, the projects will renovate underused buildings to offer a host of new activities, including support for victims of domestic violence, healthy eating and keep fit services, cutting edge theatre and art facilities. The refurbishments will mean new décor for dilapidated buildings, better disabled access, new cafes and kitchens and more flexible use of spaces for the whole community. Some projects aim to be exemplars for energy efficiency. The successful applicants are planning for financial sustainability through rents, contracts for delivery of services, and partnerships with local authorities.
The organisations with in-principle grant offers now have up to six months to develop detailed plans for spending their grant. They will present these capital delivery plans to BIG for a non-competitive assessment.
In May 2008 BIG awarded two contracts, one for evaluation of Community Assets and a £500,000 programme of support and development. Rocket Science UK Ltd will assess the success of Community Assets in encouraging asset transfer, and in progress towards the outcomes shown above. A consortium of the Development Trusts Association, Community Matters, Environment Trust Associates and Coin Street Community Builders will work with each project to develop a package of mentoring, signposting and advice tailored to their needs. All these organisations will aim to build on the expertise and lessons emerging from the implementation of the Quirk Review, including the Advancing Assets for Communities programme.