Community Assets announces new support and evaluation contracts
A new £500,000 programme of support will be available to help those receiving Community Assets awards. The £30 million Community Assets programme aims to empower communities by encouraging the transfer of underused local authority buildings to local organisations.
The Big Lottery Fund, which is delivering Community Assets on behalf of the Office of the Third Sector, has awarded contracts for the evaluation of the programme and for a support and development element. The support and development element is being delivered by a consortium led by the Development Trusts Association. Rocket Science UK Ltd has won the contract to evaluate Community Assets.
Rocket Science UK Ltd will evaluate the success of the Community Assets programme in encouraging asset transfer, and its progress towards meeting outcomes around benefit to the local community, strengthening the third sector, and supporting partnership working with local authorities.
A consortium of the Development Trusts Association, Community Matters, Environment Trust Associates and Coin Street Community Builders has already started work developing a programme of support. The consortium is getting working with each project that has been awarded an in-principle award from Community Assets, in order to develop a package of mentoring and advice tailored to their needs.
