Community buildings

Community buildings can cater for a wide range of purposes, from pre-school playgroups to Internet surfing sessions for the elderly. Community building and village hall committees usually seek capital funding for buildings, refurbishment or purchase of equipment.

County Grants Scheme- larger amounts
The Multi-Use Community Buildings Grant have grants of up to £30,000 available to help refurbish, improve or even build community buildings. There must be match funding available of at least twice the amount of grant from other sources and/ or local fundraising, so for funding of £30,000 you would have to provide £60,000 from elsewhere. This level of grant is available until 2010. The fund is open to all community buildings in Devon which are run by the local community on a charitable basis. For more information contact the Community Council of Devon: www.devonrcc.org.uk/page/village_hall_funding.php or phone 01392 383345

County Grants Scheme- smaller amounts
The Multi-Use Community Buildings Grant have grants of up to £6,000 available to help refurbish, improve or even build community buildings. Grants at this lower level can be for up to two thirds of the project. This is because funding applications for up to £6,000 can be funded through the Community Council of Devon (CCD) and also by East Devon District Council. This joint scheme has been running for years, most recently benefitting community buildings in Whimple and East Budleigh. Fore more information: http://www.devonrcc.org.uk/page/village_hall_funding.php or phone 01392 383345

Community Matters
This is a national membership organisation supporting community associations, mainly community buildings. Any community group can get free advice, including advice on funding, from their telephone advice line on weekday mornings at 0845 8474253, and members get extra support services. For more information: www.communitymatters.org.uk

Devon Village Halls
The Community Council of Devon has set up a separate website for, and about, village halls and community buildings in Devon. It can help you advertise and promote your village hall, and also provides advice and support to village halls on funding. For more information: www.devonvillagehalls.co.uk

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
DEFRA has identified funding from several sources, such as the government, the lottery, local and regional sources and grantmaking trusts. You can find full details at: www.defra.gov.uk/rural/communities/halls/funding-sources/default.htm  You can also find comprehensive information, including an A-Z of all DEFRA grant and funding schemes at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/funding/index.htm

Action with Communities in Rural England (Acre)
Several different funders may fund the provision of village halls. Action with Communities in Rural England (Acre) has some useful information.  See: http://www.acre.org.uk/funding_index.html

Devon Community Boost Fund
Capital grants of £5,000-£15,000 may be available via the Devon Renaissance programme. For further information, please contact the Community boost team on Tel no 01837 658643 or email: cbf@ruraldevon.org  http://www.ruraldevon.org/updocs/DR_Leaflet.pdf

Community shops
The Village Retail Services Association in partnership with Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Co-operative and Community Finance have funding of up to £40,000 available. This is to fund the start up of community owned shops in rural areas in England. Applicants can also get advice from the Village Retail Services Association. The deadline for submissions in 30 July 2009. For more information: http://www.virsa.org/index.cfm/villageshop/News.Custom/page_id/36

USEFUL GENERAL FUNDING

Awards for All, England
Awards for All is a single pot fund supported by the Arts Council England, the Big Lottery Fund, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England. Awards for All makes grants of  £300 - £10,000 for people to take part in community activities. You may find Awards for All is a helpful starting point in your quest for funding, particularly for small-scale, community based projects based around increasing participation and accessibility. The deadline for applications is March 2009. You can find out more at: http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/england/index.html

Grassroots Grants
Grassroots Grants have grants of up to £5,000 available to community groups in Devon. If your community group helps local people, is led by volunteers, has an annual income of less than £20,000 and has been running for over 12 months then you could be eligible. To find out more go to: www.devoncf.com or phone Kathy on 01884 235887.

Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONB funding
Making it Local has just announced they are to benefit from an injection of £2.4million for investment in the Blackdown Hills and East Devon Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is anticipated that in 2009 a grant scheme will be available and assessors will be particularly interested in applications concerned with culture, tourism, recreation, using natural resources sustainably and network building/bringing people together. Anyone interested in finding out more about the successful Making It Local bid should visit www.blackdown-hills.net, www.eastdevonaonb.org.uk  or call Jenny Archard on 01823 680626.

Make a difference in Devon
Devon County Councillors have £25,000 each available to support capital projects which can make a significant difference to towns and villages in Devon. As news of this funding is spreading quickly, and funding may be allocated on a 'first come, first served' basis, interested organisations are advised to contact their County Councillor as soon as possible. To find out how your County Councillor is go to: www.devon.gov.uk/index/democracycommunities/county_councillors.htm

Local money
Some Town and Parish Councils have funding available for local community projects in their areas. Contact your local Parish or Town Clerk to see if this is available for you. To find out how to contact them go to: www.eastdevon.gov.uk/parish_and_town_councils

HISTORIC COMMUNITY BUILDINGS

Historic buildings
The Architectural Heritage Fund has grants available to voluntary organisations building preservation trusts to regenerate historic buildings to create community and education facilities, workspaces and homes. For more information:http://www.ahfund.org.uk/

Funds for Historic Buildings
If your community building is a historic one, you may like to search The Funds for Historic Buildings database. This is a comprehensive guide to funding for anyone seeking to repair, restore or convert for a new use any historic building in England and Wales. You can find more details at: www.ffhb.org.uk

Local built environment
The David Knightly Trust has grants available for voluntary groups undertaking creative practical projects to enhance, conserve or restore the quality of the local built environment for the benefit of the whole community. Grants are usually between £500 and £5,000. For more information phone 01264 738268 or e-mail gillbinks@tesco.net

ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF COMMUNITY BUILDINGS

Energy efficiency and environmental impact will be important when applying for funding to renew heating or other power systems in a community building or when replacing or building a community building. They could also help save money on your community buildings enerygy bills. The following people (among others) can help:

National Energy Action promotes energy efficiency and has produced a free 31 page booklet for community buildings on how to be more energy efficient, and grants available to help you do this. For more information: www.nea.org.uk

Grants for green heating system
Ecovision are encouraging charities, including village halls, to make use of grants that allow them to install low-carbon heating systems free of charge. Ground sourced heat pumps can cut energy costs by up to 60%. 50% of the cost of installing one can be recovered from the Department for Businesses, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and 50% can be applied for from the Big Lottery Fund’s community sustainable energy fund. For more information www.berr.gov.uk and www.communitysustainable.org.uk The Community Sustainable funding closes for applications on 30 January 2009.

Green heating systems
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs offers funding of up to £100,000 to support the installation of biomass fuelled heating and combined heat and power projects. Applications are welcome from industrial, commercial and community sectors. For more information: www.defra.gov.uk/farm/crops/industrial/energy/capital-grants.htm

FURTHER ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE
If you need further assistance or advice, please contact: Jamie Buckley, Engagement and Funding Officer, East Devon District Council, Tel no: 01395 517569  email: jbuckley@eastdevon.gov.uk