Calderdale Community Asset Fund

This grant fund has been created to support VCSE organisations in Calderdale to manage community assets (community buildings). It is open to VCSE organisations in Calderdale who currently manage community buildings owned by Calderdale Council, or are going through the community asset transfer (CAT) process.

Grants of up to £3,000 per organisation are available for costs required to support the operation and management of assets.

What will we fund?

The fund supports groups with any vital capital or revenue funding to contribute to the successful management of their asset. Examples of eligible costs include (but are not limited to):

• Professional advice
• Technical surveys
• Urgent or unforeseen costs relating to building / health and safety
• Inclusivity / accessibility related works or advice e.g. accessibility audits/ adjustments
• Small capital works such as unforeseen / urgent repairs
• Specialist maintenance plans
• Specialist consultancy that cannot be delivered through current VCSE support locally
• Technical expertise in preparing their business case.
• Feasibility studies
• Training costs related to the successful management of community assets or organisational sustainability
• Energy saving measures.
• Running costs – this is ringfenced for early stage CAT groups or organisations in crisis and is capped at £1,000 per organisation.

Eligibility and Terms

• The group must be an incorporated VCSE organisation and have a bank account. The only exception to this is if you have been formally invited to submit a business plan following a successful EOI for a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) by Calderdale Council. In this case we will accept applications from unincorporated groups, but they must show evidence that they are linked / accountable organisation to hold the funding and that they have approval from Calderdale Council to prepare a business case for a CAT.
• The community asset must be owned by Calderdale Council – this includes a) council assets currently leased to or managed by community organisations; b) assets currently in the CAT process. 
• All applications must include a quote from the supplier with evidence of scope of work, timescales, and day rate. The day rate cap is £600 +VAT.
• Grants can be used to contribute to larger pieces of work, but you must show how you intend to meet the additional costs over the max £3,000 available from this fund.
• Funded work should be completed by 31st March 2026.
• A final report with evidence of the work completed and invoice must be submitted to evidence the grant expenditure. Any underspend must either be applied for reallocation or returned.
• Eligible work under this fund is specialist and technical work that cannot be provided by the VSI Alliance (including Locality and WYCAS).
• All applicants need to supply their governing document, bank account information and list of policies before award is made. The panel may also request additional information from applicants to assess eligibility.
• Organisations can apply for up to a maximum of £3,000 from this fund – this can be split into multiple applications over the life of the fund. 
• In some exceptional cases an award of over £3,000 may be made. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis and will require additional assessment criteria. If you think you have an exceptional or urgent case, please contact Lucy Darragh lucy.darragh@locality.org.uk

In some exceptional cases an award of over £3,000 may be made. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis and will require additional assessment criteria.

If you think you have an exceptional or urgent case, please contact Lucy Darragh lucy.darragh@locality.org.uk or Faye Calvert Faye.Calvert@calderdale.gov.uk