The 60 areas in England that will receive a share of the government-backed £175m Community Wealth Fund have been announced.
Today, parts of Nottingham, Sunderland, Leeds, Rotherham, and Portsmouth were among those communities named to receive support from the programme, funded by £87.5m each from the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) and the government’s Dormant Assets Scheme.
The areas were selected based on national data on high levels of deprivation, low social capital and local community infrastructure and will receive support from the NLCF to make the most of the funding.
Charities and community groups in the chosen areas will be able to apply to decide how the money is spent over the next 10 years.
Successful bidders will need to show how they will give local people a central role in decision-making.
NLCF chief executive David Knott said: “Success won't just be measured by what gets funded. It will be measured by whether communities have greater power and capacity to shape their own futures long after the funding ends.
“At the National Lottery Community Fund, we believe lasting change starts with community – and stays with community. When local people lead, real and lasting change happens.”
Impact economy minister Stephanie Peacock said: “The Community Wealth Fund marks a significant opportunity in the journey towards further devolution to put power into the hands of local people.
“It will give residents the tools and spaces they need to come together and shape the future of their community for the long term.”
Applications will open in phases for organisations seeking to lead the distribution of funding. The first phase, opening in January, will cover the east midlands, the north east and Cumbria, and Yorkshire and the Humber.
Announced last year, the fund will offer between £1m and £2.5m to the selected communities, with neighbourhoods of between 5,000 and 15,000 residents then deciding how the resources should be used.
The fund was inspired by NLCF’s previous community investment programme called Big Local.
