The government’s £70 million Communitybuilders programme will open in July 2009.

Communitybuilders, a joint venture between the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), is an investment programme providing financial assistance and advisory support to empower citizens and communities throughout England.

The initiative, launched in response to commitments within the 2008 Communities in Control: real people, real power White Paper, is intended to build more cohesive, empowered and active communities through a mixture of grants, loans and non-financial support.

Communitybuilders will seek bids from new and already existing organisations, often known as ‘community anchors’ (which include, but are not limited to, development trusts, settlements and multi-purpose community groups).

Eligible organisations will need to be ambitious and have the ability to offer places for communities to meet and provide and host valuable community services.  They must be controlled by local residents, be inclusive and address local issues and needs.

The Communitybuilders fund is not yet open to applications but it is anticipated that the application process will begin in July 2009.  It will be delivered by a national partner on behalf of the DCLG and the OTS.

For further information, visit the Office of the Third Sector website:

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector.aspx

Source: Cabinet Office