Provider: Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

Grant Value: Maximum value £500,000

Status: Open [EOI any time. 26-27 rounds deadlines for full applications – 22 June, 21 Sept, 14 Dec.]

Summary: The funding is intended to help communities across England rescue and repurpose neglected historic buildings.

The programme will focus on regenerating historic buildings in town centre locations by supporting community organisations to take ownership of, adapt and reuse the local heritage assets that matter to them, transforming them into thriving spaces that meet their needs.

Who can apply? To be eligible, applicants must be one of the following not-for-private-profit organisations or lowest tiers of local government:

• Unincorporated charities (for Project Viability Grants only)
• Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs)
• Charitable Companies Limited by Guarantee
• Community Benefit Societies
• Not-for-private-profit Companies Limited by Guarantee
• Community Interest Companies (CICs) Limited by Guarantee (The CIC’s activities should align with recognised charitable purposes.)
• Co-operatives
• Parish and Town Councils
• Independent secular organisations seeking to take ownership of a place of worship that will retain some religious use. Or an organisation associated with a worshipping community that is seeking to establish an independent secular organisation to take ownership of the place of worship, while the space will retain some religious use. Ongoing worship must account for less than half of the proposed use of the space.

What will it fund? Priority will be given to:

• Historic building projects that can help regenerate town centres and deliver clear economic and social impacts for communities. 
• Historic buildings in deprived areas, including in the top 30% most deprived areas according to the Indices of Deprivation
• Projects that will bring historic buildings into community ownership.
• Projects that aim to restore and re-use vacant or at-risk buildings.