These grants are aimed at addressing the impact of housing growth in the city.
Examples of the types of project that could be funded include:
- Buying new tables, seating, furnishings, other equipment, or storage, to help buildings with community meeting spaces to cater for more people, or to provide more activities
- Buying new equipment, or storage, for an outdoor sports pavilion or playing pitches
- Buying new equipment, or storage, for an indoor sports centre.
There are two application windows with different deadlines:
- For projects to be completed between mid-October 2023 and the end of April 2024, the deadline to apply is Tuesday 5 September 2023
- For projects to be completed between late January 2023 and the end of October 2024, the deadline to apply is Tuesday 31 October 2023.
To be eligible for the funding, the new or improved facilities would then need to be made available for community use, or affordable hire, for a certain amount of time each week.
Applications are invited from organisations that own or have a current lease (which will have five years or more left to run once the improvements are delivered) for a community building or indoor/outdoor sports venue in Cambridge, where the funding would be used. Applicants must have a bank account and have the legal status and authority to deliver the improvements.
Applicants will also need to be able to demonstrate clear cost estimates (including quotes for installation costs, where appropriate) as part of the application process.
Find full application guidance and information about how to apply online: www.cambridge.gov.uk/s106-funding-rounds
Cllr Mairéad Healy, Executive Councillor for Communities, said: “This is a brilliant opportunity for those running local community venues or sports centres to get a funding boost to help expand your offer. Whether that’s furniture to be used for multiple purposes, or specific kit or equipment to run a new session at your site, take a look at our application form and apply ASAP.”
The grants are made available as a result of developer contributions, often known as ‘S106 contributions’, which are paid by developers to mitigate the impact of new homes and other buildings.
Please be aware that the availability of funding is uneven across Cambridge; for example, there is no more generic S106 funding for community facility improvements available in Arbury, Castle, Cherry Hinton, East Chesterton, Petersfield and Newnham wards. However, applications for funding for sporting facilities improvements are still welcome in these wards.
