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Big Lottery Fund to manage £30m programme to enable communities to take on local assets

Ed Miliband, Minister for the Third Sector, today announced that the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) will manage a new £30m programme to enable community-led third sector organisations to own and run under-used public buildings.

The new Community Assets Fund (CAF) – set up by the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) in the Cabinet Office – will offer grants for refurbishment of local authority buildings, ensuring they are appropriate for community use and for transfer to third sector ownership or management. The CAF will provide valuable new facilities for communities and respond to the third sector’s desire to make best use of local assets.

BIG will bring valuable experience of working with local government and community level organisations, and a strong track record on investing large sums of money. They will also involve other partner organisations, such as the Adventure Capital Fund, to make the most of their specialist expertise.

The OTS will run a 12–week consultation from today with key stakeholders on precisely how the fund will operate. This will take into account the findings of the ongoing independent review into asset transfer being led by Barry Quirk, which will report to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

First proposed at last year’s Pre–Budget Report, the CAF aims to

• Improve the physical infrastructure available to local communities. Upgrading run–down buildings will provide valuable new space and facilities – such as advice and activity centres, recreation facilities (which may include some outside space), meeting rooms and office space available to small community groups;
• Empower community–led third sector organisations to be innovative in responding to local needs, and enhance their capacity to tackle social disadvantage, transform lives and draw communities together;
• Enable third sector organisations to strengthen their place in local communities – not only through increased capacity but also through greater independence and the opportunity to run a financially sustainable asset;
• Benefit the wider community by raising the potential for job creation and further investment, and creating a focal point for local pride, confidence and cohesion.

Ed Miliband, Minister for the Third Sector, said: “Many third sector organisations are at the heart of local communities, but lack the vital resources to bring people together in a single place, around which they can foster a sense of pride and belonging.”

“I am delighted that the Big Lottery Fund is bringing its expertise in making large–scale investments and working with local authorities and community groups to this programme.

“By freeing up and revitalising public buildings, the Community Assets Fund will catalyse the work of third sector organisations in transforming local communities – encouraging innovation, promoting financial sustainability and responding to the needs of local people.”

Sanjay Dighe, the Country Chair of England for the Big Lottery Fund, said: “BIG is delighted to have been asked to deliver the Community Asset Fund, working in partnership with local authorities and the third sector. The opportunity to own and manage a dedicated asset will make a real difference to the communities we support.”

“As well as giving groups security and peace of mind, genuine assets offer the potential to draw in further investment and leave a lasting legacy for the future.”

Following the outcomes of the consultation process, Ministers together with BIG will decide on the final criteria for the fund, and launch the Fund itself later this year (2007).

Notes to editors:

1. For media enquiries about the Community Asset Fund (CAF), please call the Cabinet Office press office on 020 7276 0311.
2. A downloadable document is available for further information on the consultation [PDF 305KB, 8 pages]
3. The CAF was first proposed last year in the Pre-Budget Report, and the Partnership in Public Services action plan published on the same day (6 December 2006)
4. The issue of asset transfer was also raised in last October7’s Local Government White Paper and DCLG has since asked Barry Quirk, the Chief Executive of the London Borough of Lewisham, to conduct a review into existing powers for community ownership and management of assets, and consider how any barriers to asset transfer might be overcome. The Quirk Review will report shortly.
5. In recognition of the increasingly important role the third sector plays in both society and the economy, the Prime Minister created the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) in May 2006 to drive forward the Government's role in supporting a thriving third sector, and to join up sector-related work across government (Office of the Third Sector website).

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