Community Asset Fund

Things to consider when contacting us

What is an eligible project?

  • Community assets and buildings – new assets or enhancing and extending existing assets such as village halls and community centres. 

  • Play and recreation - new assets or enhancing existing community facilities 

  • Sports - new assets or the enhancement of existing community facilities. 

  • Inclusivity – community projects which improve accessibility 

If your project is not listed above, please discuss this with your community engagement officer for your ward. Contact details here: Community Engagement Officers 

What are the evaluation categories?  

Applications which meet the eligibility criteria set out above will proceed for evaluation and will be assessed against the following criteria:  

  • Evidence of community support  
  • Number of beneficiaries  
  • Impact of project  
  • Environmental sustainability of project  
  • Proportion of external funding  
  • Financial need to deliver project  
  • Security of tenure  
  • Risk (to Council reputation)  
  • Project Viability 

What cannot be funded 

Businesses are not eligible for this grant. If you are a business looking for grants there is information available on the council’s website. 

This grant cannot be used alongside or for match funding with other Test Valley Borough Council community grants relating to the same project. 

Only one Community Asset Fund grant application per organisation will be considered in any one financial year and all previously awarded funds must be claimed, before a second application can be submitted.  

Other areas that cannot be funded include: 

  • Base revenue and running costs 

  • Low level maintenance and repairs or projects including fixtures and fittings 

  • Retrospective work 

  • Any project that creates a revenue pressure for the Borough Council 

  • Any activity which may be construed as radicalising or encouraging people into terrorism. Should any allegation be received, or if the Council has reason to suspect non-compliance, the Council will investigate and may decide to cancel, modify or withdraw any offer or grant made to ensure compliance with the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 

Match funding requirements

Applicants must provide details of where they aim to secure match funding from, on their application, but they do not have to have secured all of the match funding before they apply for a Community Asset Fund. The match funding can be secured from a variety of different sources and at different stages. A Community Asset Fund grant cannot be used as match funding alongside any other Test Valley Borough Council grant scheme, other than Section 106 funding and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding.