Applications open for UK Community Renewal Fund in Greater Manchester

Organisations from across Greater Manchester are invited to bid for a new fund aimed at supporting people and communities most in need.

Applications are now open for the UK Community Renewal Fund (UKCRF), which invests in skills, community and places, local businesses and also supports people into employment. The UK Government has designated 100 areas across the UK as ‘priority places’ to receive the fund, including four boroughs in Greater Manchester – Bolton, Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has been named as the Lead Authority with responsibility for inviting, assessing, prioritising and submitting bids for the UKCRF.

In particular, the UK Government is seeking bids which build on local insight and knowledge, align with long-term plans for local growth and target people most in need. Bids that support community renewal, demonstrate a contribution to national net zero and carbon reduction ambitions are also welcomed. The UKCRF will be used to support innovation and new ideas.

Simon Nokes, Executive Director of Policy and Strategy for GMCA, said: “The UK Community Renewal Fund will help assist communities most in need in the city-region, and will also help support new approaches to prepare for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

“We are looking for bids from organisations that will support and help communities in Greater Manchester to thrive, with Bolton, Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale having been identified as priority places by the UK Government for this fund. The invitation to submit project bids is now live and anybody interested in applying can do so via The Chest.”

There are four national investment priorities for the fund:

• Skills: including work-based training, retraining and digital skills/inclusion
• Local business: including supporting entrepreneurs, innovation and decarbonisation
• Communities and place: including feasibility studies for net zero projects, opportunities for culture-led regeneration, green spaces and rural connectivity
• Supporting people into employment: including addressing barriers to employment, raising aspirations, and basic skills.

The UKCRF Greater Manchester Invitation to Submit Project Bids is now live and can be accessed via The Chest (Reference DN535893). Those wanting to apply will need to register for access on The Chest.

The deadline for bids is 4pm on Friday, 14 May, 2021 and all UKCRF projects must be delivered by 31 March, 2022.

For more information about the UKCRF in Greater Manchester please visit the GMCA website. More information about the UKCRF can also be found on the Government website.

Watch a webinar for further information on the UKCRF here. 

Article Published: 16/04/2021 09:57 AM