Aims/priorities: The funding aims to support the modernisation and improvement of village halls, so that they are fit for purpose and can provide activities which seek to achieve one or more of the following outcomes for their communities:
- Improved health and/or wellbeing and/or reduction in rural loneliness.
- Positive impact on the local environment, contributes towards net zero.
- Support for the local rural economy.
- Promotion of community cohesion.
Who can apply? Applications will be accepted from the following legal entities:
- Registered charities
- Charitable trusts.
- Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs)
- Community Associations which are registered charities
- Multi-purpose Church Halls, Scout and Guide buildings are also eligible where they are open for the whole community, there is no alternative village hall in the vicinity, they are not single use and they are clearly advertised as multi-purpose.
- Charitable Companies.
To be eligible, the village hall must:
- Be charity owned and managed by the community.
- Be located in a local rural area with a population of less than 10,000 people.
- Have a freehold or leasehold in place. If a leasehold interest, there must be at least 21 years left to run on the lease.
Grant amount: Between £7,500 and £75,000 which will be 20% of eligible project costs.
The total project cost can be more than £375,000 but the maximum grant available is £75,000.
All project work must be completed by 31 March 2025.
Application process: Applications are made in a two-stage process:
- Stage 1 applications include basic information about the organisation, local community and the project proposed to determine eligibility.
- Organisations successful at Stage One will be invited to submit a Stage 2 application.
Stage One applications will be accepted from 20 February 2023 to 3 March 2023 (23:59).
The online Stage 1 application form along with fund documentation, including the fund criteria, application guidance, faqs and stage 1 application questions can be found on ACRE’s website.
Groups with questions about the application process should contact their ACRE member in the first instance or send an email to ACRE.
Deadline: Friday 3 March 2023, 23:59pm.
Contact information: Tel: 01285 653477 Email: villagehallsfund@acre.org.uk