Rotherham organisations urged to bid for government’s Community Renewal Fund

Rotherham organisations urged to bid for government’s Community Renewal Fund
Rotherham organisations urged to bid for government’s Community Renewal Fund

Organisations with fresh ideas to boost Rotherham’s economy and help people and communities hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic are being urged to submit their bids into a new national fund.

The UK Community Renewal Fund (CRF) aims to encourage new and imaginative programmes to help Rotherham grow and thrive, building sustainable communities where people want to live and work.

The CRF pilot is the result of a £220 million investment by the Government and is a pre-cursor to the Shared Prosperity Fund.

Organisations are urged to bring forward innovative ideas to boost the local economy by investing in skills, supporting local businesses, helping people into employment and helping local communities to recover.

The fund is for projects that can be delivered and completed up to March 31, 2022 with organisation able to bid for up to £3million pounds worth of revenue funding to help bring their ideas to life.

Applications are welcome from local organisations with the Council particularly interested in hearing from:

  • Voluntary and community sector organisations
  • Umbrella business groups
  • Universities and colleges
  • Private sector organisations providing a service to benefit other organisations or individuals

Bids need to be submitted to Rotherham Council by Wednesday 19 May at 5pm. The Council will then compile a shortlist of projects to submit to the Mayoral Combined Authority who will put forward projects to the government. Successful projects will be announced by the government from Summer 2021 onwards.

Rotherham Council’s Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment, Paul Woodcock, said: “The last year has had a huge impact on our local economy with some residents, business and communities badly affected.

“We very much welcome this fund which will help support the borough to pilot imaginative new approaches and projects. I for one am looking forwarding to hearing the new, fresh ideas that unleash Rotherham’s potential and will prepare us to take full advantage of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund when it launches in 2022.”

Specialist support is available to groups needing help to write their bids. Please email Nicola.phillips@rotherham.gov.uk for more information.

Further information on how to bid and the application can be found here.

Published: 10th May 2021