Community Asset Management Grants 2025/26
This grant is invitation only. Please only apply if you were invited. The Community Asset Management (CAM) grant aims to increase capacity for organisations to manage their assets for the long term. The grants contribute to better maintenance, financial management and future proofing. The purpose of the 25/26 CAM grants is to respond to the needs of the VCSE organisations, relating to skills, capacity development and strategic asset management; these were the priority areas identified through the reflective workshops in 2024/25.
- Opening date: (Midday)
- Closing date: (Midnight)
Contents
Summary
The Community Asset Management grant aims to increase capacity for organisations to manage their assets for the long term. The grants contribute to better maintenance, financial management and future proofing.
The purpose of the 25/26 CAM grants is to respond to the needs of the VCSE organisations, relating to skills, capacity development and strategic asset management; these were the priority areas identified through the reflective workshops in 2024/25.
One-off revenue grants of £10,300 are available to VCSE organisations operating as:
Community hubs or key anchor organisations and manage community buildings
City-wide equity hubs
City-wide equity hubs are invited to submit a funding application as a partnership to develop an ask of place-based voluntary organisations around sustainable access to community assets.
Invited organisations can apply for a grant of £10,300 to contribute to one or more of the following:
Develop staff/volunteer skills which support and enable long term management and resilience of the community asset
Develop asset management plans through bringing in of external expertise
Build organisational capacity to develop asset management strategies and plan for the future
The grant can be used for the following:
Purchase of technical expertise to develop asset management plans, undertake feasibility studies, building surveys, energy surveys, access surveys etc.
Carry out systems analysis or upgrades to digital infrastructure such as booking or Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems
Increase capacity through project management or additional professional support enabling scoping/feasibility work, capital project delivery
Cover additional costs of carrying out capital projects such as staff time to deliver an operational strategy
Professional development such as staff training
The grant cannot be used for the following:
Capital costs, for example, equipment, materials, etc.
Labour costs related to a capital project
Ongoing staffing costs
Ongoing running costs such as utility bills
Please note, all applications must meet the funding criteria and will go through a review process. Funding is not guaranteed.
Eligibility
Only invited organisations are able to apply for this grant.
The Community Asset Management Grants programme is open to applications from voluntary and community sector and Social Enterprise organisations operating as:
Community hubs or key anchor organisations and manage community buildings
City-wide equity hubs
City-wide equity hubs are invited to submit a funding application as a partnership to develop an ask of place-based voluntary organisations around sustainable access to community assets
Organisations that have one or more of the following structures or forms are able to apply. Before you start to complete the application you should check that at least one of the structures below applies to your organisation.
Registered charity
Community Interest Company (CIC) limited by guarantee
Community Interest Company (CIC) limited by share (schedule 2 with 100% asset lock)
Company limited by guarantee
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Community benefit company registered as a registered Society orCommunity Benefit Society
Unincorporated body with a bank account
The Community Asset Management Grants programme is open to applications from voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations which meet the specified criteria. Before you start to complete the application you should ensure that all the statements below apply to your organisation.
Your organisation is already based in or delivering services in Bristol (it already has an established presence in Bristol and the work your organisation does is for the benefit of Bristol people).
Your organisation is non-governmental.
Your organisation is constituted (it has a governing document – a set of rules - either constitution or a Memorandum and Articles of Association).
Your organisation has a set of objectives that allows it to undertake the activities you are proposing. (The constitution must allow your organisation to undertake the activities you are requesting funding for).
Your organisation is value driven, for the social good.
Your organisation is non-party political.
Your organisation has at least three trustees or directors or management committee members (who are not related to each other and are not paid shareholders).
Your organisation reinvests any financial surpluses to further objectives that bring a significant community benefit to Bristol.
Your organisation is ‘not for profit’: it does not distribute any of its surpluses or assets through share dividends to individuals or shareholders.
Your organisation has a bank account in its own name.
Cheques and other payments (of over £100) have to be authorised by two signatories who are not related and do not live together.
If you are unable to answer “Yes” to all the above statements, your organisation is unfortunately ineligible for a Community Asset Management Grant.
Objectives
Invited organisations can apply for a grant of up to £10,300 to contribute to one or more of the following:
Develop staff/volunteer skills which support and enable long term management and resilience of the community asset
Develop asset management plans through bringing in of external expertise
Build organisational capacity to develop asset management strategies and plan for the future
Dates
Applications will open from midday Wednesday 18th June until midnight Wednesday 30th July 2025.
How to apply
Organisations invited can apply here.