community renewal fund webinar slides

Information Classification: CONTROLLED

Community Renewal Fund

2021/2022Information for potential applicants

19th April 2021


Webinar Objectives

• Highlight Government’s objectives and requirements for the Fund

• Outline the approach being taken by Cornwall Council

• Discuss the 2 themes of the Programme and discuss potential priorities and activities

• Explain the timetable and practical steps for bidders

• Provide opportunity for questions and to hear views on opportunities for the Fund

• Encourage interest !


Introduction to CRF

UK Government announced £220 million investment in the UK Community Renewal Fund (UKCRF) in its budget on 3 March 2021.

• Supporting people and communities most in need across the UK• Creating opportunities to trial new localised approaches and innovative ideas• Funding only available for the current financial year• Intended to pave the way for the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, due to launch next year.• Government guidance: Lead Authorities should invite project proposals from a range of local

applicants. • Cornwall Council, as the Lead Authority for CIOS, is now inviting project bids in line with two

themes:

• £3M available for Cornwall & Isles of Scilly, with a minimum individual project value of circa £500K.

• 90% of funding is revenue and 10% capital. • Funding will be allocated competitively by MHCLG

Town Centre and Rural and Coastal Vitality Reducing the Digital Divide


What this means for CIOS

• Open call launched on 6th April• Call closes on the 7th May at midnight. Applications to [email protected]• Project activity must align with the UK Community Renewal Fund Prospectus and at least one of

these 4 national investment priorities:

• Cornwall Council invites applications focusing on 2 local priorities; whilst delivering outcomes against the national investment priorities.

• Where possible, larger projects circa £500K • All project activity to be completed by 31st March 2022.

• Our aims are to:- Avoid duplication with existing projects or programmes. - Seek opportunities to fill gaps, address challenges from Covid-19, pilot new approaches. - Encourage collaborative bids

Investment in skills Investment for local business

Investment in communities and place Supporting people into employment

Town centre, rural and coastal vitality Reducing the digital divide

mailto:[email protected]


National Priorities & Government Examples Investment in skills

Work-based training

Retraining, upskilling or reskilling of the workforce

Promoting the advancement of digital skills & inclusion

Investment for local business

Supporting entrepreneurs & helping businesses to create more job opportunities for employees or take on new employees

Encouraging businesses to develop their innovation potential

Supporting de-carbonisation measures

Investment in communities and place

Feasibility studies for delivering net-zero & local energy projects

Exploring opportunity for promoting culture-led regeneration & community development

Improving green spaces & preserving important local assets

Promoting rural connectivity

Supporting people into employment

Supporting peoples’ engagement with local services, supporting their journey to employment

Identifying & addressing barriers individuals may face in gaining employment or moving closer to the labour market

Raising aspirations, supporting individuals to access employment support, jobs and find sustainable employment

Supporting people to gain the basic skills they need to develop their potential for sustainable work


Local Priority: Town Centre, Rural & Coastal Vitality

Innovation in tackling town centre decline. Reinvigorating high streets, creating opportunities and tackling deprivation in Cornwall’s rural and coastal areas. Meeting the needs of a locally driven green and digital economy

Types of activities may include but not limited to:• Innovation and Pipeline• Feasibility • Place shaping


Local Priority: Reducing the Digital DivideWe will be looking for innovative solutions to help address the challenges of digital exclusion, data poverty and connectivity. Solutions which maximise the opportunities presented through digital approaches to business diversification and transformation, employment and skills and careers and enterprise outcomes.

Types of activities may include but not limited to:• Hubs• Action Plans• Kit• Connectivity• Business Vouchers• Training • Enterprise, careers and skills


Application & Appraisal ProcessCornwall Council’s role as lead authority❑ Invite bids from a range of project applicants – please refer to our bid invitation document on our CRF

webpage.❑ Appraise and prioritise bids up to our maximum fund value of £3M.❑ Undertake due diligence checks. ❑ Submit our project shortlist to Government, who then selects projects based on published assessment

criteria.❑ Award contracts to successful applicants, manage payments and monitor contract performance.

Bidding:Bids must be submitted using the application form on our website and must be submitted to [email protected]

Bids must be received by midnight on Friday 7th May 2021

The government prospectus, guidance, assessment criteria and application form can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-community-renewal-fund-prospectus.

The UK Community Renewal Fund is a competitive process. Cornwall Council’s bid assessment team and the UK Government will not be able to enter into discussions with bidders, other than to seek clarifications or undertake any due diligence.


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-community-renewal-fund-prospectus


Eligibility under CRF• Legally constituted organisations can receive funding to deliver an approved project.

(May include local authorities, public sector organisations, higher and further education institutions, private sector companies and registered charities.)

• Private enterprises and charities can apply where they are providing a service to benefit other organisations or individuals

• Projects that focus predominantly on the construction or major refurbishment of buildings, the purchase of land or the purchase of large pieces of equipment will notbe supported

• Projects may be delivered by a consortium but there must be a lead applicant

• Geographic Coverage - projects should benefit Cornwall as a whole, or where required and led by local evidence, projects can name specific towns or villages

! Please check eligibility against the published prospectuses !


Application Support

Cornwall Council has asked Cornwall Development Company (CDC) to provide independent support to prospective Community Renewal Fund applicants.

Support could include:• Advice on application forms

and processes. • Provision of assistance to

applicants wanting to find other partners to collaborate with.

Contact:Gareth Beer, Head of Development at CDC

[email protected]



How Cornwall Council will assess bids

We will assess bids against:1. The gateway criteria set out in the UK Community Renewal Fund Prospectus – bids

that fail to meet these criteria are ineligible for support and will be rejected2. The extent to which they meet the objectives of UK Community Renewal Fund3. The extent to which bids would support the delivery of the two local priorities

4. Assessment weightings: national and local strategic fit, deliverability, effectiveness and equality and diversity.

• For further information on bid assessment visit the Cornwall Council Community Renewal Fund webpage Community Renewal https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/business-trading-and-licences/economic-development/community-renewal-fund/ - Cornwall Council

• Following assessment, Cornwall Council will submit an application that includes those eligible bids which most strongly meet the UK Community Renewal Fund and local priorities to the UK Government for consideration, up to a maximum of £3M. 18th June.

Town centre, rural and coastal vitality Reducing the digital divide

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/business-trading-and-licences/economic-development/community-renewal-fund/


Key Dates 2021/22

6th April Open Call Published

19th April Webinar for Interested Applicants

7th May Application Deadline

18th June Council Submission to Government

End July Successful projects confirmed

31st March Project delivery end date


Funding & Contracting Approved Projects

• August/September 2021 - Cornwall Council contracts with approved projects

• Cornwall Council will issue Funding Agreements to successful projects. FA’s will cover:

• Payment schedules• Performance Reporting• Financial Reporting• Outcomes and Measures• Branding and publicity• Roles and responsibilities• Risk

• August/September 2021 - Projects commence• November/December 2021 - Mid point delivery review• 15 March 2021 - Practical completion for all projects


Any Questions?


Visit our Community Renewal Fund webpagehttps://www.cornwall.gov.uk/business-trading-and-licences/economic-development/community-renewal-fund/

Email us [email protected]

For application support contact:Gareth Beer, Head of Development at CDC [email protected]

Other Funding – please stay in touch for other funding opportunities.

Further Information or Support

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/business-trading-and-licences/economic-development/community-renewal-fund/




Thank you / Meur ras

If you have any questions or comments

[email protected]

community renewal fund webinar slides

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