National Highways have announced that they are launching a £2 million initiative to support communities around the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements scheme in order to leave a positive legacy for local communities, the environment, and the local economy. The two funds available are the Community Fund and the Social Value Fund. For both funds, the applications will be assessed and awarded by two independent panels. This is the first of five funding windows and is open to application until 1 February 2024.
The £250,000 Community Fund is available for not-for-profit groups or small voluntary and community organisations, with grants of up to £15,000 being available to help support the local community.
Available for all not-for-profit organisations, the Social Value Fund of £1.7 million (with grants between £15,000 and £200,000) is designed to maximise the wider benefits of the scheme.
You can apply for the grants if you're a not-for-profit group including schools, charities, community groups, and environment and heritage groups.
The Community Fund
- available exclusively to local community groups and not-for-profit organisations across Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire near the A428 scheme
- providing small-scale investment (up to £15,000) for community initiatives
- to be administered by Cambridgeshire Community Foundation (CCF) with 5 different submission rounds.
The Social Value Fund
- available for not-for-profit organisations e.g. local authorities and schools
- supporting development of initial ideas and concepts, match-fund initiatives and deliver medium-scale investment (from £15,000 to £200,000) to community assets
- to be managed by National Highways with 5 different submission rounds
To find out more about these funds then please head over to the National Highways website here.
The first round of applications is now open.
