Local (parish and town) councils across England were successful bidders for the Community Ownership Fund.
Blandford Forum Town Council (Dorset), Chaddesley Corbett Parish Council (Worcestershire), Chinley, Buxworth & Brownside Parish Council (Derbyshire), Godalming Town Council (Surrey), Kimpton Parish Council (Hertfordshire), Knutsford Town Council (Cheshire), Leybourne Parish Council (Kent) and Over Wallop Parish Council (Hampshire) were all successful bidders for the Community Ownership Fund. They join 195 projects across the UK, sharing £49m so far.
The fund, which the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) lobbied successfully to allow local councils to apply, helps local community groups protect local assets at risk of being lost through community ownership, such as sports facilities, arts and music venues, museums and galleries, parks, pubs, post offices, and shops.
The next round of funding opened on 30 August 2023 and will close on 11 October 2023 — find out how to apply.