Community Asset Transfer Fund

Launch of the Community Asset Transfer Fund for Public and Third Sector Organisations in Wales


From 27th October the Big Lottery Fund and the Welsh Assembly Government have opened to applications a new funding programme, providing capital and revenue grants to support the transfer of assets from public sector organisations to community ownership.


Through Community Asset Transfer Fund (CAT), up to £13 million will be invested in communities, helping them transfer, develop, manage, and sustain assets, such as land or buildings, thereby improving neighbourhoods and people's livelihoods.  The primary aim of the programme is to help communities become stronger and more sustainable.


Grants will be awarded up to the value of £800,000, including a combination of both capital and revenue costs.  Revenue grants range from £50,000 to £300,000 and capital grants range from £250,000 to £500,000.


Assets transferred from public sector bodies will be passed to enterprising organisations that actively involve and benefit the communities they serve, for example, those working towards improving the services and/or facilities.  Applications must be from cross-sector partnerships containing third sector organisations.  They must include at least one third sector organisation and one public sector organisation.


The CAT programme will be delivered via three competitive funding rounds.  Round 1 will comprise a Fast-track round, which has been introduced to enable early investment in projects that are fully developed and ready to start work immediately.  It is anticipated that rounds 2 and 3 will be launched during 2010.


The deadline for receipt of Round 1 applications, by Expression of Interest, is 4 December 2009.