Community groups and voluntary organisations across the borough are being encouraged to apply for funding to improve their facilities, thanks to grants from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Following two successful years, the council has re-opened its Community Infrastructure Fund with a £700,000 pot available to organisations to apply for grants to improve current facilities making them more accessible to users, increase income and reduce costs, or make environmental improvements.

Grants of between £5,000 and £75,000 are available to successful applicants through the two-stage process. The deadline for the first stage of applications is 5pm on Friday 18 July 2025.

The scheme is designed to enable existing facilities to better meet the needs of their communities now and in the future, rather than funding new building projects. Any potential applicants are encouraged to attend an information session or arrange a one-to-one chat before applying to see if their proposal fits the scheme criteria.

Since the grant scheme launched, 29 projects have benefited from over £700,000 in grants. Completed projects have included upgrades to toilets, kitchens and lighting, new doors, flooring, solar panels and the creation of two new community cafés.

Cabinet Member for Communities, Partnerships and Inclusion Cllr John McKay said: “By helping to improve our community buildings we are supporting better access to these important local facilities to help valuable services keep running and increase opportunities for new activities to take place. We are also helping to make existing buildings more sustainable and efficient in support of the borough’s carbon cutting targets.

“This year we’ve increased the funding pot available to £700,000 and I encourage organisations to get in touch to talk through how this money could bring vital improvements to their community facility.”

More information about the fund criteria and application process is available on the council’s website at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/infrastructureFund or by contacting cif@basingstoke.gov.uk