Neighbourhood Matched Fund
£30 Million is now available to fund community projects in some of the most deprived areas of the country. People will be encouraged to give time, expertise and resources towards the projects they identify in their areas. The government will match these pound for pound, helping to stimulate local action towards meeting community needs.
For a full list of eligible wards and their funding allocations, please download the current list of Community First Panels. This table has contact details and links to each panel’s website panel. If you can’t find the information you need on the website you can contact the panel via their email address.
If you are a panel member, visit our new Community First Panel Area for updates on the programme.
Community First Neighbourhood Matched Fund is an initiative that provides local communities with the means to address their own priorities:
- Communities set up local panels in each eligible ward, and decide upon projects for funding in their area.
- It is a matched fund programme, which means that every £1 provided in funding must be matched by a similar amount of in-kind donations (this means donations of cash, services, free products or volunteer time).
- Funding has been allocated at ward level across every local authority in England. Eligible wards were selected on the basis of high levels of deprivation and significant increases in benefits claimants. The amount of funding for each area is based on the concentration of these characteristics within a ward.
- Because funding is targeted, only certain electoral wards are eligible in each Local Authority. Use the Postcode Search (top right of this page) to find out if your area is eligible, or click here to see a map of the eligible areas by checking the Community First box once the link has opened.
For a full explanation of the selection process, please download the Community First NMF allocation rationale.
To apply for a Neighbourhood Matched Fund grant, please read this document: How to request funds from your local panel 2013.
An example of the type of form you may be required to fill out can be found here: Community First Funding Proposal Form.
Community First news and examples of projects being funded can be found on our Facebook page, and a list of projects funded to the end of February 2013 can be downloaded here.
Should you have any concerns or other feedback on Community First panels, or any other aspect of the programme please download our Compliments, Comments and Complaints policy below.