Round two of VOLA’s UK Share Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Digital Connectivity for Community Facilities Grants Programme is now open for applications of between 2,500 and £10,000.
The purpose of the grants programme is to support local voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector organisations with the creation of new, and improvement of existing community facilities where people can go to access computers and get online. This includes funding and support to:
- Target neighbourhoods where there is currently a lack of community-based digital facilities to help local, VCFSE organisations to set up new computer drop-in facilities;
- Upgrade outdated and poor quality digital kit and/or improve broadband connectivity in community facilities, where current equipment &/or connections can be evidenced as being poor; and
- Increase capacity, by providing funding to purchase more digital devices, where current facilities are insufficient to meet demand.
The Digital Connectivity for Community Facilities Grants Programme is funded through the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as the local Lead Authority,
The application deadline is 5pm, Monday 17 July 2023.
All documents relating to the application process are available on VOLA’s website.
Cllr Jayne Aston, Knowsley Council Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “Our VCFSE sector organisations play a huge role in supporting our communities with digital connectivity and this grants programme is a fantastic opportunity for organisations to access support to create new or improve existing facilities.
“The cost-of-living crisis means that funding programmes are hugely valuable and can have transformational impact for organisations and our communities. I would urge Knowsley organisations to submit applications where applicable.”