Apply Now: Active HPC Community Fund – Active Spaces (United Kingdom)

Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) offers the Active HPC Community Fund: Active Spaces to support community-owned and community-managed assets in places impacted by Hinkley Point C. The programme funds capital improvements, activity delivery, and organisational support, including a “Funder Plus” element to strengthen long-term resilience and sustainability. The application deadline is 5pm Wednesday 16 December 2026. In 2025, SCF worked with Thrive and the Centre for Thriving Places to analyse the needs of communities most affected by the development of Hinkley Point C. SCF says it is using the findings to reposition the HPC Community Fund so that funding reaches communities most affected by Hinkley Point C development and supports a lasting legacy. Active Spaces is designed to support community-led change rooted in local places. It focuses on community-owned buildings and assets—such as community centres, village halls, churches, parks, and other shared facilities people already use—with support intended to endure through and beyond the build. SCF states that funding can support the following: SCF does not specify in the source whether there is a single “maximum grant amount” for Active Spaces beyond the statement multi-year grants over £30,000. Cost-sharing requirements and restrictions are not specified in the source. SCF designed Active Spaces to specifically support community-owned and community-managed assets, including but not limited to: SCF also states it can only consider groups for a grant from this fund if they meet its minimum standards and need funding for an area impacted by Hinkley Point C. SCF says its minimum standards cover areas such as: SCF directs applicants to its Frequently Asked Questions page for the full minimum standards and advises checking eligibility before applying. SCF specifically notes that if your group is a Community Interest Company (CIC) or unincorporated, it is particularly important to check the minimum standards before applying. Further details are not specified in the source. The opportunity is for communities impacted by Hinkley Point C, but the source does not list specific eligible local authorities or postcodes. Not specified in the source. Based on SCF’s description, the programme prioritises projects that support community resilience and cohesion in areas affected by Hinkley Point C through: SCF also lists factors that make projects more likely to receive funding, including: These are described as factors SCF is “more likely” to fund; they are not stated as formal scoring criteria. Many community-owned facilities rely on stable income and safe, affordable access. SCF’s Active Spaces programme is structured to help communities affected by Hinkley Point C strengthen and modernise the assets people already use—covering both physical improvements (such as repairs, accessibility and energy efficiency) and community delivery (such as equipment, staff time, volunteer expenses and pilots). The programme also includes support intended to build capacity in ownership, governance and long-term sustainability. SCF references monitoring by the Socio-Economic Advisory Group (SEAG), which reports core indicators related to the building of Hinkley Point C, stating this data can be useful when applying. SCF states the next step is to complete an enquiry form: The source includes an “Apply Now” prompt but does not provide a direct URL to the enquiry form page. Not specified in the source. What type of organisations can apply for Active Spaces? SCF states the programme is for community-owned and community-managed assets such as community centres, village halls, churches, parks, and community-owned enterprises. Eligibility also depends on meeting SCF’s minimum standards. What can I apply funding for? Funding can support capital works (repairs, improvements, accessibility, energy efficiency), activity delivery (equipment, staff time, volunteer expenses, pilot projects), and a Funder Plus element covering support on ownership, governance, planning, project management and long-term sustainability. Is the fund open year-round? SCF states the fund is open all year round, with four deadlines during the year. The source only provides one deadline date/time: 5pm Wednesday 16 December 2026. How much funding is available? SCF states it has around £350,000 to give out from the fund this year (across its programmes). It also states it typically supports 2 out of every 3 applications across programmes. The Active Spaces grant size is described as multi-year grants over £30,000. When will decisions be made? SCF says decisions are made every 3 months, with the next decision early February 2027. What happens after I submit my enquiry form? SCF says your enquiry will be reviewed by the HPC Community Fund Programmes Manager, who will contact you to discuss your project and the application process. SCF also indicates that applicants may meet with a team member before the application is presented to the HPC Community Fund Panel. Who makes the final funding decisions? SCF states a panel makes the final decision. The panel includes people from Somerset Community Foundation, Somerset Council, and EDF, as well as independent community members. If your group operates a community-owned asset in a community impacted by Hinkley Point C, review SCF’s minimum standards and the programme details on the official Active Spaces page. Then follow SCF’s stated process to submit the enquiry form and prepare for follow-up discussions as described in the opportunity guidance.