UKSPF Communities & Place Pillar

Overview

The UK government has set out an ambitious plan for change, focused on 5 national Missions: ambitious, measurable, long-term objectives that provide a driving sense of purpose for the country. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) proactively supports Mission-delivery: pushing power out to communities everywhere, with a focus to kickstart economic growth and promoting opportunities in all parts of the UK. For more information, please visit the UKSPF website.

Communities & Place Pillar

As part of Birmingham City Council’s allocation, funding from the Communities and Place pillar will support a diverse range of programmes aimed at strengthening local communities, enhancing public spaces, and driving inclusive economic growth across the city. Around £4m will be invested across the city through a dynamic programme of funding, with key areas of focus covering:

1. Sport and Participation Investment
   Supporting initiatives that encourage active lifestyles and increase access to sport and physical activity.
2. Local Centre Development
   Investing in local partnerships and places to help build sustainable, community-led social enterprises and improve local services and facilities.
3. Night-Time Economy Support
   Providing grants to improve resilience of evening and night-time businesses.
4. Talent, Skills, and Industry Growth
   Empowering local talent and creative industries through training, career development, and sector support.
5. Vibrant & Active City Programme
   Investing in our city’s cultural life — including music, film and tourism projects — to create opportunities and bring people together.

Below you’ll find information on the available funding opportunities and programmes supported by Birmingham City Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) – Communities and Place Pillar for 2025/2026.

For more information about our work in year three please visit our webpage UKSPF Communities and Place Year 3 Summary (2024–2025)

Local Centre Development Programme
£540,000 Revenue | £200,000 Capital 

We’re launching the Local Centre Development Programme (LCDP) to support the growth of strong, sustainable community organisations across Birmingham. This initiative is designed to empower local groups—civil society organisations, social enterprises, and community-led businesses—to deliver services in and for their neighbourhoods, reducing reliance on short-term grant funding.

What’s on Offer:

• Revenue Funding (£540,000):
  Support for up to 18 local delivery groups to strengthen their operations, build partnerships, and deliver impactful community services.
• Capital Funding (£200,000):
  Participating groups will also be able to apply for capital investment to support projects that enhance their long-term sustainability—such as facility upgrades, equipment, or space development.

Applications close on the 22^nd August 2025. Click here for more info.
 

We’re inviting projects to bid into a £500k fund to bring underused or vacant spaces and assets back into productive community use across Birmingham’s local centres.

The Place Infrastructure Fund is part of our Local Centres Development Programme and is designed to support projects that breathe new life into high streets, neighbourhoods and shared spaces.

What’s on Offer:

• A competitive, city-wide invitation for community organisations, social enterprises, and local partnerships to propose capital projects that transform local spaces and buildings.

Applications close on the 29th August 2025. Click here for more info and to apply.
 

Investing in Birmingham’s Night-Time Economy
£200,000 Revenue

We’re launching a new funding programme to support the growth and sustainability of Birmingham’s evening and night-time economy—from hospitality and entertainment to creative and cultural enterprises.

With £200,000 in revenue funding, this initiative is part of our broader business and enterprise strategy. It’s designed to help start-ups, scale-ups, and businesses looking to diversify within the night-time sector.

Applications open soon.
 

Vibrant & Active City – Enhancing Cultural Spaces
£100,000 Capital

This fund is aimed at improving the sustainability and revenue generation of local cultural spaces by supporting projects to refurbish, enhance or develop cultural spaces for impact and benefit to the cultural sector and the people it engages beyond March 2026.

For this grant, a cultural space is any physical place where creativity comes to life; where people gather with professional artists (or creative practitioners) to make art, share ideas, and celebrate creativity. These spaces can be studios, galleries, theatres or anywhere that is dedicated to supporting artistic and creative expression.

Applications close 1^st September 2025. Click on the link below to find out more and to apply www.birmingham.gov.uk/artsfunding
 

Vibrant & Active City – Music Infrastructure Fund
£100,000 Capital

We’re investing in Birmingham’s music infrastructure. Through this small grants fund we want to support projects that will refurbish, enhance or develop spaces for music creators, music performers and music audiences for long-term impact and benefit.

For the purposes of this grant, a 'music space' refers to a physical location that supports music-making, sharing, and preservation. This could include places where people gather to rehearse, perform, teach, or celebrate music. This can include venues which are primarily for music events but have other uses.

Applications close 1^st September 2025. Click on the link below to find out more and to apply www.birmingham.gov.uk/artsfunding
 

Vibrant & Active City – Music Development Fund
£20,000 Revenue

We’re supporting the development of grassroots music across Birmingham, including developing the producers, promoters and musicians that make it so unique. With £20,000 in funding, this small grants programme is designed to nurture new musical talent, and support the development of future producers and promoters.

Applications close 1^st September 2025. Click on the link below to find out more and to apply www.birmingham.gov.uk/artsfunding
 

Vibrant & Active City – Tourism Investment Programme / Events Development Fund
£180,000 Capital

We’re investing in Birmingham’s visitor economy to make the city more welcoming, vibrant, and memorable for residents and tourists alike. With £180,000 in funding, this programme supports infrastructure upgrades, new visitor experiences, and strategic marketing to grow Birmingham’s reputation as a top UK destination.

Applications close on the 1^st September 2025. Click on the links below for more info and to apply.

Tourism Capital Grants

Tourism Event Development Grants Fund

What else we’re doing
 

Investment in Sports and Participation

We’re investing in programmes to boost sports participation and improve facilities across Birmingham. With over £950k in capital funding, this initiative supports our ambition to create a more active, healthier city for everyone.

This fund will support both Council-owned assets and external organisations through a mix of direct investment and targeted grant opportunities. We’re also aligning with other funding streams wherever possible to maximise impact.

Details on projects will be available shortly.
 

Talent, Skills & Industry Development Programme
£200,000 Revenue

We’re investing in the future of Birmingham’s events and hospitality workforce to deliver tangible and sustainable impact linked to the city’s hosting of mega sports such as the European Athletics Championships in 2026 and UEFA EURO2028. These initiatives are designed to equip local people with the skills needed to work within the mega & major events world, as well as thrive in the creative, cultural, and hospitality sectors.

Details on this programme will be released shortly.
 

Community Enterprise Support and Impact Coalition

As part of Birmingham City Council’s allocation under the Supporting Local Business pillar, funding is being used to deliver two programmes led by the East Birmingham Programme Team: Community Enterprise Support and Impact Coalition.

You do not need to be based in East Birmingham to apply. These opportunities are open to all Birmingham-based organisations with a strong track record of supporting community enterprises.

Community Enterprise Support Programme

The Community Enterprise Support Programme aims to strengthen Birmingham’s Impact Economy by supporting community enterprises to become:

• More resilient
• Financially sustainable
• Better connected

This initiative is part of Birmingham’s broader strategy to foster inclusive economic growth, especially in disadvantaged communities. Through diagnostics, tailored advice, and specialist support, the programme equips SMEs, community businesses, and social enterprises with the tools to:

• Grow sustainably
• Access finance
• Contribute to long-term economic resilience

Opportunities for Local Community Enterprise Hubs

As part of the programme, there are two key opportunities for Local Community Enterprise Hubs to engage with:

1. Tailored Business Support for Local Community Enterprise Hubs

Timeline: September 2025 – March 2026

Local Community Enterprise Hubs across Birmingham can access tailored business support focused on:

• Business growth
• Trading potential
• Asset management
• Social finance
• Long-term sustainability

Interested? Contact: EastBhaminfo@birmingham.gov.uk

2. UKSPF Local Community Enterprise Hub Fund

Grants of up to £25,000 are available for Local Community Enterprise Hubs to deliver tailored business support to at least 7 community enterprises in their neighbourhoods between September 2025 and March 2026. The deadline for Expression of Interest is 5:00 PM on Monday 8 September 2025.

Support will focus on:

• Business growth
• Trading potential
• Access to assets to maximise income
• Access to social finance

To request an Expression of Interest Form contact EastBhaminfo@birmingham.gov.uk

Impact Coalition

Registrations are now open for the Impact Coalition call, available to Birmingham-based Socially Trading Organisations (STOs). This programme aims to grow your income from trading, and support asset acquisition primarily through increased access to social finance. It is hoped that as a result of this support, participants will benefit from:

• Increased economic resilience
• Strengthened business plans
• Grow income from trading
• Reduced grant dependency

The programme offers:

• Business development support
• Access to gap funding
• Opportunities to leverage further social investment

What are Socially Trading Organisations?

STOs are businesses with a social mission that trade commercially and collaborate to create positive community impact. They include:

• Community businesses
• Community land trusts
• Community interest companies
• Social enterprises
• Cooperatives
• Mission-driven companies
• Family businesses
• Local ventures with a social purpose

Planning to acquire or renovate a building? This programme could support your goals and help diversify your income streams.

Interested in enrolling? Contact: EastBhaminfo@birmingham.gov.uk