Brentwood groups that run a community building can apply for repair and refurbishment grants of £1,000 to £50,000 until 31 December 2026. Updated November 2026.

Community groups that look after a hall, centre or clubhouse in Brentwood borough can apply for council grants of between £1,000 and £50,000 to repair or improve the building, with applications closing on 31 December 2026.

Brentwood Borough Council announced the Community Facility Support Fund on 9 November. It pays for work on the building itself rather than for the activities inside it, which the council says is a new departure (Brentwood Borough Council, funding page).

Councillor Dr Tim Barrett, Chair of the council’s Housing, Health and Community Committee, said: “Traditionally grant funding supports the project, not the building it is delivered in. Community buildings play an important role in bringing people together and supporting a wide range of local projects and services. And that’s why we wanted to introduce something new to help.”

He added: “The Community Facility Support Fund provides an opportunity for organisations to invest in their facilities, helping ensure these valued spaces remain welcoming, accessible and fit for the future. We encourage eligible organisations to explore the funding available and submit an application before the deadline.”

How much is on offer

There are two pots, set out in the council’s guidance notes (PDF, October 2026):

  • Small grants, £1,000 to £10,000, for minor repairs, surveys, accessibility improvements, fixtures, fittings and small-scale improvements. Match funding is not normally required but is encouraged.
  • Large grants, £10,001 to £50,000, for significant repairs, refurbishment, building safety work, energy efficiency and larger upgrades. The council recommends the group puts in at least 20% of the cost, unless that is waived for hardship, urgency or exceptional community benefit.

The council has not said how much money is in the fund overall. Its guidance says awards depend on the available budget, and that where demand outstrips it, the council may part-fund bids or put urgent health and safety, accessibility or asset protection work first.

Who can apply

Applications are open to constituted voluntary, community, charitable, social enterprise and not-for-profit organisations that own or lease a community building and are responsible for repairing it. The building must be used for community benefit and be open to a range of residents, groups or services.

Leaseholders should normally have at least seven years left on the lease when they apply, or show in writing that a renewal is under way. Any award needs the landlord’s consent, whether the landlord is the council or anyone else.

The work has to happen in the borough, between 1 February 2027 and 1 February 2028.

Single-storey brick building with white-panelled upper windows and a noticeboard beside the entrance, with a car parked in front
Bishop's Hall Park Community Centre in Brentwood. Photo: Bishop's Hall Park Community Centre by Trevor Harris (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia

What the money can pay for

The guidance lists:

  • repairs to roofs, floors, windows, doors, heating, electrics, plumbing, drainage or the structure
  • restoration after water ingress, weather damage or wear
  • health and safety, fire safety, security and compliance work
  • accessibility work such as ramps, accessible toilets, handrails, lighting and signs
  • refurbished kitchens, toilets, storage, halls and meeting rooms
  • insulation, efficient heating, ventilation, LED lighting and solar panels
  • professional fees tied to the work, including surveys, design and planning or building control fees

It will not pay for running costs, staff, utilities, rent or insurance, for work already finished, or for spaces kept for private members, religious worship or political activity. Furniture and other movable equipment are out unless they are part of an approved building project.

How bids will be judged

A panel of council and outside representatives will score every bid against a published scoring matrix (PDF). Community benefit carries the most weight.

Bar chart of how Brentwood will weight Community Facility Support Fund bids: community benefit 30%, need and urgency 20%, deliverability 20%, value for money 15%, sustainability and inclusion 15%.
The weighting of each scoring criterion. Chart by Brentwood Online
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  • Community benefit, 30%: how many people use the building, public access, support for vulnerable groups and evidence of demand.
  • Need and urgency, 20%: the building’s condition, safety risks, deterioration and the risk of closure.
  • Deliverability, 20%: landlord consent, the lease, quotes, permissions and a project plan.
  • Value for money, 15%: whether the costs are reasonable, and any match funding or reserves.
  • Sustainability and inclusion, 15%: environmental gains, accessibility and lower running costs.

The council says decisions will go to a committee in December 2026, with the date to be posted on its funding page.

What it means for you

If you sit on the committee of a village hall, scout hut, sports pavilion or community centre in Brentwood, Shenfield, Ingatestone or the villages, this is money for the building jobs that general grants rarely cover.

The application needs more than a form. The guidance asks for a copy of the lease, landlord consent (or proof it has been requested), the group’s constitution, the latest accounts or a bank statement, evidence of community use such as booking records, and at least two written quotes for any work over £5,000. A completed budget template and community benefit assessment form are mandatory.

Successful groups must finish the work within 12 months of the offer and send invoices, photographs and a short impact statement. The council can claw the money back if the building stops being used for the community.

Apply through the council’s Community Facility Support Fund application form. Questions go to funding@brentwood.rochford.gov.uk.