Community organisations are to receive up to £3.5 million helping them to purchase and refurbish existing properties for the benefit of their local communities, Local Government Minister Barbara Follett announced yesterday.

The projects from Exeter, Sheffield, Leominster and Newbiggin in Cumbria will share part of the Government's Communitybuilders £70 million fund - set up by Communities and Local Government and the Office of the Third Sector.

Among today's successful projects are:

    * Exeter Community Centre Trust (ECCT) will receive £1.26 million so they can create a community centre providing health and well-being services to the residents of St David's ward.
    * Sheffield-based Burton Street Foundation provides educational services for adults with learning disabilities as well as supporting a range of community engagement and social enterprise activities. It will receive £1.12 million that will help with the refurbishment and redevelopment of their existing buildings, bringing more space and creating improved community areas.
    * Herefordshire-based Leominster Regeneration Company (LARC) will receive £1.03 million to take over and refurbish Grange Court so it can be used by third sector housing organisations and the community.

    * A £50,000 investment will be provided to Newbiggin Village Hall in Cumbria. The charitable trust aims to rebuild the village hall and provide facilities to support retail and arts activities for the village and surrounding hamlets.

Minister for Local Government Barbara Follett said:

    "We want to make sure that more local people can put unused buildings in their areas to work for communities. This funding will help local organisations provide hubs for community life - ensuring that the services and activities so essential to residents are under one roof."

Since the fund opened in September 2009 nearly 110 organisations have received a total of £1 million to develop their ideas. Among the successful projects is money for two feasibility studies in Yorkshire - a refurbishment for Hebden Bridge town hall into a new community hub and workshops for new businesses in Whitley Bay.

Minister for the Third Sector Angela Smith said:

    "I am really pleased to see such a wide range of projects receiving funding. These investments provide a significant boost to the long-term stability of neighbourhood-based community organisations. They enable organisations to deliver more and better services to their local community and plan for the future."

The Communitybuilders fund is managed - on behalf of the government - by Adventure Capital Fund. Caroline Forster, ACF's director said:

    "These first Communitybuilders main investments show what potential there is for local communities to lead the way in regenerating their neighbourhood for the benefit of future generations."