The Community-Led Infrastructure Fund (CLIF) by Wealden District Council is a capital grant programme designed to support community-led projects that address local needs and align with the Council Strategy. It is funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy and the Climate Emergency Reserve, with a budget of £2 million allocated for grants ranging from £5,000 to £200,000. The programme prioritises projects that deliver long-lasting benefits to community spaces, infrastructure, and facilities, operating on a rolling basis over three years starting in September 2025
Programme Outcomes and Priorities
The fund aims to contribute to key Council Strategy goals across three main areas:
- Community Resilience & Wellbeing: Supporting initiatives that build community resilience, promote mental and physical health, foster social connection, and prioritize equality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Climate Change and Environment: Advancing the district’s carbon neutrality, protecting biodiversity, and enhancing sustainable transport options such as walking, cycling, and electric vehicle infrastructure.
- Local Economy: Supporting local retail vitality with emphasis on culture and sustainability.
Eligible Uses for Capital Grants
CLIF is strictly a capital fund, requiring grants to be spent on assets that create or improve physical spaces or infrastructure. Projects requesting £50,000 or less must deliver benefits for at least five years, while those exceeding this amount must ensure benefits last a minimum of ten years
Eligible project categories include:
- Multi-purpose Community Buildings: Construction, renovation, and enhanced fit-outs such as broadband installation, accessibility improvements, and enhanced internal layouts to support diverse community activities
- Cultural Infrastructure: Capital investment in venues and outdoor spaces for arts, heritage, and creative activities, including temporary staging and community-accessible school theatres
- Greening the District: Enhancements to recreation grounds, nature reserves, trails, community gardens, and implementation of nature-based climate resilience solutions like rain gardens and pollinator plantings
- Sustainable and Warm Community Spaces: Net zero infrastructure projects such as low carbon heating, insulation, LED lighting, PV panels, and EV charging points, excluding ‘like for like’ replacements
- Sports, Leisure, and Recreational Infrastructure: Facilities outside the scope of the Sports Infrastructure Fund, including skateparks, multi-use games areas, BMX tracks, and outdoor play spaces
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be not-for-profit entities such as charities, constituted community groups, parish or town councils, community interest companies, sports clubs, schools (with community benefit), and cultural organisations active in Wealden within the last 24 months.
The project site must be within Wealden District, and applicants must demonstrate ownership or secure leases of appropriate duration (minimum five years for projects under £50,000 and ten years for larger projects).
Planning permission and building control approvals should be obtained prior to application, with relevant documentation submitted.
Funding and Match Requirements
Grants cover up to 80% of project costs, requiring applicants to provide at least 20% match funding from non-Wealden District Council sources. Match funding must be secured at the time of application to reduce delivery risks.
Application and Monitoring Requirements
Applicants must submit a completed application form with supporting documents including constitution, bank statements, annual accounts, insurance certificates, land ownership or lease evidence, planning permissions, and at least three quotes for equipment or services.
Successful projects will be required to collect baseline and post-project data aligned with Council Strategy aims, with monitoring and evaluation included in the Grant Funding Agreement. Failure to provide satisfactory evidence may result in grant repayment.
Publicity and Equality Commitments
Grant recipients are expected to collaborate with the Council on publicity at key project stages and install a plaque acknowledging funding. Projects must promote equality, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring accessibility and support for disadvantaged groups in line with the Council’s EDI framework.
Restrictions and Ineligible Criteria
The fund excludes retrospective work, projects outside Wealden, private gain activities, routine maintenance, staff salaries, purchase of land or buildings, political or religious promotion, and items benefiting individuals only. ‘Like for like’ replacements and projects with duplicate funding sources are also ineligible.
How does my organisation apply?
You should read and digest the contents of the guidance note. This guidance note sets out the eligibility criteria to access the fund and details of the information which needs to accompany the application for the CLIF grant.
Once you have read the above guidance and are clear you meet the relevant criteria, you can commence your grant application.
A word version of the application can be downloaded here.
Contact Information
Applicants can reach the CLIF Grant Funding Coordinator at CLIF@wealden.gov.uk or via phone at 01323 443322 for assistance and queries.
Information on Community Grant Funding – Wealden District Council