Local Community Ownership Fund

Capital funding for social enterprises, voluntary and community organisations to secure and maintain local assets

The Local Community Ownership Fund (LCOF) is a £1.5 million Belfast City Council initiative that supports the transformation of local places through community ownership. The fund focuses on strengthening community wealth, building organisational capacity and securing assets for sustainable community use.

Who can apply

The fund is open to organisations that are formally constituted and community-focused. Eligible applicants include:

• not-for-profit companies limited by guarantee
• social enterprises
• voluntary or community groups
• community interest companies

What the fund supports

The fund supports capital projects that:

• enable the acquisition of community assets or derelict sites for viable and sustainable community use
• reduce the risk of community assets being lost from local areas
• support community groups to relocate to more suitable premises within the same area
• strengthen local ownership of assets
• improve the social and community infrastructure needed for local areas to thrive

Projects eligible for funding

Funding is available for the acquisition of buildings or sites that will be developed for community use, including:

• community and cultural venues such as centres, theatres, galleries and museums
• public amenities such as parks, post offices, shops and sporting facilities
• vacant or derelict sites brought back into active community use

Expressions of interest close at midday on Wednesday 17 June 2026.

Find out more about Local Community Ownership Fund.

First published 21 May 2026