An exciting opportunity to pilot innovative new approaches and help shape the future of our communities…
Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) is now seeking bids from local organisations to deliver activity as part of the UK Community Renewal Fund (CRF). You can find out more about the CRF, its key priorities and how to submit a bid below…
What is the UK Community Renewal Fund?
As part of its levelling-up agenda, the UK Government is providing £220m in funding in 2021/22 through the UK Community Renewal Fund. This will help local areas prepare for the introduction of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which will replace EU Structural Funds in 2022.
The fund will support local areas to pilot innovative new approaches and programmes which:
Key points to note:
The Role of Tees Valley Combined Authority
The UK Government has designated Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) as the Lead Authority for the Tees Valley (Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees).
TVCA will be responsible for inviting, receiving and selecting bids that will be submitted to Government for consideration. TVCA will also be responsible for paying grants to successful projects and managing their performance.
What type of activity will the CRF support?
Projects must deliver activity that is line with the UK Community Renewal Fund Prospectus and align with at least one of these investment priorities:
Local Priorities for the Tees Valley
In selecting the bids that will be forwarded to the UK Government for consideration TVCA will prioritise those that have the greatest potential to deliver against key local growth priorities.
You can find detailed information on our local priorities set out in the ‘Invitation to Submit Project Bids’ call document – download available below.
Key Dates and Deadlines
| Call Opens | 14 April 2021 |
| Call Closes* | 12 Noon 14 May 2021 |
| TVCA assessment of bids | Mid-May to early June |
| Applicants notified | Early June |
| TVCA submits shortlisted bids to Government | 12 Noon 18 June 2021 |
| Bids assessed by Government and announcements | Expected late July/early August 2021 |
| TVCA contracts with successful projects | Expected late July/early August |
| Project activity ends and financial completion | 31 March 2022 |
Important Downloads and Supporting Documents
The ‘UK Community Renewal Fund: Invitation to Submit Project Bids’ call document for the Tees Valley can be downloaded here – please read this carefully before starting work on a bid.
Please also read the national UK Community Renewal Fund Prospectus, the UK Community Fund Technical Note for Project Applicants and Deliverers and the UK Government Assessment Criteria available here on the GOV.UK website.
You can read our privacy policy here. Please refer to Appendix 1 for the ‘UK Community Renewal Fund: Tees Valley Combined Authority Privacy Notice’.
If you have a potential project idea we would strongly encourage you to contact TVCA for an initial discussion. Please contact support@teesvalley-ca.gov.uk and a member of the team will be in touch as soon as possible.
Submitting a Bid
Bids must be submitted using the UK Community Renewal Fund Application Form, which is available here. Bids submitted in any other format will not be accepted.
Bids must be submitted to TVCA using this email address: Support@teesvalley-ca.gov.uk by 12 noon on Friday 14 May 2021.