Owton Manor organisations invited to lead £2.55m community fund

Owton Manor has been selected for £2.55 million of long-term community funding, with non-profit organisations invited to apply from 13 January 2027 to take the lead locally.

The money is due to be spent across the Hartlepool neighbourhood over ten years through the Community Wealth Fund. The programme is intended to give residents a direct role in deciding what their area needs, rather than arriving with a fixed list of projects.

How the £2.55 million is divided

Of the total allocation, £1.5 million is reserved for community spending. A further £1.05 million will go to the organisation chosen to represent Owton Manor, supporting its work with residents and covering the operational costs of running the programme over the decade.

Owton Manor is one of 60 English areas included in the £175 million national fund. Half of that national pot comes from the Dormant Assets Scheme, which redirects money from financial assets that cannot be reunited with their owners. The National Lottery Community Fund is providing the other £87.5 million and will manage delivery of the programme.

Hartlepool Borough Council said the investment would build on existing work in Owton Manor through the Government's Pride in Place programme. It plans to work with residents, community groups and local organisations as the fund develops.

Who can put themselves forward

The first step is not an application for an individual project. The National Lottery Community Fund is looking for one non-profit organisation to act for Owton Manor, help residents make decisions and support community-led activity.

Eligible applicants include registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations, not-for-profit companies, community interest companies and community benefit societies. Applicants must be known and trusted locally, work collaboratively with communities and have experience of engagement, skills-building and bringing groups together.

The funder says organisations based and already working in Owton Manor will receive first priority. Groups elsewhere in Hartlepool can also be considered when they have strong connections and established relationships in the neighbourhood. Partnerships may be considered if no single organisation meets all the criteria.

There are other practical tests. An applicant must have had an average annual income of at least £200,000 across the past three years, and must meet governance requirements. Some organisation types also need an asset lock, which prevents assets being used for private gain.

Dates and decisions

Owton Manor is in the first application round, which runs from Wednesday 13 January to Wednesday 24 February 2027. The process has two stages and is expected to take about 11 months: up to five months for the first decision, followed by up to six months for further detail and a final outcome.

The eligible-area boundary is not the same as a council ward boundary. Prospective applicants should check the official map and full criteria on The National Lottery Community Fund website before starting an application.

No local lead organisation has yet been appointed and no individual spending decisions have been announced. Those choices will follow the selection process and work with residents. For Owton Manor, the immediate opportunity is for organisations with genuine local roots and the capacity to support a ten-year programme to prepare for January.