Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, is calling on local community groups to apply for the Government’s newly launched Common Ground Award before the upcoming autumn deadline.
The competitive fund, administered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, is designed to provide critical capital investment to voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in England. The grant specifically supports the cost of physical facilities, communal spaces, and equipment that effectively bring people from different backgrounds together to build community cohesion and resilience.
Individual organisations can apply for standard grants of between £20,000 and £50,000. However, in exceptional cases, individual bids may be considered for up to £100,000, while consortium applications can apply for funding between £100,000 and £250,000.
Gordon, who has a track record of helping local groups secure grant funding—including supporting Inspire Youth to win funding from ASDA—has already contacted Harrogate and Knaresborough town councils alongside other community organisations to ensure the opportunity is widely publicised across the district.
Tom Gordon MP said:
Our community groups do incredible work bringing people together, but too often they’re held back by the spaces and equipment they have to work with. This fund could make a real difference here. I’ve seen first-hand what the right grant can do for a local group, and I don’t want Harrogate and Knaresborough to miss out. The deadline is 12 October, so I’d urge any group that thinks it might be eligible to look at this now, and to get in touch with my office if they’d like support.
Councillor Chrissie Holmes of Harrogate Town Council added her backing to the local campaign:
Our local area is full of groups doing brilliant work to connect people across our community. This fund is a real chance to give them the facilities they need to go further. I’m glad to be working with Tom to spread the word, and I’d encourage every eligible group to apply.
Deadlines and Funding Timeline
The prospectus for the Common Ground Award was officially issued on 28 August, with the formal application window having opened on 14 September. Local groups have a limited window left to finalise their submissions, with the application portal strictly closing on Monday, 12 October 2026.
Successful applicants across England are expected to be notified of their awards in December 2026, with the capital funding payments likely to be distributed in January 2027.
Community groups and voluntary organisations can read the full grant guidelines, explore the scoring framework, and access the application portal directly on the official GOV.UK Common Ground Award Prospectus. For general updates on this and other regional support schemes, keep tracking our open patch on the Harrogate Informer Facebook Page.