29 September 2025
Round 7 is now open for applications.
As remaining funds for are extremely limited, we are taking a targeted approach to geographical areas we wish to fund.
A list of eligible areas, along with application documents and details of online briefing sessions are posted further down this page – please check this before applying.
Previously funded organisations are not eligible to apply.
If you are not sure what the fund is about, watch these short films and read the online intro first.
Digital Connectivity for Community Facilities: Introduction
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s (LCRCA’s) local investment plan for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) includes a grants programme focused on Digital Connectivity for Community Facilities. VOLA has been appointed by the LCRCA to manage this programme.
Since early 2023, the programme has made 202 grant awards to 178 local, grass-roots, not-for-profit community organisations across the Liverpool City Region, with £1,451,150 invested in supporting the development of 190 new or improved community digital facilities.
A final ‘mop-up’ funding round is now open for applications.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applications are invited from constituted, VCFSE sector organisations, run on a not-for-profit basis, with operational (public access) base in the Liverpool City Region, whose income in the most recent financial year did not exceed £1.5 million.
In addition, applicant organisations/groups must have been in existence for at least 12 months and be a going concern.
Organisations previously funded through the grants programme are not eligible to apply.
Further detail is provided in the FAQs document – an updated version of which will be posted further down this page by 29 September.
Watch this short film to see how the grant has helped Wirral Change.
If you don’t already know what the funding is aimed at, watch this short video to find out more and see if it could be an opportunity for you. Note, some changes have been made since this film was made, so you will also need to refer to the FAQs document below.
For this final funding round, £90,000 is available across the Liverpool City Region, with borough funding allocations and eligible target areas as follows:
| Borough | Funding Available | Eligible Target Areas | Maximum Individual Grant Award | Minimum No. of Grant Awards |
| Halton | £7,911 | – Castlefields – Murdishaw – Palacefields – Windmill Hill | £7,911 | 1 |
| Knowsley | £5,633 | – Kirkby – Northwood, Tower Hill, West Vale – Page Moss – Stockbridge Village – Huyton – St Michael’s | £5,633 | 1 |
| Liverpool | £20,957 | – Anfield – Clubmoor – Garston – Knotty Ash/ Dovecot – Newsham Park area – Norris Green – Orrell Park – Tuebrook – Walton | £5,250 | 4 |
| Sefton | £19,790 | – Ford/ Litherland – Netherton (West) – St Oswald LSOA areas E01007091 & E01007092 – Seaforth – Southport | £6,600 | 3 |
| St Helens | £27,611 | Borough-wide | £9,200 | 3 |
| Wirral | £8,304 | – Moreton – New Brighton – Prenton West – Woodchurch | £8,304 | 1 |
Grant awards will be made to successful applicants in late November.
Funding must be spent, equipment in place and facilities up and running by 13 February 2026. If you are in any doubt as to your ability to meet this deadline, please do not apply.
Application form & supporting documents
- Application Form
- Application guidance
- FAQs
- Ward level digital exclusion & deprivation data (Excel)
- Online map of existing places where people can go to ‘get online’
Online briefing sessions
These will take place week commencing 29 September.
General Briefing
- Thursday 2 October, 12.00 – 1.00pm. Book your place here
This session summarises key information relating to the grants fund (purpose, eligibility criteria, what it can/ can’t fund, etc), and is useful in helping you to decide on whether or not to apply:
Slides from the general briefing are available here.
Technical Tips Session
- Friday 3 October, 11.00am – 12.15pm. Book your place here
The technical tips session is completely different from the general briefings. It provides essential information and advice on important issues to consider and dos & don’ts in relation to planning your IT facility – extremely useful if you aren’t an IT expert! Feedback from previous successful applicants that attended this session has been overwhelmingly positive in terms of how useful and important it was in helping them to carefully plan their project.
We hope that the breadth of information provided will be sufficient in supporting you to plan a strong project and submit a good application. If you need any further assistance with your application, please contact your local CVS or other support organisation.
If you have any queries, please email ukspfgrants@volamerseyside.org.uk. We will endeavour to respond to your query within 3 working days.