Applications open for Community Legacy Fund (United Kingdom)

The National Highways Community Legacy Fund provides grants of £500 to £10,000 to eligible non-profit groups and organisations located near National Highways roads affected by ongoing roadworks or diversion routes. The fund supports capital projects that create lasting benefits through economic prosperity, environmental improvement, community wellbeing, or equality, diversity and inclusion.

About the National Highways Community Legacy Fund

The Community Legacy Fund is designed to provide a positive and lasting legacy for communities experiencing disruption or other impacts from major road infrastructure projects.

National Highways supports improvements in communities located near motorways and major roads maintained by National Highways where live roadworks or diversion routes are affecting local people.

The programme focuses on projects that respond to local needs and create tangible, long-term benefits.

What Does the Fund Support?

Projects must contribute to at least one of the fund’s four social value pillars:

• Economic prosperity: Projects that develop skills, employment and training opportunities.
• Improving the environment: Activities that encourage sustainability, conserve resources or improve local ecosystems.
• Community wellbeing: Projects that address health needs, improve connectivity, amenities, education or heritage.
• Equality, diversity and inclusion: Initiatives that increase opportunities for under-represented or disadvantaged groups.

Projects should demonstrate a clear connection between the proposed activity and the needs of the community affected by National Highways roadworks.

Funding Available

The Community Legacy Fund provides:

• Minimum grant: £500
• Maximum grant: £10,000
• September round: £30,400 available
• Total annual fund: £304,000

The annual budget is distributed through multiple funding rounds during the year.

Funding is intended for capital expenditure, meaning tangible items or assets required to deliver the proposed project.

Who Is Eligible?

The fund is intended for non-profit groups and organisations located close to National Highways roads affected by current roadworks or diversion routes.

Applicants must demonstrate that:

• They are a non-profit group or organisation.
• Their project is geographically close to a National Highways road.
• There are live roadworks or diversion routes affecting the relevant area.
• The local community has been impacted by the roadworks.
• The proposed project responds to a relevant local need.
• The project provides positive and lasting benefits.
• The requested funding is for eligible capital costs.

What Is the Geographical Requirement?

Location is an important eligibility condition.

The proposed project must be geographically close to a National Highways-managed motorway or major road where roadworks are currently taking place or where diversion routes are affecting the community.

Applicants should clearly explain:

1. Which National Highways road is involved.
2. What roadworks or diversion activity is taking place.
3. How close the project is to the affected road.
4. How the works have affected local residents or the community.
5. Why the proposed project is an appropriate response.

Simply being located somewhere in the wider region may not be sufficient.

What Are Eligible Costs?

The Community Legacy Fund supports capital costs associated with the proposed project.

Eligible expenditure may include tangible items that are necessary to deliver the project.

Applicants should clearly identify:

• What will be purchased.
• Why the item is required.
• How it will benefit local people.
• How it contributes to one or more social value pillars.
• How the investment will create a lasting benefit.

The fund is therefore better suited to projects requiring specific physical assets or equipment rather than ongoing operational expenditure.

What Is Not Eligible?

Funding cannot be provided for:

• Projects that have already taken place.
• Costs unrelated to the proposed project.
• Activities that do not provide lasting community value.
• Projects without a clear connection to National Highways roadworks.
• Requests that do not represent eligible capital expenditure.

Applicants should confirm that proposed costs meet the fund’s requirements before submitting an application.

Why It Matters

Major road construction and maintenance projects can affect communities through disruption, altered traffic patterns, accessibility challenges and changes to local environments.

The Community Legacy Fund aims to ensure that affected communities receive lasting benefits alongside this infrastructure activity.

The programme can help communities:

• Improve local facilities.
• Invest in environmental improvements.
• Create skills and training opportunities.
• Strengthen community wellbeing.
• Improve local amenities.
• Support heritage and education.
• Increase inclusion and opportunities for under-represented groups.
• Create tangible community assets.

How to Apply

Applicants should structure their proposal around the local impact of National Highways roadworks and the lasting value of their project.

1. Confirm the Roadworks

Identify the National Highways road near the community and confirm that live roadworks or diversion routes are affecting the area.

2. Explain the Community Impact

Describe how the roadworks have affected local residents, community groups, the environment or the local economy.

Use specific examples wherever possible.

3. Select a Social Value Pillar

Show how the project contributes to at least one of the four priorities:

• Economic prosperity
• Environmental improvement
• Community wellbeing
• Equality, diversity and inclusion

4. Describe the Project

Explain what you want to deliver, purchase or improve and why it is needed.

5. Prepare the Capital Budget

Provide a clear breakdown of the requested funding and explain how each capital item will contribute to the project.

6. Demonstrate Lasting Benefits

Explain what will remain after the project is completed and how local people will continue to benefit.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen their proposals by making the connection between roadworks, local impact and project benefits very clear.

• Explain the local connection: Identify the relevant National Highways road and the ongoing works.
• Demonstrate actual impact: Explain how residents or the community have been affected.
• Choose the strongest social value pillar: Make the connection between the project and the selected priority explicit.
• Focus on lasting benefits: Describe the long-term value of the investment.
• Keep the budget focused: Request funding only for necessary capital items.
• Show community benefit: Explain who will benefit and how.
• Avoid vague outcomes: Use specific and measurable descriptions where possible.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Failing to demonstrate proximity to a National Highways road.
• Applying for a project unrelated to current roadworks or diversion routes.
• Providing insufficient evidence of community impact.
• Requesting funding for revenue or general running costs.
• Applying for retrospective expenditure.
• Failing to identify the relevant social value pillar.
• Providing an unclear capital budget.
• Describing short-term activities without explaining their lasting benefit.

Key Details at a Glance

• Fund: National Highways Community Legacy Fund
• Applicant type: Non-profit groups and organisations
• Geographic focus: Communities near National Highways roads
• Roadworks requirement: Live roadworks or diversion routes
• Minimum grant: £500
• Maximum grant: £10,000
• September funding round: £30,400
• Annual fund: £304,000
• Funding type: Capital costs
• Project status: Projects must not have already taken place
• Social value pillars: Economic prosperity, environment, community wellbeing, and equality, diversity and inclusion

FAQ

What is the National Highways Community Legacy Fund?

It is a grant programme supporting non-profit organisations in communities affected by National Highways roadworks or diversion routes. It funds projects designed to leave positive and lasting local benefits.

How much funding can organisations receive?

Grants range from £500 to £10,000. The September funding round has £30,400 available, while the total annual fund is £304,000.

Who can apply?

Non-profit groups and organisations located near National Highways roads affected by live roadworks or diversion routes can apply, provided their project meets the fund’s other eligibility requirements.

What types of projects are supported?

Projects should contribute to economic prosperity, environmental improvement, community wellbeing, or equality, diversity and inclusion. They must provide positive and lasting benefits for local communities, people, the environment or the economy.

What costs can the grant cover?

The fund supports capital costs, including tangible items needed to deliver an eligible project. Applicants should demonstrate why each requested item is necessary and how it will provide lasting value.

Can funding be used for a project that has already started or finished?

No. Projects that have already taken place are not eligible for funding. Applicants should ensure that the proposed expenditure meets the fund’s requirements before proceeding.

Why must projects be close to National Highways roadworks?

The fund specifically aims to provide a legacy for communities experiencing impacts from National Highways infrastructure works. Applicants therefore need to demonstrate both geographical proximity and a clear local impact from the roadworks or diversion routes.

Conclusion

The National Highways Community Legacy Fund offers non-profit organisations an opportunity to turn the challenges associated with major roadworks into lasting community benefits. With grants of £500 to £10,000, eligible groups can seek support for capital projects that strengthen local economies, improve the environment, enhance community wellbeing, or promote equality and inclusion. A strong application should clearly demonstrate the connection to live National Highways roadworks, explain the impact on the local community, identify the relevant social value priority and show how the proposed investment will deliver a lasting benefit.