The Department for Education (DfE) has announced that the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) funding round 2024-25 is now open for applications. At Lea Hough Chartered Surveyors we have vast experience of CIF and we are ready to assist academies and MAT’s with bids.
CIF is a great funding opportunity for academies and MAT’s to obtain funding for building repair projects, improvements and some expansion projects. Across England, academies and sixth-form colleges can bid for a share of more than £400 million to transform facilities, improve school buildings, expand their classes or address issues with their buildings’ general wear and tear.
CIF also supports projects related to academies and sixth-forms’ safety, compliance, health, and maintenance needs. These may include the installation of fire protection systems, electrical upgrades, emergency asbestos removal, and projects that ensure that buildings remain weather-tight and that water is continuously supplied.
There is also a small proportion of CIF support for expansion projects, such as age range expansions and sixth-form expansions, that address overcrowding or increase admissions in the main year of entry.
One change to this year’s guidance is that the removal of RAAC concrete will not be funded through CIF. Any RAAC projects will be separately dealt with via a different fund.
The key dates for schools and sixth forms to be aware of are 7 December 2023, which is the deadline for new applicants to register for an account and 14 December 2023, which is the deadline for applicants to submit applications with all supporting documents. Applicants will be notified if their submissions have been successful or not in May 2024.
As CIF is highly oversubscribed, only projects aligned with CIF priorities are likely to be funded. Academies should begin the bid preparation process as soon as possible in order to prepare high quality bids.
Lea Hough has many years of experience in working with schools to assess, prepare and submit CIF applications on their behalf. Our team has a successful track record of preparing CIF bids and delivering projects that make a real difference to schools. For the full guidance, visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/condition-improvement-fund
