Whilst much of the focus around funding for academy schools is on the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF), there are alternative sources of funding that can be applied for throughout the year.
One of these is Urgent Capital Support Funding (UCS). As the name suggests, UCS funding is a special fund for schools that require work imminently – ie. projects that can’t wait until the next CIF funding round. This funding route is available to academy schools, multi-academy trusts and sixth form colleges – ie. those schools that do not have access to a School Condition Allocation (SCA).
In order for an application to be considered, the need must be genuinely urgent – ie. where there is a building condition issue that either puts the safety of pupils and staff at risk, or threatens the closure of the whole, or a significant part of, the school.
The types of issue that may qualify for UCS funding include:
- Structural issues
- Urgent health and safety (H&S) or insurance compliance issues
- Urgent asbestos issue
- Fire protection
- Leaking roofs
- Boiler and pipework failure
- Electrical issues
Lea Hough’s expert team of Chartered Surveyors has extensive experience helping academies, Trusts and schools apply for UCS funding. We have a proven track record of attaining funding where there is a genuine and urgent need for works to be completed.
How to apply for Urgent Capital Support Funding (UCS)
Lea Hough’s team will firstly conduct a site visit to the academy/sixth form college – advising on whether or not an application for UCS funding is appropriate. Should it be deemed eligible, our school building consultants will then conduct a full survey of the area, compiling evidence to submit as part of the application, which we will manage on behalf of the school.
Our team of school building consultants can not only work with schools to prepare and submit UCS funding applications, but we are also ideally placed to project manage the building and repair works from beginning to end.
If you have a condition issue at your academy school that requires urgent attention, contact the team at Lea Hough. Even if upon inspection, it is deemed that the building’s condition is not eligible for UCS funding, it may be that it is suitable for the next round of CIF funding. So in any event, it is worth getting in touch for specialist advice.
Our school building consultants can be contacted by calling 01254 260 196 or completing an online enquiry.
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