Sports clubs, community organisations and volunteer groups across Luton can now apply for grants of up to £30,000 to improve their facilities as part of a new £1.5 million Government-backed investment in the town.
Luton Council has launched the Community Venue and Spaces Improvement Fund, giving eligible organisations the chance to secure between £1,000 and £30,000 for projects that will make a lasting difference to community buildings and public spaces.
The fund is part of the £1.5 million Pride in Place programme secured for Luton by the town’s two MPs, Sarah Owen and Rachel Hopkins.
The money can be used for a wide range of capital improvements, including refurbishing sports clubs and community venues, upgrading cultural facilities, improving community gardens and play areas, or helping organisations take ownership of disused buildings and spaces.
The scheme follows a public survey carried out by the two MPs at the end of 2025, with hundreds of residents sharing ideas about how Government funding should be spent to improve their neighbourhoods.
Luton Council leader Councillor Tahmina Saleem said the grants would help local people turn their ideas into lasting improvements.
She said: “Our communities are full of people who care deeply about where they live and want to see a positive difference in their neighbourhoods, and this funding is a fantastic opportunity to translate ambitions into reality.
“Whether it’s giving a tired set of railings a lick of paint, upgrading a community hall, enhancing a green space, refreshing facilities or creating a public space that brings people together, these grants can help unleash our communities’ passion for place and to deliver legacy projects for all our local residents.”
Luton North MP, Ms Owen said the funding had been shaped directly by local residents.
She said: “The Community Venue and Spaces Improvement Fund comes straight from local residents’ recommendations, after securing £1.5 million in investment from the Government’s Pride in Place funding.
“This investment in local organisations, sports clubs, community centres and other crucial public goods will make Luton a more connected and enjoyable place to live.
“This fund is just one of many new initiatives coming down the line after this Government announced new funding packages for towns like ours. I’m proud to have secured this cash, and I look forward to local residents using it to improve the area we love.”
Luton South and South Bedfordshire MP, Ms Hopkins, encouraged organisations across the town to apply.
She said: “I’m delighted that, as part of the £1.5 million Pride in Place Impact Fund secured for Luton by myself and Sarah Owen MP, Luton Council has launched the Community Venue and Spaces Improvement Fund.
“Investing in the places at the heart of our communities, so they can continue bringing people together and serving local residents for years to come, is at the heart of what the Government’s Pride in Place programme represents.
“I encourage all community organisations, big or small, to make an application.”
Applications are open now and close on Friday, July 31. Successful projects must be completed by March 31, 2027.
Full eligibility criteria and application details are available on the Luton Council website.
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