Action With Communities In Rural England (acre)

Charity Number: 1061568

Annual Expenditure: £3.0M

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Quick Stats

Annual Grant Distribution: £3 million+ (recent programs)
Success Rate: High demand - frequently oversubscribed
Decision Time: Two-stage process (specific timeline varies by program)
Grant Range: £2,000 - £75,000
Geographic Focus: Rural England (villages/towns with population ≤10,000)
Total Income: £4.66 million (2024)

Contact Details

Head Office:

Website: https://acre.org.uk
Email: contact@acre.org.uk
Phone: 01285 653477

Grant Programs:

Village Halls Fund: villagehallsfund@acre.org.uk
Main Grant Scheme: VHIGFund@acre.org.uk

Overview

Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), registered charity 1061568, is the national voice for rural communities and the umbrella body for 38 local member organizations (formerly rural community councils) covering all rural areas of England. Founded to support and empower rural communities, ACRE received £4.66 million in income in the year ending March 2024, primarily through government contracts (£20,000) and government grants (£4.37 million).

Rather than operating as a traditional grant-making trust, ACRE functions as a strategic grant administrator, managing significant funding programs on behalf of the UK government's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). Their role combines policy advocacy, research, and practical support delivery - they gather intelligence from rural communities, influence government policy, and then administer the resulting grant programs back to those communities through their extensive network.

Under the leadership of Chief Executive Corinne Pluchino (appointed 2024), ACRE has administered over £3 million in village hall improvement grants, awarding funds to hundreds of rural community buildings across England. The organization emphasizes improving rural visibility in policy-making while delivering tangible support through grants for capital improvements, housing enablers, and community development initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

ACRE administers government-funded grant programs for rural community infrastructure:

Main Village Hall Improvement Grant

Amount: £7,500 - £75,000
Coverage: Up to 20% of eligible project costs
Minimum Project Value: £37,500
Application: Two-stage online application process
Current Status: Frequently oversubscribed; opens periodically

Small Grants for Village Halls (Defra-funded)

Amount: £2,000 - £5,000
Coverage: Up to 20% of eligible project costs
Application: Streamlined online application
Match Funding: 80% must be secured before application
Deadline: Rolling with periodic closures

Both programs have awarded over £3 million to rural communities, with over 100 beneficiaries receiving smaller grants and substantial awards for major improvement projects.

Priority Areas

Capital Improvements for Rural Community Buildings:

Extensions and structural improvements
Energy efficiency upgrades (insulation, heating systems, solar panels)
Disability access improvements
Kitchen and toilet facility upgrades
Roof replacements and repairs
Internal reconfigurations and storage solutions
Double glazing and window replacements
Net Zero contributions

Eligible Buildings:

Village halls owned and managed by the community
Buildings that are registered charities
Located in towns/villages with populations of 10,000 or less
Buildings with leases of at least 21 years

Recent Funded Projects Include:

East Bridgford Village Hall: New heating system and energy-efficient lighting
Oxton Village Hall: Kitchen/toilet refurbishment and double glazing throughout
Barton Bendish: Disabled toilets, new heating, flooring, enlarged kitchen, and extension
Hindolveston: Complete entrance reinstatement
East Ruston: New roof for historic Arts & Crafts building (combined £88,000 award to these three Norfolk halls)

What They Don't Fund

Ineligible Projects:

Removable fittings and equipment (not capital expenditure)
Buildings in towns/villages with populations over 10,000
Buildings not owned and managed by the community
Buildings with leases under 21 years
Operating costs or revenue expenses
Projects where 80% match funding is not secured
Non-charitable organizations

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Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive

Corinne Pluchino (appointed 2024)

Over 25 years' experience in campaigning, communications, and coalition-building
Former Chief Executive at Campaign for National Parks
Former Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications at WWT

Key Quote: “I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to join ACRE, and to work with its network of thirty-eight member organisations that are dedicated to supporting rural communities across England. It is essential that the significant challenges faced by many people living in rural areas are better understood and they are not disadvantaged by where they live.”

Board of Trustees (11 members)

Chair: James Blake

Chief Executive, Youth Hostels Association
Former senior civil servant and local government executive
Background in geography and environmental policy

Vice Chairs:

Sue Dovey: 20 years' rural community experience; former CEO of two ACRE member organizations
Gavin Parker: Professor of Planning Studies, University of Reading; Chartered Planner

Other Trustees:

Charles Coats: Fellow of RICS with 42 years' property management experience; farming background; parish council chairman
Garry Jones: Chief Executive, Support Staffordshire; elected 2023
Sarah Morland: Trustee of Connecting Communities in Berkshire; Partnership Manager at Reading Voluntary Action
Sharon Davis: Founded Dales Business Women network; rural business and entrepreneurship focus
Jane Colthup: Chief Executive, Community First Yorkshire; co-opted 2024
Caroline Cotterell: 30+ years empowering communities; former Countryside Agency and Natural England
Andrea Graham: PhD in agricultural botany; former NFU policy leader; rural parish councillor
Jim Webster: Cumbria farmer; involved with CLA and Farm Crisis Network; trustee of ACTion with Communities in Cumbria

Staffing

3 employees (as of March 2024 Charity Commission filing)
Network support staff including program managers for specific initiatives
No employees earn over £60,000
No trustees receive remuneration

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Two-Stage Application Process:

Stage 1:

Review fund criteria and eligibility requirements on the ACRE website
Read the comprehensive FAQs (available as downloadable PDF)
Download and review the application questions preview
Gather all required information and documentation
Ensure 80% match funding is secured and documented
Complete the Stage 1 online application form including Project Funding Form
Submit and await notification from ACRE

Stage 2 (by invitation only):

If successful at Stage 1, ACRE will contact you with an invitation
Complete the full Stage 2 application form
Provide detailed project plans, quotes, and financial information
Submit final application for assessment

Application Method: Online portal only (specific URL provided when fund is open)

Important Notes:

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis when the fund is open
Funds frequently oversubscribe and close periodically for processing
ACRE closed Stage 1 applications on August 12 in recent rounds due to high demand
Check the ACRE website regularly for fund opening announcements
Different contact emails for different programs (see Contact Details section)

Decision Timeline

The application process follows a two-stage structure, though ACRE does not publish specific timelines for decisions. Based on the competitive nature and government funding administration requirements:

Stage 1 Review: Applicants notified if invited to Stage 2 (timeline varies)
Stage 2 Review: Full assessment conducted after submission
Notification: ACRE contacts applicants directly with decisions

Due to high demand and limited funding availability, ACRE periodically closes the fund to process accumulated applications, suggesting thorough review processes that may take several weeks to months.

Success Rates

High Demand Indicators:

Over £3 million distributed through recent programs
Hundreds of village halls have received grants
Over 100 beneficiaries for small grants scheme alone
Fund regularly oversubscribed, requiring periodic closures for processing
ACRE closed applications in August when applications exceeded available funding

Specific Success Stories:

Community Action Norfolk achieved a 100% success rate with ACRE Village Hall Improvement Grants for their clients
£1 million+ awarded in 2023 for ambitious projects focused on energy efficiency
Three Norfolk halls (Barton Bendish, Hindolveston, East Ruston) secured combined £88,000

While specific application-to-award ratios are not published, the frequent oversubscription and periodic fund closures indicate competitive selection processes.

Reapplication Policy

ACRE does not explicitly publish reapplication policies on their website. Given the two-stage process and rolling nature of applications when the fund is open, unsuccessful Stage 1 applicants may need to reapply when the fund reopens. Contact the program-specific email addresses for guidance on reapplication after an unsuccessful attempt.

Application Success Factors

Match Funding is Critical

The most important requirement is having 80% match funding secured before applying. This is non-negotiable - grants only cover 20% of eligible costs. Applications submitted without confirmed match funding will not proceed.

Capital Expenditure Focus

ACRE emphasizes that only capital expenditure is eligible. Applications must clearly demonstrate:

Permanent improvements to the building
Items that cannot be removed (fixtures, not fittings)
Structural or infrastructure enhancements
Long-term value additions

Energy Efficiency and Net Zero Alignment

Recent funding rounds show strong preference for projects contributing to:

Improved energy efficiency (insulation, modern heating systems, LED lighting)
Renewable energy installation (solar panels featured in multiple funded projects)
Net Zero goals and environmental sustainability
Long-term operating cost reductions

Demonstrated Community Need

Successful applications clearly articulate:

How the improvement serves the community
The range of activities/groups using the hall
Why the specific improvement is needed
Impact on accessibility and inclusivity (disability access is frequently funded)

Eligibility Compliance

Applications must strictly meet all eligibility criteria:

Village/town population ≤10,000 (verify with local authority data)
Building owned and managed by community (not local authority or private)
Charitable status confirmed
Lease term of at least 21 years remaining
Project completion feasible within the funding timeframe

Working Through the Network

While not mandatory, many successful applicants work with their local ACRE member organization. The 38 member organizations across rural England provide:

Pre-application support and advice
Help understanding eligibility
Guidance on project scoping and budgeting
Knowledge of local funding landscape for match funding sources

Quote from ACRE: Regarding the Rural Housing Enabler Programme, Corinne Pluchino noted: “The benefits of the RHE Programme and the crucial role RHEs play in supporting local communities and spearheading partner engagement and trust are clearly shown in the report” - this emphasis on partnership and local engagement applies to their grant programs as well.

Preparation and Documentation

Use the preview application questions PDF to prepare thoroughly:

Gather quotes from contractors
Prepare detailed project descriptions
Document match funding commitments in writing
Have governance documents ready (charitable status, lease agreements)
Prepare evidence of community need/support

Timing Your Application

Submit early when funds open - first-come consideration is not explicit, but funds close when oversubscribed
Don't wait for perfection - ensure compliance and completeness, then submit
Monitor ACRE's news section and subscribe to updates for fund opening announcements

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

ACRE administers government grants, not endowment funds: They distribute Defra funding to rural communities, so their programs reflect government rural policy priorities rather than independent trust criteria.

Match funding is mandatory and must be secured first: 80% of project costs must be confirmed before application - this is the primary barrier to entry and success factor.

Energy efficiency is a strategic priority: Recent rounds have heavily favored projects with solar panels, insulation, modern heating, and Net Zero contributions - align projects with environmental sustainability.

Two-stage process means strategic submission: Only Stage 1 successes proceed to full application, so the initial submission must clearly demonstrate eligibility, need, and strategic fit.

Oversubscription is the norm: Funds regularly close due to high demand - be prepared to apply quickly when windows open and have all documentation ready in advance.

Population limits are strict: 10,000 population threshold is non-negotiable - verify your village/town population with local authority census data before investing time in application development.

Local ACRE members are valuable allies: The 38 regional organizations provide local expertise, networking, and often pre-application support - identify and connect with your local ACRE member early in project planning.