Community Asset Transfer (CAT)

Community Asset Transfer (CAT) is the transfer of assets from local authorities to the community. Assets can range from buildings, parks, bowling greens, allotment sites to football pitches. In general this means that an organisation who acquires an asset via Community Asset Transfer becomes responsible for running, managing, and maintaining the asset, including all the associated costs. The transfer can be affected in different ways either through a short or long term lease or, in exceptional circumstances, outright ownership.

Wigan Council invite ideas from local communities and organisations who wish to take over the running and management of council owned assets to submit an expression of Interest in taking over our assets or helping to run our services in the future

Find out more Wigan Council Community Asset Transfer

Ongoing Support

Douglas Valley Community continues to support organisations who have taken over community assets. We are committed to delivering a range of capacity building support and training to our own community centres and those new organisations who have taken over buildings through asset transfer.

Douglas Valley Community has developed a Diagnostic Toolkit and self-help Diagnostic to help organisations, groups and enterprises to assess whether they are ‘ready’ for asset transfer.

Who can use this diagnostic?

Existing community or voluntary organisations looking to acquire an asset from the council from which to grow and develop their services within a particular neighbourhood or community area.

Social and community enterprises seeking to strengthen their ‘asset base’ and develop new income generating opportunities.

How to use this diagnostic

It is a self-help tool consisting of a range of questions that focus on the Governance, Financial and Management status of your organisation. It helps to build up a picture of your organisation and its ability to apply and take over the management of an asset. The Diagnostic will help to identify areas where organisation may need tailored support. Douglas Valley Community can offer capacity building support to your organisation – this can range from Organisational Capacity Building, Supporting Volunteers and Business Planning.

Useful Resources

A self help guide for Community Asset Transfer

A Quick Guide to Community Asset Transfer for community and organisations