It was recently announced that the coastal communities across the United Kingdom will receive a multi-million pound boost each year from a new Coastal Communities Fund. This new fund will be financed by the Government through the allocation of funding equivalent to 50 per cent of the revenues from the Crown Estate’s marine activities. This new fund is designed to support the economic development of coastal communities and will support a wide range of projects, including those that support charities, the environment, education and health. For each country of the UK, the funds available will be directly linked to the revenues raised by the Crown Estate’s marine activities from that area, with separate funding for England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Highlands and Islands and the rest of Scotland. The fund will be available on a bid basis and the Government is in discussion with the Big Fund, part of the Big Lottery Fund, about the detailed terms on which they could deliver the funds to communities. The Big Lottery’s Big Fund has a wealth of experience and expertise in delivering funding and is well placed to distribute Coastal Communities Funding, on behalf of the Government. The Government will also liaise with the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Fund will open for business in April 2012.