Welcome to October’s funding update.
This update is split into two parts. Section A features funders with a local or regional focus. Section B features funders who work across England. In both sections, funders are listed in order of deadline date, soonest first.
Many grants to support groups and individuals with the cost-of-living crisis have now closed. You will find those that our still open in our April funding update.
This update can only provide a snapshot of these funders so we recommend visiting the funders’ websites for full details before you apply. Most funders in this list have a website, which you can access by clicking on the name of the funder. Full contact details have been provided for funders that do not have a website.
A. Funders with a local / regional interest
PHP Foundation – Heart of England
Deadline: 13th November 2023
Who can apply: Applications are accepted from any type of constituted not-for-profit including community groups, voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises. Applicants must have an annual income of less than £500,000 and be delivering services within a 10-mile radius of PHP properties. For Dudley these are; Withymoor Surgery, Lion Medical Centre (Stourbridge) and Mace Street Clinic (Old Hill)
Size of grant available: Grants of up to £5,000 are available
Priorities: The scheme supports charities in eligible locations in the West Midlands with the aim of:
- Funding social and charitable activities and services linked to the patients and communities of PHP tenants
- Supporting the Practice Social Prescribing referral service and enable the ongoing provision of new and existing services
- Improving the health and wellbeing of patients and communities served by PHP buildings
- Advancing the education, promotion and protection of good health within the communities served by PHP buildings
How to apply: The application form is available to complete on the Heart of England Community Foundation website. Applicants will receive an outcome back before the end of December 2023.
Deadline: 24th November 2023
Who can apply: Any type of constituted not-for-profit organisation including community organisations, companies limited by guarantee with registered charities and social enterprises. Schools and local authorities can also apply. Groups of organisations can apply as long as they are all eligible organisations and one of them acts as the lead for the application
Size of grant available: £30,000-£100,000
Priorities: The funding is for projects that help create better outcomes for young people who may be at a higher risk of anti-social behaviour. It will support extra hours of youth work that will help young people to have:
Who can apply: Any type of constituted not-for-profit organisation including community organisations, companies limited by guarantee with registered charities and social enterprises. Schools and local authorities can also apply. Groups of organisations can apply as long as they are all eligible organisations and one of them acts as the lead for the application
Size of grant available: £30,000-£100,000
Priorities: The funding is for projects that help create better outcomes for young people who may be at a higher risk of anti-social behaviour. It will support extra hours of youth work that will help young people to have:
- Improved emotional wellbeing
- Improved life and practical skills
- Access to trusted relationships with adults and feel safer.
‘Youth work’ is meant an activity that improves young people’s well-being through education or leisure, supported by a voluntary relationship with a trusted adult. This can include detached youth work. The funding is intended for projects that:
- Benefit young people aged 11 to 18, or up to 25 for young people with SEND
- Takes place in or benefits young people living in eligible areas
- Effectively engage with young people at risk of anti-social behaviour
- Deliver extra youth work hours (not existing provision)
- Take place outside of school hours and are available on a regular basis
- Deliver youth work that is open access
- Demonstrate youth voice within the activities
- Are run by trusted adults, such as qualified youth workers, youth support workers or experienced volunteers
To be eligible for funding, projects must:
- Take place in, and/or benefit young people living in, one of the eligible wards in England. Eligible wards have been determined by allocating wards to each Police Force Area (PFA) based on youth population, and then selecting those with the highest reported number of antisocial behaviour incidents from within the PFA. In Dudley borough, eligible wards are Brierley Hill, Castle and Priory and St James’s
- Primarily benefit young people aged 11 to 18, and up to 25 years for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
- Effectively engage with young people at risk of antisocial behaviour.
How to apply: Guidelines and the online application form can be found on the TNLCF website.
B. National funders
Deadline: 10th November 2023
Who can apply: Registered charities, co-operatives and CICs that support people in need in the UK by reason of financial hardship, sickness, disability or other disadvantage or distress
Size of grant available: Up to £5,000
Priorities: Funding for organisations to fix, repair, maintain and improve properties and community facilities specifically for those in need. The funding is to be used for the following types of projects:
Who can apply: Registered charities, co-operatives and CICs that support people in need in the UK by reason of financial hardship, sickness, disability or other disadvantage or distress
Size of grant available: Up to £5,000
Priorities: Funding for organisations to fix, repair, maintain and improve properties and community facilities specifically for those in need. The funding is to be used for the following types of projects:
- Improved energy efficient lighting and heating
- Installation of new kitchen, bathroom etc.
- Installation of a sensory room
- General painting and decorating
- Improving safety and security of a building
How to apply: The guidelines and online application form are available on The Screwfix Foundation website.
National Garden Scheme – Community Gardens Grants
Deadline: 13th November 2023
Who can apply: Constituted community groups and CICs
Size of grant available: Awards are usually between £1,000 and £3,000
Priorities: The funding is for the creation of a garden or a similar project (such as an allotment) with horticultural focus for the benefit of the local community. The project should aim to bring a community together by creating a space people can share, by the acquisition and sharing of gardening knowledge and skills and by inspiring a love of gardening. Funding could cover expenses such as:
Who can apply: Constituted community groups and CICs
Size of grant available: Awards are usually between £1,000 and £3,000
Priorities: The funding is for the creation of a garden or a similar project (such as an allotment) with horticultural focus for the benefit of the local community. The project should aim to bring a community together by creating a space people can share, by the acquisition and sharing of gardening knowledge and skills and by inspiring a love of gardening. Funding could cover expenses such as:
- Site preparation (including hire of small mechanical tools such as rotavators)
- Hand tools
- Plants
- Trees
- Shrubs
- Containers
- Seating
How to apply: Guidance notes and application forms are available on the National Garden Scheme website.
Toy Trust
Deadline: 15th November 2023
Who can apply: Small registered charities only
Size of grant available: Up to £5,000
Priorities: Funding is available to help disadvantaged children aged below 13 years and their families to:
Who can apply: Small registered charities only
Size of grant available: Up to £5,000
Priorities: Funding is available to help disadvantaged children aged below 13 years and their families to:
- Alleviate suffering
- Support children through awful experiences
- Encourage achievement through adversity
- Purchase vital equipment
- Provide care
- Bolster existing initiatives
- Initiate brand new projects
- Satisfy basic needs
Projects should:
- Show real benefit for relieving hardship and suffering to beneficiaries
- Run for a minimum of one full year
- Be in support of children and projects regardless of faith, sex or disability
How to apply: The application form and guidance notes are available on the Toy Trust website.
Deadline: 16th November 2023
Who can apply: Registered charities or organisations currently going through the registration process can apply. Charities working locally should have income under £100,000
Who can apply: Registered charities or organisations currently going through the registration process can apply. Charities working locally should have income under £100,000
Size of grant available: Up to £15,000
Priorities: Funding is available for the following:
Priorities: Funding is available for the following:
- Helping disadvantaged young people – The object of the fund is to support projects working with disadvantaged young people to ensure that they are given every possible chance to meet their full potential and to participate fully in society. Young people are normally defined as being aged from 5 to 30 years
- Supporting offenders and ex-offenders, particularly those under 30 years of age – Many offenders and ex-offenders suffer from a variety of difficult and complex problems and they are amongst the most vulnerable members of society. Funding is available for work that addresses the social and economic problems faced by this group and their families, and provide them with support, life skills training and a way back into education, training and/or employment, so that they may reintegrate and make a positive contribution to society
How to apply: Application forms are available to download from the funder’s website. The completed form must be printed, signed and posted to the funder’s office along with the supporting documents. It must arrive by midday on the closing date.
Hospice UK – Dying Matters Community Grants Programme
Deadline: 24th November 2023
Who can apply: Hospice UK members must be the lead applicant in partnership with local groups/community organisations who can help the hospice to reach one of the following groups who the hospice has traditionally struggled to support:
- Ethnic minorities
- People experiencing homelessness
- Imprisoned people
- LGBTQ+ people
- People living in remote and rural areas
- People living in poverty, deprivation and with lower socioeconomic status
- People living with learning disabilities
Size of grant available: £5,000-£8,000
Priorities: Grants are for creative community projects that focus on opening up conversations about death and dying with communities traditionally less likely to be reached by hospice care. The funding aims to support a portfolio of arts and culture projects which work to open up conversations about dying, death and grief in new and creative ways at a grassroots level. The idea is to support hospices to build new partnerships, particularly with arts and cultural organisations. Projects need to be developed and implemented in partnership with others, such as community groups, individuals (artists, writers, filmmakers etc), galleries, collectives, local charities, local councils, colleagues/departments, hospitals or other organisations, in order that they complement existing provision and are truly integrated in systemic plans to reach more people
How to apply: The criteria, FAQs and online application form are available from the Hospice UK website.
WMCA Rough Sleeping Initiative
Deadline: 30th November 2023
Who can apply: There are two funds with their own criteria:
- Fund A: Voluntary and charitable organisations, private and public entities and housing associations with an annual turnover of more than £300,000
- Fund B: voluntary sector faith and community groups, defined as un-constituted groups, registered charities and community interest companies with an annual turnover of less than £300,000
Size of grant available: Fund A – up to £6,000; Fund B – up to £2,000
Priorities: To support individuals rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping through a small financial investment to meet the specific needs of individuals. Specifically, the funder seeks expressions of interest from organisations that could deliver an outcome focused, spot purchase fund to enable individual solutions for people at risk of rough sleeping for the first time, those currently rough sleeping or to sustain recent transitions away from sleeping rough – promoting flexible, personalised interventions to ensure rough sleeping is prevented wherever possible, and where it occurs it is brief and non-recurring
How to apply: WMCA is holding a pre-application discussion for organisations who are interested in applying for this funding on Wednesday 8 November 2023 at 11.00 am. Email homelessness@wmca.org.uk if you would like to attend this webinar. If you would like to submit an expression of interest for either opportunity, email Homelessness@wmca.org.uk by 12.00 pm Thursday 23 November 2023 clearly indicating which of the two opportunities you are interested in. WMCA will then send you the full specification and application pack.
Co-Op Community Dividend Fund
Deadline: 30th November 2023
Who can apply: Members of Central Co-op, including local good causes, community groups, charities, social enterprises and community interest companies, are eligible to apply as long as they:
Who can apply: Members of Central Co-op, including local good causes, community groups, charities, social enterprises and community interest companies, are eligible to apply as long as they:
- Have been a full member of Central Co-op for at least six months
- Are benefiting communities in which Central Co-op trades
- Are a not-for-profit organisation
Size of grant available: £100-£3,000
Priorities: Projects now need to align with at least one of the following areas:
- Access to food – improving access to food in a way that encourages healthy, balanced choices to be made
- Health and wellbeing – projects that directly or indirectly promote physical and mental health and wellbeing
- Inclusion projects – directly or indirectly support greater inclusion of vulnerable, excluded, or hard to reach groups
- Environment – inside and outside spaces that support increased sustainability, eg energy saving projects, sustainable travel, biodiversity and food security
How to apply: Guidance notes and an online application form are available on the Co-operative’s website.
Deadline: 30th November 2023
Who can apply: Any type of organisation or activity provider which wants to support people with Parkinson’s to be physically active
Size of grant available: £500-£3,000
Priorities: The funding is intended to enable more opportunities for people living with Parkinson’s to access physical activities and enjoy being active, which is key in helping to manage symptoms, maintain health and lift their mood. Funding is for new activities for people affected by Parkinson’s to participate in physical activity and sport or increased participation in these areas. Projects must last for at least three months and they should reach and engage with a wide range of people with Parkinson’s especially those who may be from the following groups:
- Newly diagnosed
- Young onset
- People and groups seen as ‘under represented’ – including socially isolated, not digitally connected or ethnic communities
- People who are not engaged with Parkinson’s UK
- People who are inactive, or active at low levels
- People who are still working
How to apply: Guidance notes and the application form can be found on the Parkinson’s UK website. As part of the application process groups must consult with local Parkinson’s UK staff (contact information is provided on the grants webpage). Parkinson’s UK colleagues are not there to help with writing applications, but may offer information and support by connecting applicants with people with Parkinson’s, linking them to existing networks or advising on provision and community priorities in the area.
Deadline: 1st December 2023 (for general grants only. Small grant applications are considered monthly and there are no deadlines)
Who can apply: Registered charities or voluntary groups associated with a registered charity
Size of grant available: Small grants up to £9,000 and general grants over £9,000
Priorities: Projects that support the learning disabled. The funder considers learning disability to cover the conditions generally referred to as severe learning difficulties, together with autism and describes people with learning disabilities as having three things:
Who can apply: Registered charities or voluntary groups associated with a registered charity
Size of grant available: Small grants up to £9,000 and general grants over £9,000
Priorities: Projects that support the learning disabled. The funder considers learning disability to cover the conditions generally referred to as severe learning difficulties, together with autism and describes people with learning disabilities as having three things:
- Global intellectual impairment (intelligence quotient less than 70)
- Need for support/help to fulfil ordinary daily activities
- Onset before the age of 18 years
Learning disabilities may have a recognised cause, e.g. Down syndrome, Williams syndrome, but often the cause is not known. Funding is available for projects concerning children or adults
How to apply: Small grant applications are accepted at any time and will be considered monthly. The deadline for grants over £9,000 is 1st December 2023. Application forms and guidance notes are available on the Baily Thomas Charitable Fund website.
International Tree Foundation – UK Community Tree Planting Programme
Deadline: 1st December 2023
Who can apply: Applications are accepted from organisations that are community-based, such as a school, community group, social enterprise, non-governmental organisation, parish council, etc. To be eligible, applicants must have:
Who can apply: Applications are accepted from organisations that are community-based, such as a school, community group, social enterprise, non-governmental organisation, parish council, etc. To be eligible, applicants must have:
- Signed permission from the owner or manager of the land indicating that their project meets legal requirements
- A bank account in the organisation’s name
Size of grant available: Up to £15,000
Priorities: Funding is for UK-based tree planting projects that meet the following essential criteria:
- Plant trees in public/publicly-accessible spaces: sites that are readily accessible to the public, including schools, parks, rights of way, and sites managed by community groups
- Plant indigenous tree species: this may include traditional fruit trees and ‘honorary’ natives where appropriate
- Engage community members in tree planting and enjoying the benefits of woodlands
- Have clear plans for maintenance and sustainability
In addition, the project must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Engage children and young adults in tree planting and learning about trees
- Engage vulnerable groups and groups with low access to woodlands
- Conserve existing ancient trees and indigenous woodlands as well as new planting
- Create biodiversity habitats
- Conserve soil and water
- Demonstrate new approaches such as agroforestry
- Support rewilding and natural regeneration
- Support work or research on tree pest and disease resistance and climate change. adaptation
- Support urban tree planting
How to apply: The guidance notes and application pack are available on the International Tree Foundation’s website.
Deadline: 3rd December 2023
Who can apply: Most types of not-for-profit including constituted community groups, voluntary organisations, small charities and CICs limited by guarantee
Size of grant available: £250-£2,000
Priorities: To support tree and hedge planting projects taking place during the 2023/24 winter planting season. Projects that are worth between £250 and £500 should provide evidence of:
Size of grant available: £250-£2,000
Priorities: To support tree and hedge planting projects taking place during the 2023/24 winter planting season. Projects that are worth between £250 and £500 should provide evidence of:
- Strong community involvement
- Involvement of local schools
- Engaging young people in planning, delivery and aftercare
- Involving a broad cross section of the community (eg age, gender, ethnicity)
- Good value for money
- Project is part of wider environmental initiatives
- Access to relevant experience within the group or available locally
- Trees sourced locally from a local tree nursery and/or community tree nursery
Projects that are worth between £500 and £2,500 must also demonstrate:
- The inclusion of different tree types eg individual trees, hedges, hedges with hedgerow trees or orchards
- A considered establishment and aftercare plan
- Involvement of local Tree Warden/s
- That the project is volunteer-managed and delivered
- That the project is set in an animal welfare setting or with a wildlife focus
- Consideration of risk management eg in identifying the presence of underground service/utilities
- An understanding of the project site and that it is suitable for tree planting (eg contacting a local ecologist/wildlife trust/local natural history society)
How to apply: Visit the Tree Council website for the guidelines and online application form.
FCC Community Action Fund – England
Deadline: 6th December 2023
Who can apply: The following types of organisation can apply if they manage a community facility:
- Registered charities
- Community amateur sports clubs (CASCs)
- Local authorities
Size of grant available: £2,000-£100,000
Priorities: The funding is intended to support not-for-profit organisations with the costs of making physical improvements to single amenity sites that are open and accessible to the general public. The facility should be somewhere the general public can go, join, or use, for leisure or entertainment purposes without any limit or restriction of use
How to apply: Full details, guidance and application documents are provided on the FCC Communities Foundation website.
W.G. Edwards Charitable Foundation
Deadline: 10th December 2023
Who can apply: Registered charities that have been registered with the Charity Commission for at least two years
Size of grant available: £1,000-£3,000. The average size of grant is £1,500
Priorities: Grants for projects that support people who are over 65 years of age and which fall within the following categories:
Who can apply: Registered charities that have been registered with the Charity Commission for at least two years
Size of grant available: £1,000-£3,000. The average size of grant is £1,500
Priorities: Grants for projects that support people who are over 65 years of age and which fall within the following categories:
- Health and welfare – grants are for the refurbishment of residential care housing for the elderly and for building projects which are nearing completion. Consideration will also be given to the provision of equipment and furniture to enhance care and improve quality of life
- Community and innovation – grants for community initiatives such as exercise classes for the over-65s, lunch clubs, horticultural therapy and day trips. Consideration will also be given to technology projects aimed at benefitting the over-65s
How to apply: There is no formal application form. Details of how to make an application can be found on the funder’s website on the ‘How to Apply’ page.
Hedley Foundation
Deadline: 13th December 2023
Who can apply: Registered charities only
Size of grant available: Average is £250-£5,000
Priorities: Grants are offered in the following themes:
Who can apply: Registered charities only
Size of grant available: Average is £250-£5,000
Priorities: Grants are offered in the following themes:
- Youth: to help disadvantaged young people, supporting youth projects through education, the arts, sport and adventurous activities
- Disabled: to improve the quality of life of those with a mental or physical disability
- The elderly and terminally ill: to improve the quality of life of the elderly and those receiving end of life care
- Miscellaneous support: other social welfare projects such as those for carers, the homeless and ex-offenders
How to apply: An application form can be downloaded from the funder’s website. Additional information to be submitted includes:
- A copy of the most recent set of audited accounts
- A breakdown of the costs demonstrating how the grant will be spent
- The anticipated outcomes/impact and who/how many people will benefit
Completed application forms and addition information should be sent by post.
Cycling UK – Big Bike Revival Grants Programme
Deadline: 15th December 2023
Who can apply: Voluntary and not-for-profit organisations that are rooted in local communities and working to tackle a range of needs and challenges can apply, such as:
- Community cycle groups
- Bicycle recycling centres
- Not-for-profit organisations, such as registered charities, social enterprises, community interest companies, and voluntary-led groups
- Training organisations
- Independent bike shops with a community interest
Size of grant available: Up to £2,500
Priorities: Grants are to encourage people to start cycling, to cycle more often and to improve people’s confidence to cycle. The programme supports people returning to cycling, starting as complete beginners, and other people who do not cycle regularly. This includes reaching new people, including groups who are underrepresented in cycling or face challenges and perceived barriers to cycling
How to apply: Guidance notes and an online application form are available from the Cycling UK website.
Ironmongers’ Company
Deadline: 15th December 2023
Who can apply: Registered charities only
Size of grant available: Up to £10,000. The average grant size is £4,000
Priorities: Grant for projects that provide opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people under the age of 25 years to fulfil their potential. Projects must meet the following criteria:
- Be for children and young people under the age of 25 who are disadvantaged
- Consist of educational activities that develop learning, motivation and skills
- Have clear aims and objectives to be met within a planned timescale
- Be within the UK
How to apply: Applications should be submitted by post to the Charities Assistant. An application form is available to download from the funder’s website. Please follow the instructions provided by the funder and include all the information and documents requested with your application.
Adamson Trust
Deadline: 31st December 2023
Who can apply: Individual families and organisations on behalf of groups of disabled children, such as registered charities
Size of grant available: This is at the discretion of the Adamson Trust
Priorities: The funder supports organisations and registered charities that provide assistance with the cost of holidays or respite breaks for disabled children (aged 3 to 17 years) with physical, mental, or emotional impairments. The funder will need detailed information about the child(ren) and the planned holiday
How to apply: Further information and the application form are available on the Adamson Trust website.
Who can apply: Individual families and organisations on behalf of groups of disabled children, such as registered charities
Size of grant available: This is at the discretion of the Adamson Trust
Priorities: The funder supports organisations and registered charities that provide assistance with the cost of holidays or respite breaks for disabled children (aged 3 to 17 years) with physical, mental, or emotional impairments. The funder will need detailed information about the child(ren) and the planned holiday
How to apply: Further information and the application form are available on the Adamson Trust website.
UnLtd – Awards for Social Entrepreneurs
Deadline: 31st December 2023
Who can apply: Social entrepreneurs aged 16 and over who are living in the UK and who are the founder of a social business. The social entrepreneur must:
- Have identified a social issue and developed a business model that works to solve it
- Be committed to, and have a track record of, delivering local, regional or national social impact at scale
- Be experienced, ambitious and capable of growing their venture
- Have a realistic growth plan
- Be committed to working full-time in their social venture
Size of grant available: Start-up provides funding between £500 and £8,000 as well as support from a Social Entrepreneur Support Manager. Scaling up provides funding of up to £18,000 as well as 12 months’ mentoring and tailored support
Priorities: to support social entrepreneurs by helping them nurture their social ventures and grow their impact
How to apply: Guidance notes and the online application form can be found on the UnLtd website.
Utilita Football Rebooted – Grassroots Fund
Who can apply: FA-accredited football clubs or leagues
Size of grant available: This is at the discretion of the funder
Priorities: The funding is intended to enhance grassroots football, providing tailored support based on individual application needs. The grant can be used for various purposes, such as clubhouse improvements, volunteer appreciation, crime recovery, facility safety enhancements, and overall game and playing environment improvements
How to apply: Applications may be made at any time. The online application form can be found on the Grassroots Football website. Potential applicants may contact Grassroots Football to discuss the programme on Tel: 0191 4475250 | Email: info@teamgrassroots.co.uk.
Size of grant available: This is at the discretion of the funder
Priorities: The funding is intended to enhance grassroots football, providing tailored support based on individual application needs. The grant can be used for various purposes, such as clubhouse improvements, volunteer appreciation, crime recovery, facility safety enhancements, and overall game and playing environment improvements
How to apply: Applications may be made at any time. The online application form can be found on the Grassroots Football website. Potential applicants may contact Grassroots Football to discuss the programme on Tel: 0191 4475250 | Email: info@teamgrassroots.co.uk.
Who can apply: Registered charities with income of £25,000-£500,000 and with a proven track record of delivering services to people aged 18 and over
Size of grant available: Unrestricted grants of £75,000 for three years are provided alongside a range of tailored development support
Priorities: Grants are available to strengthen the capacity and capabilities of small, local specialist charities supporting people facing complex issues in England and/or Wales. Applicants must be providing in-depth services in one of the following eight themes:
Size of grant available: Unrestricted grants of £75,000 for three years are provided alongside a range of tailored development support
Priorities: Grants are available to strengthen the capacity and capabilities of small, local specialist charities supporting people facing complex issues in England and/or Wales. Applicants must be providing in-depth services in one of the following eight themes:
- Addiction
- Asylum seekers and refugees
- Care leavers
- Domestic abuse
- Homelessness
- Offending
- Sexual abuse and exploitation
- Trafficking and modern slavery
How to apply: Applications open from 1 November 2023 (10am). The guidelines and eligibility quiz can be accessed now on the Foundation’s website. A free Q&A webinar will be held on 9 November 2023 (10:30 to 12:00pm). Registration is required and can be done via the Foundation’s website.
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