Grassroots Grants is now open for applications!

Calling all community groups and organisations in England – grants of up to £2,000 are available to apply for.

Grassroots Grants provides unrestricted funding for small, local organisations that are making a meaningful difference in their communities.

Building on the success of previous funding rounds, the programme will run from January to September 2026 providing more opportunities to apply.

Priority will be shown to organisations which meet the following criteria:

Funding for communities that rank as being within the top 15% on the English Indices of Deprivation

Organisations that work with and support communities classed as marginalised or vulnerable

If you have previously received funding through the programme: you are invited to apply again once your grant spend is complete and you have submitted an end of grant report

If you were unsuccessful in previous rounds: we would welcome a new application from you this year

The programme is possible thanks to funding raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and is awarded through Postcode Local Trust, Postcode Places Trust, Postcode Neighbourhood Trust and Postcode Society Trust.

The Allen Lane Foundation

About Us: We award funding for charitable purposes across the UK. Our focus is on funding particular groups that experience marginalisation and/or discrimination.
Criteria: For charities and not-for-profit organisations working with young people aged 12-21 who are socially excluded or marginalised, and who may have experienced significant issues within their lives
Grant Size: up to £15,000
Deadline for applications: Rolling programme

Henry Smith Foundation- Holiday Grants

About Us: The foundation aims to help children who experience inequity and/or are disabled to go on fun trips.
Criteria: The Holiday Grants Programme offers one-off grants for schools, youth groups and non-profit organisations to take children aged 13 and under on recreational day trips or short residential trips.
Grant Size: £500 – £3,000 per trip,day trip or residential trips of up to 7 days will be considered
Deadline for applications: 19th March 2026

Lord Barnby’s Foundation

About Us: Lord Barnby’s Foundation offers grants to charitable organisations in England and Wales for general charitable purposes, the advancement of health or saving of lives, disability, the prevention or relief of poverty, environment, conservation and heritage.
Criteria: Charitable organisations in England and Wales.
Grant Size: up to £5,000
Deadline for applications: Rolling programme

BBC Children in Need

About Us: BBC Children in need provide core and revenue funding for projects supporting young people facing challenges such as growing up in poverty, mental health issues, being ill or disabled, family challenges, and social injustice.
Criteria: Charitable Incorporated Organisations are eligible to apply, and should be registered with the Charity Commission. All grant applications to reflect these key principles:
Being focused on outcomes for children and young people
Safeguarding (Working with Children)
Supporting children and young people to participate in your work
We don’t fund work that statutory bodies (such as schools or local authorities) have a duty to provide.
ALL organisations must attend a pre-application information session. The sessions in the South East are delivered every two weeks.
Grant Size: £1,000 to £40,000 per year up to three years
Deadline for applications: Rolling programme

The Health Lottery Foundation

About Us: We support organisations that are working to improve health and wellbeing.
Criteria: Charities and Community Interest Companies (CICs) that improve health and wellbeing in England, Scotland and Wales, are eligible.
Grant Size: £1,000
Deadline for applications: 27th February 2026

B&Q Foundation – Home Starter Kit Grants

About Us: To provide home-starter packs for people in need to move into their home.
Criteria: The funding is intended for UK registered charities working to improve the lives of people in need by supporting projects that make homes safe, welcoming, and comfortable. Grants support home starter kits to help individuals and families facing homelessness, domestic abuse, disabilities, illness, or financial hardship to feel more settled and supported in their living spaces.
Grant Size: up to £10,000
Deadline for applications: 20th February 2026

Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust

About Us: We award grants to registered UK charities that work with communities in the UK. We aim to give grants to those in society who face the greatest challenges and whose opportunities are most limited.
Criteria: For UK-registered charities with an operating income of between £100,000 and £1 million.
Grant Size: up to £1,000
Deadline for applications: 28th February 2026

The Ben Amanna Education Grant

About Us: Funding education and development in boxing-related work and communities.
Criteria: Boxing is Love provide funding and in-kind support, including equipment, as well as small Education and Development Awards to help gyms, youth centres, charities, boxers and coaches expand education, development and career opportunities.
Grant Size: up to £250
Deadline for applications: 6pm on 1st March 2026

Hinrichsen Foundation

About Us: The Foundation gives grants for the performance, commissioning and recording of contemporary and experimental music in the UK.
Criteria: For charities and organisations across the UK to deliver music projects that focus on the performance, commissioning, or recording of contemporary music.
Grant Size: Between £500 and £3,000
Deadline for applications: 13th March 2026

Dan Maskell Tennis Trust

About Us: A tennis charity raising funds for people with disabilities who play tennis.
Criteria: Disabled individuals, disability groups, tennis clubs, schools, and associations across the UK that work with people with disabilities can apply for grants from the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust to support participation in tennis. The grants can be used for coaching with LTA-licensed coaches, court hire, tennis wheelchairs, and equipment like rackets.
Grant Size: up to £1,600
Deadline for applications: 10th May 2026

The Rowing Foundation

About Us: Providing grants towards the cost of boat equipment or boat refurbishments to support junior & student rowers, and adaptive rowing for all ages.
Criteria: Organisations, clubs, and schools involved in rowing can apply for grants of from the Rowing Foundation to support junior & student rowers, as well as adaptive rowing for all ages.
Grant Size: Between £500 and £4,000
Deadline for applications: noon on 1st June 2026

TVP Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner – Community Fund

The OPCC for Thames Valley will open the next round of its Community Fund on Monday 2 February 2026. Voluntary and community groups, charities, and town and parish councils can apply for grants to support local projects that contribute to the Police and Crime Commissioner’s plan. The fund is financed through the sale of goods seized from criminals.
Applications close at 12pm on Monday 23 February 2026. Projects must show clear deliverables and demonstrate how they support the Police and Crime Plan. Around £200,000 is available, and previous rounds have been highly competitive. Awards will be announced in late March/early April.
Key guidelines:

Open to not‑for‑profit organisations, including charities, social enterprises, and town/parish councils
Projects must take place within the Thames Valley policing area
Organisations funded in the last 12 months are not eligible
Existing OPCC‑funded organisations may apply (subject to checks to avoid duplicate funding)
Maximum grant: £10,000 (applicants may be asked if they can accept a lower amount)
Projects must clearly support the Police and Crime Plan objectives

Further details and FAQs are available on the OPCC website.
Deadline: 23 February 2026

Path accessibility fund – The Ramblers Association

The fund welcomes applications to fund projects that seek to remove barriers and open up paths for more people in England, Scotland, and Wales. This includes improving access for those people with reduced mobility, who may struggle to climb over stiles.

The average award to date has been £2500. The deadline for applications is 14 March 2026.

Seed Corn Grants – The National Archives

Seed Corn Grants offer between £500 and £5,000 to support early-stage, exploratory projects that spark new ideas and approaches to community engagement with heritage.

These grants are designed for community groups, Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM) or other heritage organisations looking to test concepts, build partnerships, or pilot activities.

The current round of applications closes on 17 April 2026.

Asda Community Spaces Grants

About Us: Supporting grassroots community groups to transform spaces at the heart of their local community.
Criteria:  Charities and not-for-profit organisations that benefit local people.
Grant Size: up to £20,000
Deadline for applications: Applications open from Spring 2026

Information contained in this article is sourced from Slough CVS, Volunteer Centre West Berkshire, Wokingham & Bracknell InVOLve and Rural Services Network.