About Us: To help support those working with disadvantaged young people in the UK. From mental health to homeless charities, the foundation works hard to help make a difference!
Criteria: Must be a registered charity in the UK and charitable work needs to be work that focuses on young people.
Grant Size: £25,000 to £75,000
Deadline for applications: 17th April 2026
About Us: The fund supports organisations working to prevent or reduce the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) by delivering trauma-informed, evidence-based services to children, young people, or adults.
Criteria: Available to charities and CIOs throughout the UK. Applications are particularly welcomed from organisations using creative arts, nature, or sport in their approaches.
Grant Size: Between £20,000 and £25,000
Deadline for applications: 5pm on the 30th April 2026
About Us: For urgent and essential structural repair projects to buildings that were originally built as churches, or the installation of kitchen and toilets.
Criteria: Listed and unlisted Christian places of worship, of any denomination, across the UK. Match funding of at least 50% is required.
Grant Size: Between £10,000 and £50,000
Deadline for applications: 7th July 2026
About Us: The Big Bike Revival is an intervention for adults aimed at encouraging an uptake in cycling.
Criteria: Local volunteer-led groups, social enterprises, and other not-for-profit organisations across England to deliver cycling events aimed at encouraging people to start or return to cycling this summer. These events should particularly engage individuals who face social, economic, or health deprivation, come from diverse backgrounds, or are dealing with complex personal challenges.
Grant Size: up to £3,500
Deadline for applications: 1st June 2026
About Us: Our mission is to amplify the voices of small charitable organisations, whose high impact work is often unseen and underfunded.
Criteria: To be eligible for our small charity funding, applicants must:
Be a UK-based local community group, charity, voluntary group or social enterprise
Have an annual income of less than £50,000.
Have a bank account in the organisation’s name.
Grant Size: Share £15,000 between five shortlisted projects. Max grant size £5,000.
Deadline for applications: 15th June 2026
The Schroder Charity Trust runs two focused grant programmes aligned with its objectives: (1) enabling disadvantaged children and young adults to thrive in education and employment, and (2) strengthening community wellbeing for vulnerable groups. Grants are up to £5,000, covering both core and project‑specific costs, with priority given to organisations delivering measurable outcomes in areas ranked within the top 20% of national deprivation indices. The Trust operates fixed application windows rather than rolling applications, with the next window opening 1 March 2026 (9am) to 30 April 2026, and decisions expected within approximately four months after closing.
Eligibility is restricted to UK‑registered charities with an annual income between £150,000 and £1,000,000, working within the Trust’s specified priority areas such as literacy development, early years readiness, youth employment pathways, homelessness prevention, youth work, and reducing social isolation among older people. The Trust does not fund non‑charities (e.g., CICs, social enterprises), nor charities that have received a grant within the last 24 months or applied unsuccessfully within the last 12 months. Eligible applicants must show evidence‑based impact, clear outcomes, and alignment with one of the Trust’s priority categories listed in its strategic objectives.
About Us: Convenience retailer SPAR will soon be inviting applications for its Community Cashback Scheme, which awards grants to voluntary or community organisations, schools and charities which make a difference within their local area.
Criteria: To voluntary or community organisations, schools and charities.
Grant Size: up to £10,000
Deadline for applications: Opens on 9th April and closes on 13th May 2026
About Us: The Barclays Community Sport Fund, delivered in partnership with Sported, aims to reduce inequalities in sport. The Access Grant is available to support the delivery of football, tennis or cricket activities for women and girls.
Criteria: Not-for-profit organisations, including charities, community groups, youth groups and traditional sports clubs can apply for funding but only one grant can be awarded to each organisation.
Grant Size: £1,000
Deadline for applications: 27th May 2026
About Us: Small grants are available to support grassroots community projects that improve quality of life and strengthen local communities. The fund supports practical, community-led initiatives, such as improving shared spaces, providing equipment, or enhancing local services, with a focus on delivering meaningful and lasting impact.
Criteria: The competition is open to UK-based community groups, charities, not-for-profit organisations, schools, pre-schools, and community or local authority-run projects.
Grant Size: 12 grants of up to £3,000
Deadline for applications: 31st May 2026
About Us: To support people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.
Criteria: To UK registered charities with an annual income under £500,000 for core, project or capital costs. Funding prioritises projects that help people access or sustain a safe and secure home, including support with financial hardship, housing access, tenancy sustainment, and health and wellbeing linked to poor housing.
Grant Size: up to £2,500
Deadline for applications: 1st June 2026
About Us: Holiday grants supporting fun, enriching experiences for children
Criteria: Schools, youth groups, not-for-profit organisations, and charities can apply for grants of £500 to £3,000 to support recreational trips or holidays within the UK for groups of disabled or disadvantaged children (aged 13 or under).
Grant Size: £500 to £3,000
Deadline for applications: 19th August 2026
The newly launched Sparks Award by Wokingham Borough Council is designed to support local individuals, grassroots groups, and community organisations in developing projects that help adults live more connected, independent, and fulfilling lives. Grants range from £100 to £2,000 and aim to reduce isolation, strengthen neighbourhood ties, and enable residents—particularly those with disabilities, health conditions, or caring responsibilities—to take part more fully in community life. The fund specifically prioritises ideas that align with Social Care Future aims, such as making it easier for everyone to feel part of their community or helping people remain in a place they call home
Successful applicants can use the funding for practical needs such as venue hire, equipment, refreshments, advertising, or running events and new activities that bring residents together. Wokingham Borough Council also offers guidance for those new to community projects, and local residents help decide which initiatives receive funding—ensuring the chosen projects reflect what matters most to the community
Deadline: Applications for Sparks funding are open between 1 February 2026 and 31 January 2027, although the window may close early because funds are awarded on a rolling basis.
The 2026 Parkinson’s UK Physical Activity Grants Programme offers funding between £500 and £3,000 to support projects that help people with Parkinson’s become and stay active. Eligible applicants include local community groups, clubs, exercise instructors, physios, activity providers, and anyone with a connection to the Parkinson’s community. The 2026 round places a stronger focus on supporting individuals with lower mobility, with updated criteria to encourage inclusive and confidence‑building physical activity options. Examples of supported activities include walking football, table tennis, dance, yoga, and “Gateway Activities” such as movement‑based arts sessions that help people feel more confident engaging in physical activity.
Deadline: Rolling
The National Lottery Awards for All programme provides small grants to support grassroots, community‑led projects across England. Eligible applicants include charities, community and not‑for‑profit groups, parish or town councils, health bodies, and schools, as long as their projects benefit the wider community and involve people in shaping the activity. Applicants do not need to be a registered charity but must have a bank account with at least two signatories. Projects must align with priorities such as building strong community relationships, improving important local spaces, supporting people to reach their potential, or helping communities facing increased pressures such as the cost‑of‑living crisis. Groups with smaller incomes are prioritised.
Funding awards typically range from £300 to £10,000, but following programme updates, applicants can now request up to £20,000, with projects able to run for up to two years. The programme operates on a rolling basis with no formal deadline, meaning applications can be submitted at any time, though decisions take around 16 weeks. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, especially during periods of high demand
With thanks to Slough CVS, West Berkshire Volunteer Centre and Bracknell & Wokingham Involve for the information contained in this article.
Connecting Communities in Berkshire 