Funding Opportunities in September

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National Lottery #iwill Fund 2025

About Us: This funding is for projects that help young people in England take part in place-based youth social action. By place-based youth social action, we mean young people playing an active role in addressing the issues of a specific place or area that matter most to local people.
Criteria: We’re particularly interested in projects that include young people from low-income communities.

In your application, you must show how your project:

creates place-based youth social action opportunities for young people
will help young people get involved in social action. This should be throughout their life, even after the funding ends.
will reach young people who have not taken part in regular social action activities
will continue, even after the funding ends
involves the voices of young people. They should also be a part of your organisation.
We expect projects to support young people aged up to 20, or up to 25 for those with additional support needs.

Grant Size: We expect you to match the funding we give you. The minimum amount we can match fund is £200,000.
Deadline: 24th September 2025

The National Lottery – Million Hours Fund

About Us: This funding is for organisations to give extra support to young people in areas with higher rates of anti-social behaviour. We’ll fund extra hours of youth work to give these young people more places to go and positive things to do.
Criteria: We can only fund projects in certain parts of England. The work you want us to fund must take place in, or benefit young people living in, one of the eligible ward areas. You can check the eligible ward areas for the Million Hours Fund (2025 to 2027).

To apply, your project must:

benefit young people aged 10 to 18, or up to 25 if they have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND)
effectively engage with young people at risk of taking part in anti-social behaviour
deliver more hours of youth work than you provide now
involve young people in deciding how you work
deliver youth work that is open to as wide a range of young people as possible (known as ‘open access’)
be run by trusted adults such as qualified youth workers, youth support workers, or experienced volunteers
The extra youth work you deliver must help young people:

have improved emotional wellbeing
have improved life and practical skills
feel safer and have access to trusted relationships with adults
Grant Size: £30,000 to £100,000
Deadline: 12pm on 22nd October 2025

WCIT Charity

About Us: Our purpose is to use the power of tech for impact through digital inclusion, education, charitable, and public engagement initiatives across the entire UK.
Criteria: For educational establishments and constituted not-for-profit organisations across the UK to support IT projects and activities.

The WCIT Charity will support activities within the themes of education, inclusion, IT for charities, and understanding of IT, such as the development and delivery of new services, solutions, training, apps, analytics, AI, robotics, or accessibility features/hardware.

Projects that are more likely to be funded include:

Projects where WCIT is a material or sole funder
Projects where WCIT is the sole funder of the IT component of a larger project
Organisations that could benefit from pro bono support
Proposals should demonstrate an innovative use of IT, be scalable for wider replication, and be sustainable over time
Grant Size: up to £15,000
Deadline: 22nd October 2025

Congregational and General Charitable Trust Grants

About Us: The Trust’s objectives are:

To make grants for the overall care, upkeep and extension of churches
To make grants towards the capital costs of church community projects
To promote the Christian religion and, in particular, the United Reformed and Congregational denominations, and other churches of the Protestant tradition
Criteria: Grants are available to support capital works on church buildings or towards the capital costs of church community projects in the UK. Applications are accepted from all churches of the Protestant tradition in the UK, but particularly those of the United Reformed and Congregational denominations.
Grant Size: up to £25,0000
Deadline: 24th October 2025

Greggs Foundation

About Us: As a grant-giving organisation, we understand the difficulties many charitable organisations face in accessing grant funding to meet fixed costs. Greggs Foundation Community Grants are a core funding grant to help organisations manage the financial requirements to keep their services running.
Criteria: To receive a Greggs Foundation Community Grant you must be a not-for-profit organisation and based in one of our geographical focus areas. Our focus areas will change from round to round and we will publish where these areas are on our website and highlight via social media in each round. We give priority to organisations in geographical areas located near to a Greggs Outlet or in an area of need. In addition to being based in one of our geographical focus areas we are looking for organisations that are delivering activities outlined in our Theory of Change.

Organisations successful in receiving funding are focused in the following areas:

Addressing direct needs in the local community
Providing food and support for individuals
Reducing social isolation and widening networks
Building knowledge, confidence and opportunities
Grant Size: £20,000 per year
Deadline: Rolling programme

Zurich Municipal Diversity and Inclusion awards

About Us: The Zurich Municipal Diversity and Inclusion awards are provided by Zurich Charity Insurance which insures not-for-profit organisations of all sizes within the UK.
The awards aim to celebrate the initiatives that small organisations put in place to promote inclusivity and celebrate diversity within their communities.

These awards are designed to honour the achievements made by organisations as they strive to make their communities a welcome, safe and happy place for everyone.

Criteria: The competition is only to charities and not-for-profit organisations based in the UK who fall within the definition below of a Small Charitable/Not-for-Profit Organisation:
“An organisation which is either registered as a charity at the Charities Commission or a non-profit, is a non-governmental legal entity that operates for a collective, public, or social benefit, rather than to generate profit for private owners with an annual income of up to £100,000.”

Grant Size: Prizes from £3k-£10k
Deadline: 30th September 2025

Arnold Clark’s Communities Support Fund

About Us: We want to give back to the communities that we serve.
Criteria: UK registered charities and community groups who provide services that are widely accessible to their local community and are located within a 50-mile radius of an Arnold Clark branch can apply now for a Community Support grant. Preference is given to smaller voluntary and community organisations.
The funding must be used for charitable or community purposes that address at least one of the following categories:

Pet welfare (to help cover costs for pet bills, animal shelters, therapy animals – reviewed on case by case basis.
Arts and culture (music, books, art and theatre groups looking for money for transport, resources, venue hire, and special licences at arts and culture.
Community enhancement (enhancing community, defib installation and replacements, play parks, community gardens, community galas and events).
Disability (sensory group resources, equipment and adaptations, this could be from groups or hospitals, trips for disability groups).
Educational training / advancement (extra resources for a PTA, school/education fayre/gala, uniform poverty. Extra curriculum resources).
Sustainability enhancements / projects (community clean-ups, recycling programmes, urban gardening, eco-friendly initiatives).
Mental health support (local support groups, networks end events that focus on mental wellbeing support).
Relief support organisations (emergency service aid, cancer or illness support groups).
Equality and diversity (programmes that promote equal access and opportunity, address discrimination and inequality and foster community cohesion).
Youth clubs and groups, such as Brownies, Scouts, Guides, Sea Cadets, Cubs, amateur sports teams, dance groups and gymnastics can apply for up to £750 for community trips, club costs materials, venue hire, transport.
Grant Size: up to £1,000
Deadline: Rolling programme

Moto Foundation Community Grants

About Us: The Moto Foundation makes a positive difference to the communities around our network of Motorway Service Areas
Criteria: You are a charity, school, not-for-profit or CIC within a 15-mile radius of a Moto site and
you have the endorsement of a Moto colleague.
Grant Size: up to £1,000
Deadline: Rolling programme

The Allen Lane Foundation

About Us: Our aims are to fund work within each of our funding programmes which:
will make a lasting difference to people’s lives rather than simply alleviating the symptoms or current problems;
is aimed at reducing isolation, stigma and discrimination, and;
encourages or enables groups that experience marginalisation and/or discrimination to share in the life of the whole community.
Criteria: We will fund work in the following areas:
Asylum seekers & refugees
Gypsy, Roma & Traveller communities
Offenders & ex-offenders
Older people
People affected by violence or abuse
People with mental health issues
Young People
We aim to help organisations to become sustainable, supporting running and core costs to enable them to have flexibility, security and longevity. We can contribute to project costs or salaries.
Six of our funding programmes are focused on funding for adults only.

The Young People’s Programme can support people aged approx 12-21 from across a broader range of backgrounds.

Grant Size: up to £15,000
Deadline: Rolling programme

The Kelly Family Charitable Trust

About Us: We’re interested in funding charities whose activities involve all or most family members, where possible, in initiatives that seek to tackle problems facing one or more of its members. We’ve funded charities working in fields including early intervention, mediation, prison services and services for families affected by sexual abuse, physical abuse and domestic violence, among others.
Criteria:
The trust has decided to prioritise its funding in favour of charities whose activities involve all or most family members where possible, in initiatives that support and encourage the family to work as a cohesive unit in tackling problems that face one or more of its members. The objective is to reinforce the benefit and support that family members as a unit can give to each other.

The three areas of activity that the charity wishes to support are:

Interventions that support families and help them in ways that prevent the fracture of the family unit, eg practical family support, relationship counselling, mediation
Families where sexual abuse, physical abuse, domestic violence, alcohol abuse and drug abuse threaten the integrity of the family unit
Prisoners and in particular their families, during and after the period of imprisonment
The trust prefers to support charities whose income is below £500,000.

Grant Size: up to £5,000
Deadline: Rolling programme

The Macaulay Moat Foundation

About Us: The Macaulay Moat Foundation is an independent grant-maker supporting charities and social entrepreneurs (including Community Interest Companies) who focus on Autism and Church Outreach.
Criteria: Grants are available for charities, community interest companies (CICs), charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs), and other not-for-profit organisations across England and Wales to deliver projects and activities around the themes of either Autism support or Church outreach.
Grant Size: Grants of up to £5,000 per year for up to three years are available
Deadline: Rolling programme

Electrical Safety Fund

Grants are available for charities, community safety organisations, and other not-for-profit organisations across the United Kingdom to support projects and activities that will contribute to a reduction in electrical risks in UK homes.
Application deadline: 12 October 2025

Rewilding Challenge Fund

Large grant for one large-scale rewilding project based in England, Wales or Scotland that is at least 1,000ha/10km size with particular interest in community-led/co-designed approaches to rewilding that brings lasting social, economic and ecological benefits for local communities.

Application deadline: 10 October 2025

Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust

Grants are available to registered UK charities that work with communities in the UK for projects that address specific categories set out by the Trust each year.

Application deadline: 30 September 2025

The Thames Valley PCC Community Fund

About Us: The Community Fund supports voluntary and community groups that help to prevent crime and keep communities safe.
Criteria: To qualify, your organisation must be based within the Thames Valley Police (TVP) area. The majority of applications for the Community Fund are received from Community and Voluntary Organisations, Not for Profit companies limited by guarantee, or Social Enterprises but the fund is not limited to these. We will not accept applications from commercial organisations, for profit organisations, community owned commercial organisations such as village shops or Public Houses.
Grant Size: up to £10,000
Deadline: 12pm (noon) on 22nd September 2025

The Miller Homes Community Fund

About Us: The Miller Homes Community Fund gives you the chance to apply for a grant towards improving your community.
Criteria: Grants from the fund can be used in a variety of ways to meet the needs and aspirations of people in the area where you live. The fund will focus on causes that are
linked to education
promote wellbeing
promote the environment
encourage participation in sport
Grant Size: up to £2,000
Deadline: 5th October 2025

Linnean Society

About Us: The Linnean Society is offering grants for community organisations linked with young people to deliver projects and activities that engage young people with local nature and natural spaces and improve their understanding of local biodiversity.
Criteria: Community groups and other organisations working directly with children and young people aged 16 and under can apply for funding for a variety of activities, such as:
Running a school festival about nature.
Painting community murals showcasing biodiversity in the area.
Building or restoring a community garden.
Creating a nature walk.
Hiring a speaker to come and talk about local foraging.
Grant Size: up to £1,000
Deadline: midnight on 25th October 2025

Thank you to Slough CVS, West Berkshire Volunteer Centre and Wokingham & Bracknell InVOLve for the funding information shared above.

Nominations Open for The King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2026

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Nominations for The King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2026 are now officially open as of Monday 1 September 2025.

This prestigious honour is the highest award given to voluntary organisations across the UK, and is considered the equivalent of an MBE for volunteer groups. It recognises outstanding work carried out by local volunteer-led groups that benefit their communities.

Who Can Be Nominated?

To be eligible, nominated groups must meet the following criteria:

  • Consist of three or more people
  • Be based in the UK, Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man
  • Have been in operation for at least three years
  • Have over half of its volunteers eligible to reside in the UK
  • Be volunteer-led, with more than half of its members being volunteers
  • Provide a specific and direct benefit to the local community

Celebrate Local Excellence

Note: Winning groups for 2025 will be announced on 14 November 2025.

How to Nominate

Deadline for nominations: Monday 1 December 2025

Let’s celebrate the power of volunteering and shine a light on the groups making a real difference in our communities.

Training Opportunities for people involved with running their local Village Hall

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Hallmark 1 – Focuses on the management and administration of the charity

Focuses on the management and administration of the charity. The aim is to achieve best practice, Charity Commission requirements and encourage trustee collaboration, shared knowledge and management committee development.

Who is it for?: Ideally all and at least more than one member of your committee should join this event.

Halls that achieve the standard will be awarded an ACRE Hallmark 1 Certificate, recognising their commitment to good governance and effective management.

Benefits:

Many village hall insurers offer up to 10% discount on insurance premiums for halls that reach this standard. When all trustees participate in the Hallmark 1 session, it significantly enhances team cohesion and shared understanding, leading to more confident, collaborative, and effective management committees. Expect a little homework after this session before certification sign off!

When: Tuesday 23rd September 2025

Where: Online

Time: 10 am – 12 noon

Booking link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1437507546769?aff=oddtdtcreator

Hallmark 2 – Health, Safety, Security & Licensing

Hallmark 2 supports village hall management committees in achieving best practice in health and safety, security, and licensing. It helps ensure compliance with legal requirements while fostering collaboration, shared knowledge, and the ongoing development of the management committee.

Who is it for? Ideally, all committee members should take part to ensure a shared understanding and collective responsibility.

Benefits:

Halls that meet the Hallmark 2 standard will receive an ACRE Hallmark 2 Certificate, recognising their commitment to good governance and safe, effective management. Committees can be more confident that:

· Legal compliance is being met

· Users, volunteers, and staff are better protected

· Risks are reduced, helping to minimise trustee liability

The knowledge and confidence gained through this process contribute to a safer, more resilient, and well-managed community facility.

Expect a little homework after this session before certification sign off!

When: Tuesday 21st October

Where: Beech Hill Memorial Hall, Wood Ln, Beech Hill, Reading RG7 2BE

Time: 11.00 am – 1.00 pm

Booking link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1437740312979?aff=oddtdtcreator

Hallmark 3

This workshop empowers management committees to actively engage with their community — including beneficiaries, users, and key stakeholders. It focuses on effective consultation, active listening, and responding to local needs. Participants will also explore strategies for marketing the hall and raising its profile as a vibrant hub at the heart of the community.

Who is it for?: Ideally all and at least more than one member of your committee should join this event.

This session helps management committees understand how meaningful community engagement contributes to the long-term sustainability of their hall.

Benefits:

Committees that reach this level demonstrate an outward-looking approach — they are visible, approachable, and responsive to the evolving needs of their community. By actively listening and aligning their activities with those needs, they ensure their Charitable Objectives are fulfilled in the most impactful way.

Halls operating at this level are often vibrant, well-used spaces with strong, positive relationships between the management committee and the wider community.

When: Tuesday 25th November 2025

Where: Sutton Hall, Church Rd, Stockcross, Newbury RG20 8LN

Time: 9.30 am – 12.00 pm

Booking link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1437958966979?aff=oddtdtcreator

Community Buildings Advice Service: Supporting Halls Across Berkshire 

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by Kate Meads, CBAS Advisor

This month (August), David and I have been out and about offering support to community halls, and we’re thrilled to share some exciting progress at Arborfield Village Hall.

Thanks to funding from the Platinum Jubilee Fund, Arborfield Village Hall is making great strides in implementing recommendations from our 21st Century Community Halls consultation. The consultation identified key areas for improvement, including:

  • Insulation and heat loss
  • Accessibility
  • Overhaul of toilet facilities

We’re delighted to report that building work is now well underway at this charming 1931 hall.

Recent upgrades include:

  • Maximised loft insulation to improve energy efficiency
  • Insulated ceiling in the boiler room to reduce heat loss
  • Touch-free door systems installed at the front entrance and accessible toilet for improved accessibility

Next on the agenda: solar panel and battery storage installation, scheduled to take place in the coming month or two – another step toward sustainability.

In addition to the building improvements, Arborfield Village Hall is also benefiting from community-focused initiatives:

  • A small grant from the Police & Crime Commissioner is supporting the popular Saturday board games club (re-starting after a summer break)
  • New storage facilities have been added for the Local History Club, which regularly hosts engaging history displays in the hall

A huge well done to Paul and all the trustees for their dedication and hard work in maintaining and enhancing this vital community space. Your efforts are truly making a difference!

Funding Opportunities in August

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Hays Travel Foundation

About Us: We strive to help and improve the communities where we work and live, and this is something we believe we have a strong track record of accomplishing.
Criteria: The funding is intended for local groups which operate or have an impact in an area in which Hays Travel have a branch and whose project helps young people up to 25 years of age develop in at least one of these areas: education, prevention of poverty, health, arts, culture or sports.
Grant Size: Up to £15,000
Deadline: 28th September 2025

The Hilden Charitable Fund

About Us: The Fund’s aim is to address disadvantages by supporting charitable causes which are less likely to raise funds from public subscriptions or statutory sources.
Criteria: We do not fund individuals, only organisations. To be eligible to make an application your organisation must be based in the UK and be one of the following:
Registered Charity
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Charitable Company (NB you must be registered both as a charity and a company)
Excepted Charity.
Grant Size: Usually between £5,000 – £7,000
Deadline: 3pm on 21st August 2025

McCarthy Stone Foundation

About Us: Our vision is a society where older people are valued, connected and engaged with their communities.
Criteria: Registered charities, constituted community groups and Community Interest Companies (CICs) limited by guarantee with an annual income of less than £250,000 can apply for grants for projects to reduce loneliness and isolation for people over 65 living in the more deprived areas of England, Scotland and Wales.
Grant Size: up to £7,500
Deadline: Opens 1st August and closes 5pm on 29th August 2025

Music for All

About Us: Music for All is dedicated to changing lives across the UK by improving access to music making. We are a passionate, focused and ambitious UK charity helping disadvantaged music makers experience the joys and far-reaching benefits of making music.
Criteria: We’re delighted to be offering financial support to community projects and individuals in the following categories: Physical mobility or accessibility needs, Mental health and loneliness/isolation, Choral groups, Working with early years aged children and Descant recorder pack and music pack.
Grant Size: up to £2,000
Deadline: 12 noon on Wednesday 24th September 2025

Veolia’s Sustainability Fund

About Us: Transforming local communities and environments.
Criteria: Any not-for-profit organisations, community groups or individuals can apply to the Sustainability Fund. We welcome projects that strengthen the local community, including but not limited to: employment support programmes, rehabilitation projects, and youth development initiatives.
Grant Size: up to £1,000
Deadline: 30th September 2025

Arnold Clark Community Fund – Cost of Living Support

About Us: We want to give back to the communities that we serve.
Criteria: Applications for the Arnold Clark Community Fund Cost-of-Living Support are only eligible if the organisation falls in one of the following categories: foodbank, accommodation, poverty relief and where people/communities in the UK are the primary and immediate focus of investment. Applications are also only eligible if they’re made by an organisation that are based/operates solely in the UK and are located within 50 miles of an Arnold Clark branch.
Grant Size: up to £2,500
Deadline: Rolling programme

The Fat Beehive Foundation

About Us: The Fat Beehive Foundation is an independent UK grant-making charity that supports small charities to improve their digital presence.
Criteria: We support UK-based charities with an annual turnover of under £1 million, offering funding for a wide range of digital projects. Whether that’s building a new website, developing online resources, or improving digital accessibility, our aim is to help you reach more people, raise more funds and deliver more impact.
Grant Size: up to £2,500
Deadline: Rolling programme

Woodroffe Benton Foundation

About Us: The Small Grant funding round will focus on projects that improve the quality of life and social engagement for people with severe physical and/or learning disabilities in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Criteria: The Foundation provides grants to officially recognised charitable organisations within the United Kingdom only in respect of:
Relief of persons in need, hardship or distress by reason of disaster or as a consequence of social or economic circumstance.
Provision/Maintenance of care and accommodation for the sick and elderly.
Promotion of education – in particular within the Derbyshire region.
Environmental Conservation/Preservation/Protection/Improvement – in particular where this would encourage the provision of access by members of the general public.
Human physical well-being – but applicants should note that funding in this area is proactive and the trustees will not make grants in response to unsolicited applications
Grant Size: £500 to £2,500
Deadline: 31st August 2025 or when 150 applications have been received

Rewilding Innovation Fund – Rewilding Britain

The Rewilding Innovation Fund aims to remove barriers to rewilding across Britain. Whether your site or project is in the early planning stages or looking to try out a new approach, you can apply.

From business plans to feasibility studies, community engagement to trialling the latest technology, Rewilding Britain funds works that could potentially unlock further funding for you or move you up the rewilding scale.

They choose the projects they consider will have the highest impact on people and nature, on land and sea, with opportunities for shared learning with the Rewilding Network.

Projects have two opportunities to apply for funding through the Rewilding Innovation Fund each year, in the new year and summer. The 2025 summer round is now open.

You can apply for up to £15,000 and the deadline for applications is 29 August 2025.

Music for All

Financial support to community projects and individuals is available in the following categories:

Physical mobility or accessibility needs (groups and individuals)
Mental health and loneliness/isolation
Choral groups
Working with early years aged children
Descant recorder pack and music pack
You can apply for up to £2000 and the deadline for applications is 24 September 2025.

Community support small grants – Trusthouse Charitable Foundation

Single year grants between £2,000 and £10,000 are available to charities and not for profit organisations for core costs, salaries, running and project costs. Projects must have a focus on Community Support and address urban and rural deprivation in the UK.

if you are located in a rural area, you must be in the bottom 50% most deprived areas according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation. Your annual income must not exceed £250,000 and you can secure 50% of the total project costs.

This is a rolling programme with no deadlines.

Bernard Sunley Foundation grants

The Foundation offers grants in the categories of Community, Education, Health or Social Welfare.

They offer three levels of grants. These are large grants of £20,000 and above; medium grants of up to £20,000 and small grants of £5,000 and under. Grants can be used for:

Capital projects which include new buildings, extensions, refurbishments and recreational spaces.
New minibuses and other vehicles that provide a vital service to those most in need in their local community.
Churches and other places of worship with a strong, secular community focus.
Charities or CIOs (Charitable Incorporated Organisations) registered in England and Wales.
Certain organisations with exempt status such as specialist schools, scout and guide groups, housing associations, cooperatives, and community benefit societies.
Applications are accepted all year round.

Barclays’ Female Tennis & Cricket Coaches for Girls Fund

About Us: We want to grow participation at every level and have grants dedicated to getting more women qualified across the UK to coach girls’ football at a grassroots level.
Criteria: This fund is available to all clubs and groups that run football, cricket or tennis activities for girls and aspire to get more female coaches qualified.
Grant Size: up to £200
Deadline: 22nd August 2025

Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund

Grants are available for local authorities, combined authorities, charities, research organisations and consortiums to support new, locally delivered, highly tailored and targeted interventions that meet the needs of digitally excluded people in England.
Application deadline: 10 September 2025 (15:00)

Warburtons Community Grants

About Us: provides small grants up to £400 to support charitable organisations towards broader activities which improve Health, Place or Skills for families in their community.
Criteria: Not-for-profit organisations/Charities/CICs, or Warburtons volunteers/employees in a capacity. Projects must deliver direct benefit to families and align with at least one theme:
Health: improving physical health and/or wellbeing

Place: creating safer, greener, more inclusive community spaces

Skills: developing useful skills for life or employment

Grant Size: up to £400
Deadline: 4 November 2025

With thanks to Rural Services Network, Slough CVD, West Berkshire Volunteer Centre and Bracknell & Wokingham InVOLve for the information contained in this article.