September Funding Opportunities

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The War Memorials Trust

Grants to repair and conserve war memorials in the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, covering conservation, like-for-like repair, condition surveys and structural stabilisation. Up to £20,000 for freestanding, non-beneficiary memorials, or up to £5,000 for non-freestanding memorials, usually around 50% of eligible costs (minimum award normally £125).
Deadline: Saturday 31 October 2026 for the current application batch, with decisions by early January 2027 (the Trust reviews applications in batches at deadlines published on its website)
Eligibility: Open to individuals and organisations, including local authorities. Anyone applying who is not responsible for the memorial must have the custodian’s written consent.

Morrisons Foundation: Connecting Communities Grant Scheme

Grants of up to £20,000, which can fully fund a capital project, to breathe new life into the spaces where communities meet, from building renovations and improvements to outdoor areas to fixed equipment such as boilers, security systems and stairlifts. Priority goes to smaller charities with annual income under £1 million.
Deadline: Rolling; the Foundation accepts and reviews applications on a continual basis, with no deadline
Eligibility: UK registered charities only (registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales or OSCR for at least a year, with accounts filed on time), running a community facility open to everyone which the charity owns or leases with at least three years remaining, in England, Scotland or Wales. Community Interest Companies are explicitly not eligible.

Active Thames Fund

Grants to grow watersports and activity on the tidal Thames and the Thames Path National Trail across Greater London, Kent and Essex, by widening participation among groups currently under-represented on the water, developing coaches and volunteers, and supporting physical and mental wellbeing. No fixed maximum is published; requests above £5,000 must show they can deliver against several of the fund’s objectives. Awards are expected in December, with delivery from spring.
Deadline: Applications close Sunday 27 September 2026
Eligibility: Formally constituted organisations with a bank account in the organisation’s name; individuals and informal friendship groups cannot apply.

Veolia Environmental Trust

Community Grants of £10,000 to £75,000 to create or improve buildings and outside spaces used by the community, and Habitat and Biodiversity Grants from £10,000 upwards (no maximum is published on the Trust’s site) for work that protects and restores threatened habitats and the wildlife that depends on them.
Deadline: 12:00 midday, Thursday 1 October 2026
Eligibility: Constituted not-for-profit organisations, local authorities and Environmental Bodies.

The Let’s Celebrate Towns competition

About Us: The Let’s Celebrate Towns competition, delivered in partnership by Visa and Nationwide, aims to strengthen local economies and communities by supporting projects that make towns stronger, more resilient, and vibrant.
Criteria: Entries are open to MPs and local leaders, local authorities and town councils, and community groups and organisations. Eligible towns must have a population between 5,000 and 225,000. Towns can enter one of five categories: High Street Revival, Backing Local Business, Protecting Valued Places, Connected Places, and Community Pride. Only one entry per town is permitted in each category.
Grant Size: £20,000 for one winning town in each category, to fund a community-led project or initiative.
Deadline for Applications: 25th October 2026

Costco and United Way UK – Give Local 2026-2027

About Us: The United Way UK Give Local Grants scheme supports small, local organisations working to improve the lives of people within their communities. The programme seeks organisations that can become long-term partners and deliver programmes addressing key community needs, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
Criteria: Community-based, local organisations with an average annual income of £300,000 or less can apply.

Organisations with a charitable purpose that are not registered charities may also be considered, subject to additional checks.

Funding priorities include:

Education – including early childhood development, school readiness and success, out-of-school learning and soft skills development
Income stability – including job training, access to employment, employment support and financial literacy
Health – including mental health support, hunger prevention and access to housing
United Way UK has a particular interest in applications from local charities continuing to provide essential frontline support in disadvantaged communities.

Applications are submitted through an online application form available from the United Way UK website.
Grant Size: 30 grants of £1,500 each.
Deadline for Applications: 24th September 2026

The Electrical Safety Fund

About Us: The Electrical Safety Fund provides grants to support projects that reduce the risks associated with electrical products and improve public awareness of electrical safety, with a particular focus on protecting vulnerable people in their homes.
Criteria: Not-for-profit organisations, schools, and public organisations can apply. Eligible projects may include product testing, product replacement events, educational and awareness-raising activities, home safety initiatives, and data collection projects. Joint and larger projects may also be considered.
Grant Size: Up to £10,000
Deadline for Applications: 27th September 2026

One Stop Community Partnership Programme

About Us: The One Stop Community Partnership Programme provides funding to local community groups and organisations to support new or ongoing projects that make a positive difference in their communities. The programme focuses on supporting vulnerable people, tackling local challenges and strengthening community initiatives.
Criteria:

Community groups or organisations can apply if their organisation or project location is within two miles of a One Stop store.

Projects should support one or more of the following areas:

Tackling food poverty
Supporting vulnerable people
Supporting older people
Supporting low-income families
Supporting local sports teams
Improving the local environment
Reducing waste in the community
Food banks and breakfast clubs cannot request funding to purchase food items. However, funding may be available for food banks to purchase equipment such as fridges, freezers or storage units.

Applicants should check the One Stop Store Locator before applying to confirm that their project is within two miles of an eligible store and that funding is currently available.

If the local store is a Working With store, applicants should speak directly to the store manager to request support.
Grant Size: Initial grant of up to £500.
Deadline for Applications: Applications open 1st September 2026 and close 30th September 2026.

Laughology – The Happiness Fund

About Us: To date, we’ve invested over £27,500 into projects that create positive change and have a clear, sustainable future. We’re all about funding initiatives that don’t just make a difference today, but continue to thrive tomorrow.
Criteria: We fund grassroots, community-driven projects focused on mental health, wellbeing, inclusion, and skills development. If your initiative is non-profit, has a long-term impact, and helps people thrive, we want to hear from you.
Grant Size: up to £5,000
Deadline for Applications: Opens 7th September 2026, closes 2nd October 2026

England and Wales Cricket Board: County Grants Fund 2026

Grants typically of £1,000 to £15,000 per application for ECB-affiliated cricket clubs in England and Wales to improve their facilities: welcoming environments (social space, toilets for women and disabled people, catering, arrival and access, digitising the club), ECB-approved non-turf pitches and practice facilities, and changing-room refurbishments, and larger changing-room schemes costing over £30,000 can attract up to £50,000. No minimum partnership funding is required, work must not start before the grant offer letter, and every project must be completed and claimed by 31 January 2027. A club has to be running women’s, girls’ or disability cricket already, and needs two quotes up to £24,999 and three from £25,000. The route in is an expression of interest on the ECB’s IMS portal.
Deadline: 30 September 2026, or earlier if the funding runs out (the window opened on 1 February 2026)
Eligibility: ECB-affiliated cricket clubs in England and Wales with a governing document, insurance, at least a year’s security of tenure, their own bank account, accounts and a safeguarding officer. The scheme is defined by affiliation rather than legal form, so registered charity, CIO and CIC status is not specified.

Riverhorse Trust

Grants of £1,000 to £5,000 for UK registered charities with annual income under £100,000, usable flexibly for project costs, core running costs or essential overheads, or for a service, activity or equipment, under the Trust’s three themes of Relief, Change and Strength. Charities that make good use of a first grant may be offered funding over more than one year. Decisions are expected within eight weeks of a round closing, and anything arriving late simply rolls into the next round. Campaigning-only work, individuals and organisations working mainly outside the UK are not funded.
Deadline: The autumn round closes at the end of September (the Trust prints no exact date or time); the spring round closes at the end of February
Eligibility: UK registered charities only, with annual income under £100,000. CICs are ruled out, whatever their aims.

Groundwork: Comic Relief Community Fund (England)

Grants of up to £5,000 from a pot of just over £600,000, expected to reach around 120 grassroots, community-led organisations in England with annual income of £250,000 or less. The money can go on direct project costs, core organisation costs (rent, utility bills, senior management and administration salaries, evaluation) or a mix; Groundwork draws a line between this kind of core funding and unrestricted money: it has to be for an agreed purpose and spent by 30 September 2027. Three themes for 2026/27: basic needs (homelessness, food and essential goods, community hubs, welfare advice, cost of living pressures), early childhood development for children up to eight, and safety, which takes in work against violence towards women and girls and work with refugees, asylum seekers and people forced to migrate. Where an organisation works in a more deprived area on the Index of Multiple Deprivation, that counts in its favour. Projects with mental health as the principal focus, IT and digital equipment, voucher schemes, one-off events and fundraising are not funded, and you must be based in the region where you deliver. The route in is the online eligibility checker.
Deadline: 5pm, Wednesday 30 September 2026 (the only round for 2026/27; opened 1 September)
Eligibility: Charities, constituted community groups, social enterprises, not-for-profit companies limited by guarantee and CICs limited by guarantee (CICs must be at least two years old), all based in England, with their own constitution and accounts and a safeguarding policy reviewed at least every two years. Statutory bodies, unconstituted groups, CICs limited by shares and profit-making companies cannot apply.

Green Community Grants Programme

About Us: The Green Community Grants Programme, established by the Wildlife Trusts with funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery and Postcode Green Trust, provides flexible one-year grants to not-for-profit organisations working to support nature recovery, climate action and access to nature-rich spaces. Funding can also support sustainable activities such as recycling, litter picking, beach cleans and sustainable transport.
Criteria:

Applicants must be not-for-profit groups based in England, Scotland or Wales.
The organisation’s main aims and objectives must fit with one of the programme’s themes:
Contributing to nature recovery and responding to the climate emergency.
Improving nature-rich spaces and access to them.
Priority will be given to organisations:
With annual income between £10,000 and £250,000.
Working in communities within the top 15% of the Index of Multiple Deprivation.
Supporting marginalised groups, including disabled people, communities experiencing racial inequity and LGBT+ people.
Whose governing documents include objectives relating to habitat or species restoration/protection.
Grant Size: Up to £25,000 for a one-year flexible grant.
Deadline for Applications: 21st October 2026

Cash4Clubs

About Us: Cash4Clubs, funded by Flutter UK & Ireland and delivered in partnership with Sported, supports grassroots sports clubs and community organisations across the UK and Ireland that use sport to improve lives, strengthen communities and increase participation in physical activity.
Criteria:

Eligible applicants include:
Not-for-profit sports clubs.
Community sports organisations.
Registered charities.
Community groups.
Traditional sports clubs and teams.
Companies limited by guarantee and other eligible not-for-profit organisations.
Organisations must deliver sport and physical activity opportunities primarily for adults aged 18 and over.
Applicants must demonstrate how sport is being used to achieve wider social impact.
Priority will be given to organisations that:
Operate in areas of high deprivation.
Increase participation among under-represented groups.
Support women and girls.
Support racially diverse communities.
Support disabled people and LGBTQ+ communities.
Encourage adults who would not normally participate in sport.
Improve physical and mental wellbeing.
Reduce loneliness and isolation.
Address issues such as crime, anti-social behaviour and community cohesion.
Grant Size: £2,000
Deadline for Applications: Opens 1st October 2026 and closes 1st January 2027.

Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner’s Community Fund

About Us: The Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner’s (PCC) current Police and Crime Plan (2024-2029) focuses on three key pillars: protecting communities, people and property.
Criteria: Your organisation MUST be designated as not for profit. Your project MUST take place or be delivered within the Thames Valley Policing Area.
Grant Size: £10,000
Deadline for Applications: 12pm (noon) on 28th September 2026

Arnold Clark Community Fund

About Us: The Arnold Clark Community Fund, provided by Arnold Clark, supports UK-based voluntary and community organisations delivering projects that benefit local communities.
Criteria: Applicants must be UK-based voluntary or community organisations, including: Charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs), Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), Social enterprises, Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs). Organisations must operate solely within the UK. Projects must take place within 50 miles of an Arnold Clark branch. Funding can support: Education and extracurricular activities, Youth groups and sports clubs, Environmental initiatives, Community improvement projects, Equipment, uniforms, trips and materials, Venue hire and transport, Defibrillators, play parks and community gardens, Local community events.
Grant Size: Up to £2,500
Deadline for Applications: 30th September 2026

Woodland Trust’s Free Trees for Schools & Community Groups

About Us: The Woodland Trust’s Free Trees for Schools & Community Groups initiative provides free tree packs to not-for-profit organisations across the UK, helping communities improve outdoor spaces, support wildlife, reduce flooding and contribute to tackling climate change.
Criteria: Open to not-for-profit organisations across the UK, including: schools, sports clubs, faith groups, Scouts and Guides, local councils and residents’ associations.
Grant Size: Free tree packs of 15, 30, 105 or 420 saplings.
Deadline for Applications: Expected to close in January 2027

British Heart Foundation (BHF) Free Community Defibrillator Scheme

About Us: The British Heart Foundation (BHF) Free Community Defibrillator Scheme provides fully funded defibrillator packages to communities across the UK. The scheme aims to improve access to lifesaving defibrillators and increase survival rates following out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.
Criteria: Eligible applicants include: charities and community groups, sports clubs, faith organisations and community centres, parish councils and residents’ associations, Community Interest Companies (CICs), informal community groups and community-focused social enterprises. Applicants must be non-profit and community-focused.
Grant Size: A fully funded community defibrillator package.
Deadline for Applications: 28th February 2027, subject to funding availability and demand.

With thanks to GeckoFundraising Weekly, Wokingham & Bracknell Involve, Slough CVS for the information contained in this article.

Funding Opportunities in August

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Click on headers for further information.

The Souter Charitable Trust

About Us: The trust supports projects for the relief of human suffering in the UK and overseas.
Criteria: UK-registered charities that work to reduce hardship and improve people’s lives in the UK and overseas. The Trust particularly supports organisations guided by Christian values, although charities without a Christian focus are also welcome to apply.
Grant Size: £1,000 to £3,000
Deadline for Applications: 13th August 2026

B&Q Foundation

About Us: The B&Q Foundation supports UK charities working to improve the lives of people in need by funding projects that make homes safe, welcoming, and comfortable. We provide grants for essential home improvements and home starter kits—helping individuals and families facing homelessness, domestic abuse, disabilities, illness, or financial hardship to feel more settled and supported in their living spaces.
Criteria: To UK registered charities for projects that improve homes and accommodation, or provide home-starter kits, for people in need.
Grant Size: up to £10,000
Deadline for Applications: Opens 20th July 2026 and closes 14th August 2026

Delamere Dairy Foundation

About Us: An independent, self-governing registered charity in Great Britain that provides financial assistance and grants to support local communities.
Criteria: For charities and other not-for-profit organisations working in England, Scotland and Wales. Funding supports projects that benefit communities by advancing agriculture and environmental protection, improving opportunities for young people, promoting education, and helping to reduce financial hardship and illness.
Grant Size: £1,000 up to £5,000
Deadline for Applications: 14th August 2026

King Charles III Charitable Fund

About Us: A major grant-making organization in the UK that supports environmental conservation, education, health, and social inclusion.
Criteria: UK registered not-for-profit organisations with an annual income of between £25,000 and £500,000 can apply for small grants for up to three years.

The next round is focused on projects working across the following two themes:

Heritage and conservation – the preservation of historic and culturally important buildings and traditional craftmanship, together with the sustainable regeneration of communities and the built environment across the globe.
Education – supporting education, training and employability opportunities through which young people and adults can fulfil their potential.
Grant Size: up to £3,000
Deadline for Applications: Opens 5th August 2026 and closes 19th August 2026

CHIP Community Chest

About Us: CHIP is a charity backed by CHIC that works with Local Employment Groups to help people who are distant from the workplace into employment.
Criteria: Eligible applicants include community groups, charities, social enterprises, Community Interest Companies, uniformed groups and sports clubs, among others.
Grant Size: up to £5,000
Deadline for Applications: 21st August 2026

Woodroffe Benton Foundation

About Us: A UK-registered charity that provides small grants to smaller charities, schools, and non-profit organisations.
Criteria: Eligibility: UK charities with annual income under £1 million; must provide services within the UK. Funding Themes: Relief of hardship; care for the elderly; education; environmental conservation.
Grant Size: £500–£2,500
Deadline for Applications: Opens 1st August 2026 and closes 31st August 2026

Hinrichsen Foundation

About Us: To support new, contemporary and experimental music.
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: up to £3,000
Deadline for Applications: 1st September 2026

Thomas Wall Trust

About Us: The Trust offers grants for specific projects that improve communication skills for disadvantaged adults and supports NEET people into employment.
Criteria: Available to registered charities to support projects that equip people (18 or older in order) from disadvantaged groups with the communication skills necessary to gain employment. Priority will be given to projects that target people experiencing multiple deprivation or other groups facing major hurdles to employment, especially women, people with physical, mental, or learning disabilities, refugees and asylum seekers.
Grant Size: up to £5,000
Deadline for Applications: 11th September 2026
Website: https://www.thomaswalltrust.org.uk/grants-for-registered-charities-2-2/

The Adamson Trust

About Us: A small, independent, self-funded charitable organisation to assist with part funding of holidays or respite breaks for children aged between 2 years and 17 years who suffer from life limiting physical or mental health conditions.
Criteria: Individual families, groups of children, schools, organisations, and other registered charities can apply to the Adamson Trust for financial assistance towards the cost of holidays or respite breaks for disabled children with physical, mental, or emotional impairments. To be eligible, the child must be a UK resident and between the ages of 3 and 17. The Trust requires evidence of their disability or illness from a medical or social services professional. Grants from the Trust usually only cover a portion of the holiday expenses.
Grant Size: £250
Deadline for Applications: 30th September 2026

Veterans’ Foundation Small Grants programme

About Us: The Veterans’ Foundation provides grants to eligible organisations that provide assistance to serving and former members of the armed forces community, operational qualified seafarers and their immediate families.
Criteria: The programme is aimed mainly at small grassroots groups delivering community-based support, particularly those with low to medium income and those that have not previously received Veterans’ Foundation funding. Funding can support work addressing needs such as homelessness, employability, financial disadvantage, disability, welfare, mental health, family support and support in older age.
Grant Size: £500 to £5,000
Deadline for Applications: 30th September 2026

Wooden Spoon Grants

About Us: The charity funds projects that help disabled or disadvantaged children and youth under age 25.
Criteria: Schools, charities, and not-for-profit organisations in the UK can apply for Wooden Spoon Society Grants to support equipment for mentally, physically, and socially disadvantaged children.
Grant Size: under £5,000
Deadline for Applications: Rolling programme

The National Archives

About Us: The National Archives has opened applications for its Engagement Grants programme. This year’s theme is “Belonging”, supporting projects that use archives to help people and communities understand their place in shared histories, identities, and local life, while fostering connection, inclusion, and pride.
Criteria: Projects must use archives housed in museums, local authorities, universities, charities, community organisations, or similar institutions. Eligible costs include exhibitions, events, online or digital engagement, materials, staff time, travel and subsistence, and materials or software.
Grant Size: Up to £3,000
Deadline for Applications: 14th August 2026

Berkshire Community Foundation – Priority Grants

Funder: Berkshire Community Foundation (BCF). Programme: Priority Grants Round 2026. Funding available: Grants of up to £10,000.

Application window: 29 June – 13 August 2026.Who can apply: Charities, community groups and voluntary organisations delivering projects that benefit Berkshire residents and address local disadvantage and inequality.

Priority Theme 1 – Safety and Protection:

  • Domestic abuse and violence
  • Sexual exploitation and safeguarding
  • Trauma-informed support and crisis intervention
  • Safe accommodation and advocacy services
  • Prevention, education and early intervention

Priority Theme 2 – Homelessness and Basic Needs:

  • Homelessness prevention and support.
  • Poverty reduction and financial resilience
  • Access to food, essential goods and emergency support
  • Support for families facing multiple disadvantages
  • Child and young people’s poverty and wellbeing

Assessment priorities:

  • Strength of alignment with the priority themes
  • Evidence of local need
  • Measurable outcomes and impact
  • Readiness to deliver
  • Level of disadvantage being addressed

Not eligible if:

  • Applying for retrospective funding
  • Holding more than 12 months’ unrestricted reserves
  • Annual operating budget exceeds £2 million
  • Seeking funding for large capital projects
  • Applying as an individual

Application process: Completion of an eligibility quiz followed by an online application form and supporting documents.

Berkshire Community Foundation’s Priority Grants Round 2026 provides grants of up to £10,000 to support charities and community organisations tackling some of Berkshire’s most pressing social challenges. This year’s programme focuses on two key themes: Safety and Protection and Homelessness and Basic Needs, funding projects that support vulnerable people experiencing issues such as domestic abuse, exploitation, homelessness, poverty and financial hardship. BCF is seeking applications from organisations that can clearly evidence local need, deliver measurable impact and improve outcomes for disadvantaged residents across Berkshire. The programme offers an opportunity for local organisations to secure funding for projects that strengthen community resilience and provide vital support to those most in need.

Apply now for up to £1k through Veolia’s Sustainability Fund

Veolia, the UK’s leading resource management company, has launched this year’s Sustainability Fund.

The Sustainability Fund provides grants of up to £1,000 to connect people with their local environment and community.

Veolia works in partnership with West Berkshire Council in the treatment of recycling and waste disposal across the county.

The Sustainability Fund has reopened for 2026, following the Fund’s biggest year yet in 2025 with six projects being given a total of £6,000 funding across the county. This brings the total number of projects funded, since 2022, to 21 and £21,000 awarded.
Veolia’s Sustainability Fund is open to not-for-profit organisations, community groups, or individuals in areas where the company delivers recycling and waste treatment services for the community. Up to £1,000 in funding is available per project.
Funding criteria
The Sustainability Fund welcomes applications from a wide range of environmental and social projects. Projects should meet at least one of the following criteria:
● Enhances biodiversity
● Promotes sustainable waste behaviours
● Protects the environment by using recycled, reused or reclaimed materials.
● Strengthens and connects local communities, including but not limited to employment support programmes, rehabilitation projects and youth development initiatives
All projects will be assessed on merit, with particular recognition given to those that demonstrate long-term or ongoing community benefits.
How to apply
Applications can be made via Veolia’s website at veolia.co.uk/Sustainability-Fund.
Deadline for applications
The fund will be open for applications until Wednesday 30 September.

Heritage Crafts – Endangered Crafts Fund

About Us: Heritage Crafts supports traditional and heritage craft skills in the UK. Its Endangered Crafts Fund provides small grants to help protect crafts at risk of disappearing.
Criteria: Open to craft practitioners and organisations in the UK.
The craft must be listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered on the current Heritage Crafts Red List.
Projects can support the long-term survival of crafts, skills transfer, apprenticeships, training, equipment, business development and new routes to market.
Grant Size: Up to £2,500
Deadline for Applications: 5pm, Friday 16 October 2026.

Aldi Sport Fund – England and Wales

A limited number of one-off grants are available for local sports clubs across England and Wales to support work in their local community.

Applications deadline – 31 August 2026

Berkshire Historic Churches Trust

Grants are available for Christian churches of any denomination in Berkshire to support the cost of building repairs.

Applications can be submitted at any time.

Aviva Foundation – Financial Futures Fund

Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations in the UK that are delivering bold, long-term solutions to help people build financial resilience.

Applications deadline: The deadline for applications to round two is 7 October 2026.

Rewilding Britain – Rewilding Innovation Fund

Grants are available to boost locally led land and marine nature recovery projects across Britain.

Applications deadline: 5 September 2026.

Bernard Sunley Foundation

  • Funder: Bernard Sunley Foundation.
  • Purpose: To support capital projects that improve quality of life and create lasting benefits for communities across England and Wales.
  • Funding available:
    • Small Grants: Up to £5,000
    • Medium Grants: Up to £20,000
    • Large Grants: £25,000 and above
  • Who can apply: Charities and charitable organisations with an annual income of under £10 million.
  • Geographical area: England and Wales.
  • Funding themes:
    • Community
    • Education
    • Health
    • Social Welfare
  • What can be funded:
    • New buildings and extensions
    • Major refurbishments
    • Essential equipment
    • Vehicles and transport
    • Improvements to community facilities and service delivery spaces
  • Project size: Eligible capital projects should typically have a total value between £10,000 and £5 million.
  • Examples of supported projects:
    • Community centres and hubs
    • Special educational facilities
    • Hospices and healthcare buildings
    • Facilities supporting older people, disabled people, veterans, ex-offenders and vulnerable groups
    • Minibuses and other essential transport provision
  • What cannot be funded:
    • Core running costs
    • Salaries
    • Revenue costs
    • Feasibility studies
    • Non-capital expenditure
  • Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.
  • Decision timescale:
    • Small grants: typically within 3 months
    • Larger grants: up to 6 months depending on project size

The Bernard Sunley Foundation provides capital funding to charities and community organisations undertaking projects that create lasting improvements for the people they support. Grants are available for building projects, refurbishments, vehicles and essential equipment across the Foundation’s four funding areas: Community, Education, Health and Social Welfare. With funding ranging from small contributions of up to £5,000 through to major grants of £25,000 and above, the programme is particularly suitable for organisations seeking support for infrastructure projects that will enhance facilities, improve access to services and strengthen long-term community impact. The Foundation welcomes applications throughout the year and has a strong track record of supporting practical projects that deliver tangible benefits for disadvantaged and vulnerable people.


With thanks to Slough CVS, Wokingham & Bracknell Involve and Volunteer Centre West Berkshire for the information contained in this article.

Connecting Communities in Berkshire Launches New Strategy for 2026-2030

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Helping Berkshire communities thrive for the next 50 years

Connecting Communities in Berkshire (CCB) is proud to launch our new Strategic Plan for 2026-2030, setting out an ambitious vision for stronger, more resilient and sustainable communities across Berkshire.

For more than 50 years, we have worked alongside local communities, helping people tackle challenges, seize opportunities, and shape their own futures. Our new strategy builds on this legacy while responding to the issues communities tell us matter most today: affordable housing, rising energy costs, social isolation, and access to essential services.

A vision for thriving communities

Our vision is simple: for all communities in Berkshire to be strong, resilient, sustainable, and able to take control of their own futures. [

We believe that most communities already have the knowledge, skills and passion they need to create positive change. Our role is to help unlock that potential, ensuring that nobody is disadvantaged because of where they live. When communities thrive, everyone benefits through better health, stronger connections, safer homes and greater opportunities.

Listening to what communities need

The development of our strategy has been shaped by what communities across Berkshire are telling us. Key concerns include:

  • The shortage of affordable homes for local people and key workers.
  • Increasing energy costs and fuel poverty.
  • Growing social isolation and loneliness.
  • Difficulties accessing healthcare and other essential services, particularly in rural areas.

Over the next five years, we will focus our efforts where we can make the greatest difference, working alongside residents, community groups, partners and funders to develop practical, long-term solutions.

Building on proven success

The strategy builds on the impact we are already delivering across Berkshire.

Through our 21st Century Halls programme, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, we are helping village halls become sustainable, accessible and energy-efficient community hubs. These vital spaces support local activities, services and connections that help communities flourish.

We will continue our work supporting affordable housing solutions, providing independent energy advice, tackling fuel poverty, promoting adult learning, and strengthening community networks across the county.

Five pillars for vibrant communities

At the heart of the strategy are five pillars that underpin thriving communities:

  • Community – creating places where people feel connected and supported.
  • Services – ensuring access to health, wellbeing and essential local services.
  • Connections – improving social connections, transport and digital inclusion.
  • Sustainability – supporting resilient communities and environmentally responsible solutions.
  • Your Role – encouraging volunteering, participation and local leadership.

Together, these pillars provide a framework for creating communities where people can live well, participate fully and feel connected to the places they call home.

Working at every level

What makes CCB different is our ability to work across the whole community system. We combine trusted grassroots relationships with strategic partnerships and policy influence, ensuring local voices are heard and reflected in decision-making.

As part of the national ACRE network, we are also able to connect local issues with wider conversations about rural services, housing, energy and community development, helping Berkshire communities benefit from national expertise and influence.

Looking ahead

As we begin this new chapter, we remain committed to listening, learning and evolving. Over the coming months we will strengthen partnerships, develop innovative approaches to tackling isolation, and build on the success of our village halls programme to ensure community spaces remain vibrant and future-ready.

We look forward to working with our members, partners, funders and communities to turn this vision into reality.

Together, we can help Berkshire communities thrive. To read the full document please click here.

Workshop Helps Trustees Build Stronger Committees for Community Halls

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Volunteer trustees from across Berkshire and west Oxfordshire gathered last month, braving the hottest day of the year so far, at Hermitage Village Hall for a practical training session focused on building effective management committees for community buildings and village halls.

The session was led by Kate Meads, Community Buildings Advisor at Connecting Communities in Berkshire, with support from Tessa Hall of sister organisation Community First Oxfordshire and Louise Beaton OBE, co-author of Halls for All: A History of Village Halls.

During the workshop, participants explored the essential ingredients of a successful management committee, including clearly defined roles, positive values and behaviours, effective governance, well-run meetings, and the importance of keeping community spaces safe, legal and welcoming.

Those attending described the event as a valuable opportunity to strengthen their understanding of hall management while also networking with others involved in running local venues.

The training session was interactive and thought-provoking, generating discussion and practical ideas that trustees could take back to their own organisations. It also highlighted one of the biggest challenges currently facing many community buildings: recruiting and attracting new trustees to help sustain these important local assets into the future.

Volunteers who support village halls and community buildings contribute time, experience and practical skills every week. From maintaining premises and organising events to overseeing bookings and finances, much of their work happens behind the scenes, but it remains essential to keeping these spaces open and active.  As Volunteers Week comes to a close we would like to say a massive THANK YOU to them on behalf of their local communities.

Community buildings and village halls continue to play a vital role in local life, providing welcoming places where residents can connect, take part in activities and support one another.

CCB’s role is to support community buildings and village halls by providing advice and guidance where needed, as well as visiting halls to carry out consultations that help ensure they remain fit, vibrant and sustainable well into the 21st century and beyond. Our next training event takes place later this month and will focus on Martyn’s Law – what the legislation is, why it matters, and how it may apply in community settings.

Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1985703839638?aff=oddtdtcreator

Thanks to West Berkshire Council Adult Community Learning Team for supporting these training sessions.

June Funding Opportunities

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Cash for Kids’ Impact Grants

About Us: The Cash for Kids Impact Grants scheme supports children and young people up to and including 18 years old living in the UK who are affected by poverty, abuse, neglect or those with additional support needs.
Criteria: Registered charities with an annual turnover less than £1 million, schools, community organisations and other grassroots groups based across the UK are eligible to apply.
The programme addresses the following themes:

Poverty.
Mental health and wellbeing.
Sport and physical wellbeing.
Disability or life-limiting illness.
Education and essential skills.
Diversity and inclusion.
Grant Size: up to £3,000
Deadline for applications: When all funds are allocated.

Cash for Kids’ Holiday Hunger Grants

About Us: The Cash for Kids Holiday Hunger Grants scheme supports children and young people (up to 18 years old) facing food insecurity during the school holidays.
Criteria: Registered charities with an annual turnover less than £1 million, schools, and community, voluntary, youth group or sports groups with a formal governance document (eg constitution, articles of association, club rules and regulations) can apply. Projects must focus on outcomes that encourage children to eat more healthily and be more active during the school holidays.
Grant Size: up to £3,000
Deadline for applications: When all funds are allocated.

Concertina

About Us: The Concertina Charitable Trust makes grants to charities that provide musical activities for the elderly community in need.
Criteria: Grants to charitable bodies that provide musical entertainment and related activities for the elderly.
Grant Size: up to £250
Deadline for applications: 31st October 2026

Tesco Fruit & Veg Grants

About Us: Our funding is aimed at making a positive difference to children and improve their access to free fruit and veg to support a healthy, nutritious diet.
Criteria: For schools, registered charities and not-for-profit organisations supporting children to apply for grants to improve access to fruit and veg. Examples of eligible projects include:
Breakfast and after-school clubs that provide fruit and vegetables for pupils
Sports clubs that offer healthy food as part of their activities, or provide a much-needed half-time boost
Growing projects where children can grow their own fruit and vegetables
Cooking classes that help children and families learn how to prepare healthy meals
Holiday clubs that provide healthy meals and snacks
Projects supporting children and young people with SEND by providing healthy snacks or meals
Youth clubs that provide healthy meals or snacks
Projects that help tackle holiday hunger when children are not at school
Healthy eating projects that support families to cook nutritious meals on a budget
Foodbanks that provide food support to families
Grant Size: up to £1,500
Deadline for applications: Rolling programme

Network Rail Community Tree Planting Fund

Grants are available for community groups, charities, community interest companies, schools, and other organisations to support tree-planting projects across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The deadline for applications is 19 July 2026 (midnight).

Hall & Woodhouse Community Chest

About Us: The Community Chest is now in its 25th year of giving a helping hand to local people in supporting and strengthening their community, by encouraging volunteer led charities to apply for a grant to go towards improving their local area.
Criteria: Applications are welcome from any voluntary or community organisation that is based, or works in, our trading area across the south of England, from Devon to Sussex and in the north from Bristol to Twickenham.
Grants or funds raised could be used to support the following:

Youth work and activities
Sports and social clubs
Elderly and people with disabilities
Health and social care
Local arts and culture
Conservation and the environment
Grant Size: Typically £300–£3,000
Deadline for applications: 12th July 2026

Tree Council Branching Out Fund

About Us: Small grants to support a new season of community tree planting.
Criteria: For schools, constituted community groups and charities, community interest companies, Tree Warden networks, and other organisations across the UK to deliver tree-planting projects during the 2026/27 Winter planting season.
Grant Size: up to £2,500
Deadline for applications: 19th July 2026

Dan Maskell Tennis Trust

About Us: Raising funds for disabled people 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.
Grant Size: up to £1,600
Deadline for applications: 3rd August 2026

Screwfix Foundation

About Us: The funding is being made available through Screwfix Foundations, and the grants are available for a wide range of projects, from repairing buildings and improving facilities in deprived areas to decorating the homes of people living with sickness and disabilities.
Criteria: To local charities and not-for-profit organisations (including specialist not-for-profit schools) to fund projects that will fix, repair, maintain and improve properties and community facilities for those in need in the UK.
Grant Size: up to £5,000
Deadline for applications: 10th August 2026

Warburtons Community Grants


About Us: Our financial aid programme is aimed at supporting projects, activities, and organisations through community care grants and other initiatives.
Criteria: Not-for-profit organisations with charitable purposes that are based and working in England, Scotland or Wales can apply as long as their projects are addressing one of Warburtons’ priority areas:
Health – supporting families to care for each other and lead healthier lives:
Improving physical health
Improving wellbeing
Place – supporting families to flourish in communities that are safer, greener and more inclusive:
Making spaces safe and inclusive
Connecting communities with the environment
Skills – supporting families to gain useful skills for life and work:
Developing useful life skills
Developing useful skills for employment.
Grant Size: up to £400
Deadline for applications: 17th August 2026

The Sasha Foundation

About Us: Supports charitable organisations working with young people experiencing depression, mental health issues, or drug abuse challenges.
Criteria: Established charitable organisations only (no individuals). Priority for grassroots and small‑to‑medium‑sized voluntary groups.
Grant Size: Up to £10,000
Deadline for applications: 1st October 2026

Heritage Revival Fund – the Architectural Heritage Fund

The Heritage Revival Fund has been created to help communities across England rescue and repurpose neglected historic buildings. It will do this by supporting community organisations to take ownership of, adapt and reuse the local heritage assets that matter to them, transforming them into thriving spaces that meet their needs.

This new programme is being delivered by the Architectural Heritage Fund in partnership with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Historic England. A range of loans are available and grants including the following:

Project Viability Grants. Grants of up to £20,000 are available to support early-stage work on historic building projects. These grants should help you to establish whether a project is viable.
Project Development Grants. These grants, up to £100,000, aim to support development work on historic building projects. Project Development Grants can contribute towards the costs of developing and co-ordinating your project and taking it towards the start of work on site. To qualify, an organisation must have established that the end use of the project is likely to be viable and have decided to take the project forward.
Applications for development grants of between £75,000 and £100,000 must be submitted by quarterly application deadlines. For 2026-2027, these are as follows: 13 July 2026, 12 October 2026, and 18 January 2027

Capital Grants. Grants of up to £500,000 are available to support work to restore and reuse historic buildings in town centre locations.
Full Capital Grant applications must be submitted by quarterly application deadlines. For 2026-2027, these are as follows: 22 June 2026, 21 September 2026, and 14 December 2026.

Community Tree Planting Fund – Network Rail

The Tree Council and Network Rail are once again working in partnership to support a new season of community tree planting.

For the 2026/27 planting season, grants of between £2,500 and £10,000 are available per application. They are looking to support well-planned tree planting projects that will directly benefit people, communities and wildlife.

The following organisations can apply:

Local authorities
Charities & other NGOs
Community groups
Education institutions
Individual landowners
The deadline for applications in round one is 19 July 2026

Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust grants

Grants are available to individuals, organisations and institutions carrying out projects of significance to horticulture, gardening or botany with a strong horticultural element.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of typical projects.

restoring gardens of historic interest;
developing new gardens, or new garden areas within existing gardens, for public access and enjoyment;
exhibitions, book publications, research and educational programmes relating to horticulture;
expeditions and travel to study, collect and protect plants of scientific and horticultural value;
study-visits by horticulturists or botanists with strong horticultural links, and
gardeners’ training schemes run by appropriate organisations (but not to individuals, see Training and Traineeships).
Grants are normally awarded twice a year, in April and September (following application deadlines of 15 February and 15 August). The maximum grant is £5,000 but some organisations only require modest sums and applicants are welcome to apply for grants of less than £500. Typical grants are usually in the range of £3,500- £5,000.

Grants for physical activity providers – Parkinson’s UK

In 2026, the charity is offering grants of up to £3,000 to support physical activity projects for people with Parkinson’s across the UK.

This year, funding is focused on people who are currently inactive, helping them begin to engage in physical activity and sustain their participation.

To make activities more accessible, they are also supporting ‘gateway activities’. These are movement?based sessions that build confidence and encourage interest in becoming more active.

The fund opened on 2 March and applications will be accepted until all of the funding has been allocated.

Thanks to Wokingham & Bracknell Involve, West Berkshire Volunteer Centre and Rural Services Network Partnership.