October Funding Opportunities

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Tesco Fruit & Veg Grants – open now for applications!

Groundworks and Tesco, are helping schools, registered charities and not-for-profit organisations improve access to fruit and vegetables for children and young people across the UK.

From breakfast clubs and holiday clubs to growing initiatives and cooking projects, Tesco Fruit & Veg Grants offers funding of up to £1,500 to support local projects that help children and young people access healthy food.

Examples include:

  • Breakfast/after school clubs that provide fruit and veg for pupils
  • Sports clubs that provide healthy food as part of the project or a much-needed half time boost
  • Growing initiatives to grow your own fruit and veg or cooking classes using the food to learn
  • Holiday clubs that provide healthy meals and snacks
  • Projects providing SEND provision with healthy snacks/meals
  • Youth clubs that provide a healthy meal/snack
  • Addressing holiday hunger amongst children outside of school time
  • Healthy eating projects that support families to cook healthy meals on a budget
  • Foodbanks to provide food support to families

Cash4Clubs (Flutter UKI)

A £500,000 pot for grassroots sport, shared as flat grants of £2,000 (€2,000 in Ireland). The money is unrestricted and can go on anything that helps a club keep going or grow its sports activities for adults, such as venue hire, utilities, equipment, coaching or insurance.
Where: UK wide. The scheme supports clubs and organisations across the UK and Ireland.
Deadline: Opens Thursday 1 October 2026 and closes Friday 1 January 2027.
Eligibility: Community sports clubs and organisations using sport for social purpose. One grant per club; read the scheme’s FAQ for full eligibility.

Country Houses Foundation

Grants for the repair and conservation of rural historic buildings and structures, their gardens, grounds and outbuildings, and for conserving paintings and sculpture in historic house collections open to the public. Grants run from £1,000 to £250,000, with the top end only in exceptional cases and most under £50,000. The work must be needed within two to three years, be ready to start within one to two, offer public access and show financial need. Routine maintenance, alterations, running costs and most churches are excluded.
Where: England and Wales.
Deadline: Rolling. Applications can be made at any time.
Eligibility: Owners, including charities, institutions, local authorities and private individuals, with legal responsibility for repairing the building, normally through ownership or a full repairing lease with at least 20 years left.

The Tree Council and Defra: Trees Outside Woodland Fund

Grants of £10,000 to £40,000 per application for trees and supporting capital items outside woodland: street trees, parks, playgrounds, hedgerows and orchards. The pot is £2.5 million and applications are reviewed in order of arrival, so apply early.
Where: England only.
Deadline: 31 October 2026, or earlier if all the money has been allocated.
Eligibility: Local authorities and registered charities. Check the fund page for the income threshold that applies to charities.

The Wildlife Trusts Green Community Grants

About Us: The Wildlife Trusts Green Community Grants programme supports grassroots, not-for-profit organisations in England, Scotland and Wales to deliver outdoor nature projects. The programme provides flexible one-year grants aimed at supporting nature recovery, responding to the climate emergency, and improving nature-rich spaces and access to them.
Criteria:

  • Open to not-for-profit organisations in England, Scotland and Wales.
  • Organisations must have been operating for at least 12 months.
  • Main aims must align with one of the two funding themes:
  • Contributing to nature recovery and responding to the climate emergency.
  • Improving nature-rich spaces and access to them.
    Funding can also support wider environmental activities such as recycling, litter picking, beach cleans and sustainable transport.
    Priority will be given to:
    Organisations with annual incomes of £250,000 or less.
    Organisations working in the most deprived communities or supporting marginalised groups.
    Organisations whose governing objectives focus on protecting or restoring habitats or species.
    Grant Size: £10,000–£25,000 for one-year flexible grants.
    Deadline for Applications: 21st October 2026

Great British Energy (GBE) Community Fund

About Us: The Great British Energy (GBE) Community Fund provides £20 million in grants to help community-based organisations develop and build community-owned clean energy projects in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Criteria:

Applicants must be based in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Applicants must be legally incorporated as one of the following: Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), Community Benefit Society (CBS/Bencom), Community Interest Company (CIC), Co-operative Society, Development Trust, Pre-commencement society, Incorporated registered charity, Registered Social Landlord, Registered Society or Town or Parish Council
Applicants must have a bank account with two signatories.
Joint applications are permitted where all partners are eligible organisations.
Projects developed through the funding must be at least 50% community-owned.
Funding is available through three stages:
Stage 1 – Feasibility: test whether a project idea is viable.
Stage 2 – Development: develop a viable idea into an investment-ready project.
Stage 3 – Capital: support construction-ready projects to address remaining funding gaps.
All grant funding must be defrayed and claimed by 31st March 2028, except Stage 1 projects that have requested payment in advance.
Grant Size:

Stage 1 – Feasibility: Up to £40,000
Stage 2 – Development: Up to £100,000
Stage 3 – Capital: Up to £3 million, or 50% of the total project value
Deadline for Applications: 12th November 2026

Matthew Good Foundation

About Us: The Matthew Good Foundation’s Grants for Good Fund supports small charities, not-for-profit groups and social entrepreneurs working to make a difference for people, communities and the environment. The fund also welcomes innovative ideas from people seeking funding to get new projects started.
Criteria:

Open to small charities, not-for-profit groups and social entrepreneurs.
Applicants must have had an income of less than £50,000 in the last 12 months.
Both established projects and new, innovative ideas can apply.
Five shortlisted projects are selected every three months and voted on by John Good Group employees.
Funding can support projects benefiting people, communities and the environment.
Grant Size: £2,000–£5,000
Deadline for Applications: 15th December 2026

The Wildlife Trust- Green Community Grant

Funder: The Wildlife Trusts, with support from Postcode Lottery players. Programme: Green Community Grants Programme. Purpose: To support community-led organisations working to restore nature, tackle climate change and improve access to nature-rich spaces across the UK. Funding available: Grants of up to £25,000. Funding type: One-year flexible funding that can support both project delivery and certain organisational costs.

Geographical area: England, Scotland and Wales. Who Can Apply? Registered charities, Community organisations, Voluntary groups, Other not-for-profit organisations.

Organisations must have been operating for at least 12 months and have signed annual accounts.

Income Eligibility
Organisations must have an annual income between £10,000 and £1 million.

The maximum grant request cannot exceed 25% of annual income shown in the organisation’s latest accounts.

Funding Themes
Organisations must have a primary purpose aligned to one of the following themes:

  • Contributing to nature recovery and responding to the climate emergency.
  • Improving nature-rich spaces and access to them.

Funding Priorities
Priority will be given to organisations:

  • With an annual income below £250,000.
  • Working within communities in the top 15% most deprived areas.
  • Supporting marginalised communities.
  • Supporting disabled people.
  • Supporting communities experiencing racial inequity.
  • Supporting LGBTQ+ communities.
  • Working on habitat and species restoration or protection.

Key Dates
Current funding round opens: 30 September 2026.

Application deadline: 21 October 2026.

This is the final application window for the 2026 programme.

The The Wildlife Trusts Green Community Grants Programme provides flexible grants of up to £25,000 for charities and community organisations working to protect nature, tackle climate change and improve access to green spaces. The programme prioritises smaller organisations operating in disadvantaged communities and those supporting marginalised groups. With funding available for a wide range of environmental and community-led activities, this is an excellent opportunity for organisations delivering practical projects that improve both the natural environment and community wellbeing.

Connecting Communities grants – Morrisons Foundation

The Connecting Communities grants offer up to £20,000 to charities who provide placed-based services to the entire community or specific groups.

Funding is available to support capital projects that:

  • Breathe new life into local spaces: Upgrade and revitalise buildings and outdoor areas.
  • Bring people together: Reduce social isolation and foster a strong sense of belonging.
  • Secure the future: Ensure vital local services remain open and accessible for generations to come.

There is no fixed deadline to apply for a Connecting Communities grant, they process applications monthly.

Let’s Celebrate Towns – Visa and Nationwide

Let’s Celebrate Towns returns in 2026 as a joint initiative between Visa and Nationwide, recognising the communities driving stronger, more vibrant local economies across the UK – reflecting a shared commitment to thriving high streets and local communities. There’s a £20,000 grant for each winner to put toward a community project or initiative.

Five towns will be recognised across the following categories:

High Street Revival
Backing Local Business
Protecting Valued Places
Connected Places
Community Pride
They’re inviting entries from across the UK, from:

MPs and local leaders
Local authorities and town councils
Community groups and organisations
Entries close on 25 October 2026.

Community Gardens grants – National Garden Scheme

The Julia Rausing Trust announced a £1.5 million grant to the National Garden Scheme for their Community Garden Grants programme. Funding began in 2025.

The Community Garden Grants programme focuses on support for community groups to create or improve gardens for the benefit of local communities, many of which play an important health and social welfare role through providing community orchards, food banks and settings for local GP social prescribing.

The funding for the Community Garden Grants programme will aid the development of community garden projects with a purpose focussed on demonstrating the health benefits of gardens, and gardening, not only to health and wellbeing, but also to the environment and communities surrounding them.

Individual grants are between minimum £1500 and maximum £5000. The deadline for applications is 30 October 2026.

Screwfix Foundation

The charity supports projects that improve, repair and maintain buildings and facilities used by people in need throughout the UK.

The Screwfix Foundation currently offers local registered charities and not for profit organisations funding in the region of £5,000.

The types of projects they fund are:

Improved energy efficient lighting & heating
Installation of new kitchen, bathroom etc.
Installation of a sensory room
General painting & decorating
Improving safety and security of a building
The next deadline for applications is 10 November 2026.

Improving digital presence grants – Fat Beehive Foundation

The Fat Beehive Foundation awards small grants of up to £2,500 to help charities improve their digital presence.

They 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.

The Foundation can only support a limited number of projects based on the funding available for distribution in any given year. The Trustees are particularly keen to support traditionally hard-to-fund organisations, such as those supporting prisoners, refugees, or disadvantaged youth.

The next deadline for applications is the end of March 2027.

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.

eBay UK’s Up and Running Grants competition

About Us: eBay UK’s Up and Running Grants competition supports emerging businesses and young entrepreneurs to develop their businesses, achieve growth and create employment opportunities for young people. Up to 20 winners will receive financial support alongside business development benefits, including dedicated account management, premium customer support and access to a Young Entrepreneur community and selected events during 2027.
Criteria: 

Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements for one of the two categories:

– Category A – Young Entrepreneurs:

  • Business sellers must be aged 18 to 30, inclusive.
  • Applicants must be registered on ebay.co.uk.
  • They must have maintained active listings on the platform for at least three months before entering.

– Category B – Businesses Creating Employment:

  • Applicants must be UK-registered companies with a business seller account on ebay.co.uk.
  • They must have maintained active listings for at least six months before entering.
  • The grant must be used to employ someone aged 18 to 24 in a UK-based role.
  • Applicants must explain how the proposed appointment will contribute to business growth.
  • Applicants must explain how the grant will be spent and provide a clear roadmap demonstrating how it will support their business plans.
  • Funding may be used for business development, planned growth or creating employment opportunities for young people.

Grant Size: 

  • Cash grant: £10,000 per successful applicant.
  • Number of awards: Up to 20 winners.

Deadline for Applications: 30th October 2026

The National Garden Scheme Community Garden Grants

About Us: The National Garden Scheme (NGS), supported by a £1.5 million award from the Julia Rausing Trust, offers Community Garden Grants to strengthen local communities by transforming outdoor spaces into shared community resources. Launched in 2019, the scheme supports projects that promote access to green spaces, biodiversity, and physical and mental wellbeing through horticulture.
Criteria:

Open to community groups, charities and Community Interest Companies (CICs) across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.
Projects should create, improve or develop outdoor spaces for community use.
Eligible projects may include:
Developing communal and community gardens.
Creating safe outdoor spaces for children.
Establishing wildlife-friendly habitats.
Enhancing biodiversity and improving green spaces.
Priority is given to projects that improve access to green spaces for disadvantaged groups and promote physical and mental wellbeing through gardening and horticulture.
Applicants are encouraged to review the eligibility guidance and prepare proposals in advance.
Grant Size: Grants of £1,500 to £5,000 are available for eligible community garden projects.
Deadline for Applications: 30th October 2026, or earlier if the first 300 applications are received.

Barchester Healthcare Foundation

About Us: The Barchester Healthcare Foundation provides quarterly grants to small community groups and local charities across England, Scotland and Wales. The Foundation aims to reduce loneliness and social isolation, encourage group activities, and improve mobility and quality of life for older people and adults with physical, learning or mental disabilities.
Criteria: 

  • Open to small community groups and small local charities based in England, Scotland or Wales.
  • Projects must benefit older people or adults with physical, learning or mental disabilities.
  • Funding should help reduce loneliness and isolation, encourage social interaction, improve mobility or enhance quality of life.
  • Eligible costs include:
    • Activities and group sessions.
    • Equipment and materials for members.
    • Transport costs to help members attend activities.
    • Day trips, outings and group holidays within the UK.
  • Priority is given to innovative projects that help older people and people with disabilities become more active, meet others and reduce isolation.
  • Groups with financial reserves exceeding £200,000 are unlikely to receive funding.

Grant Size: £100 to £2,600 
Deadline for Applications: 31st October 2026

The Toy Trust

About Us: The Toy Trust provides small grants to small charities in the UK and Ireland that support disadvantaged and disabled children aged 13 and under. The programme aims to relieve hardship and suffering, improve children’s wellbeing, and provide opportunities for play, development and achievement. It focuses on practical projects and resources that make a positive difference to children and their families.
Criteria:

Applicants must be small registered charities operating in the UK or Ireland.
Organisations must have been operating for at least one year.
Charities should have an annual income below £500,000.
Unrestricted reserves must be below £200,000.
Applicants must provide two years of signed accounts.
Projects must clearly benefit disadvantaged or disabled children aged 13 and under.
Funding priorities include:
Relieving hardship and suffering.
Improving the lives of disadvantaged children.
Supporting disabled children.
Providing opportunities for play, development and achievement.
Meeting essential needs and improving wellbeing.
Eligible costs may include equipment, sensory resources, play equipment, specialist aids, direct services and activities benefiting disadvantaged or disabled children.

Grant Size: up to £5,000
Deadline for Applications: Mid-November 2026

The Theatre Trust

About Us: The Theatre Trust, supported by the Lindury Trust, provides grants to not-for-profit theatres across the UK to fund small essential works that improve building resilience, sustainability and accessibility, and help diversify audiences. The programme supports capital improvements and repairs that protect theatre buildings, improve audience experiences and ensure theatres remain accessible and sustainable for their communities.
Criteria: 

  • Applicants must have a recognised UK charitable or not-for-profit legal structure.
  • Organisations must be able to provide at least two years of audited accounts.
  • Applicants must own or manage a theatre in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
  • Organisations must hold the property title or have a signed lease with at least five years remaining.
  • The theatre must be open and operate a year-round public programme of live performances, with at least 30 performances annually across theatre, dance, comedy or musicals.
  • Applicants must obtain the property owner’s permission for the proposed work.
  • Eligible projects include:
    • Building fabric improvements and repairs.
    • Purchase of essential plant and machinery.
    • Capital items that improve physical access and the audience or participant experience.
    • Equipment that improves digital access.
  • Priority will be given to projects that protect buildings for continued theatre use and remove barriers to participation and attendance.
  • Preference will also be given to projects with total costs below £250,000, or where the grant is the sole external funding source and/or the project can be delivered within the total funding awarded.

Grant Size: up to £7,500 
Deadline for Applications: 25th January 2027

Thanks to Gecko Fundraising, Slough CVS, Involve, Rural Services Network for the information contained in this article.

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.

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.

May Funding Opportunities

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The Joanies Fund

Funder: The Joanies Fund (via Herefordshire Community Foundation). Grant size: Typically £500–£5,000

Focus: Children and young people facing disadvantage. Eligible organisations: Small, grassroots charities and community groups. Deadline: Opens Monday 13th April closes July 31st

The Joanies Fund is open to applications from projects across England and Wales. It supports a wide range of community projects working solely with young people aged 0 to 25. The fund has a particular interest in projects that are innovative or entrepreneurial and lead to employment, accreditation, further education or training. Projects need to show integration into their local communities and ensure that the project is open to all young people, regardless of ethnicity or religion. The fund will not consider applications from religious groups and organisations.

Michael Tippett Musical Foundation

Deadline: 30 September each year(Projects must start no earlier than January of the following year)

Who can apply: UK‑based charities, community groups, schools, colleges, universities, and other constituted organisations

Focus:

  • Group music‑making
  • Youth participation in creative music activities
  • Projects where composition is a key element
  • Performances or recordings of Michael Tippett’s works, especially lesser‑performed pieces
  • Community or educational music projects with strong creative outcomes

Grant size: Typically £500–£3,000 (average around £2,000), One‑off grants (no multi‑year funding)

Eligible area: UK‑wide

The Michael Tippett Musical Foundation supports creative, group‑based music projects across the UK, with a strong emphasis on involving young people and placing composing at the heart of the activity. Grants of £500 to £3,000 are awarded annually to projects that encourage musical creativity, participation, and performance.

The Foundation also funds performances and recordings of Michael Tippett’s works, prioritising those that are less frequently heard or require additional support to proceed. Applications close on 30 September each year, with funded projects beginning no earlier than January. Funding is strictly for creative activity rather than equipment, and proposals must be concise, clearly costed, and focused on artistic development and participation.

The Hedley Foundation – Grants for Small Charities Supporting People in Need

Deadline: Rolling – applications accepted all year, reviewed quarterly (If you do not hear back within 4 months, the application is considered unsuccessful)

Who can apply: Small UK‑registered charities with annual income below £1 million

Focus:

  • Raising aspirations of disadvantaged young people
  • Support for disabled people (physical, mental, sensory, learning disabilities)
  • Improving quality of life for older people and those with terminal illness
  • Social welfare projects supporting carers, homeless people, ex‑offenders, and others facing hardship
  • Education, arts, sport, training, adventurous activities, and wellbeing initiatives

Grant size: Typically £250–£5,000

Eligible area: UK‑wide

The Hedley Foundation provides small grants to UK charities working to improve the quality of life for people facing disadvantage, disability, illness, or social hardship. Grants usually range from £250 to £5,000 and support specific, well‑defined projects that deliver measurable outcomes—particularly those benefiting young people, disabled people, older people, and carers.

The Foundation does not fund core salaries, building construction, general running costs, transport, financial deficits, or overseas work. Applications are accepted throughout the year and reviewed quarterly, with decisions typically made within four months. The Foundation prioritises clear, concise applications that demonstrate strong impact and value for money.

The National Lottery Community Fund – The Solidarity Fund

Grant size: Awards large, long‑term grants ranging from £1 million to £5 million, to be delivered over 5 to 10 years.

Eligible applicants: Constituted voluntary and community organisations, registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs), not‑for‑profit companies limited by guarantee, community interest companies (CICs), co‑operative and community benefit societies, and partnerships with strong track records in addressing inequality.

Focus areas: Organisations in England that tackle the root causes of inequality, such as poverty, discrimination and disadvantage.

Application process: Decisions take approximately 3 months for Stage 1, and up to 5 months after progressing to Stage 2, making the total process around 8 months.

Deadline: The programme is open on a rolling basis, meaning there is no fixed application deadline.

Crucially, applicant organisations must ensure their work is led or shaped by people with lived experience, demonstrate community‑led governance, and show capacity to manage large, long‑term systems‑change projects. The fund prioritises initiatives that strengthen community power, shift decision‑making structures, and create sustainable, long‑term impact.

D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust

About Us: Increasing access to opportunity through the arts, creative health and heritage crafts.
Criteria: Provides funding to UK charities for arts, creative health, and heritage crafts projects that benefit disadvantaged people. Supports a wide range of activities including community arts, therapy programmes, and skills development.
Grant Size: £500 – £8,000
Deadline for applications:
8th May 2026 (first-stage for large charities)
1st June 2026 (small charities and shortlisted large charities)

Wise Music Foundation

About Us: Providing financial support for people experiencing hardship, distress and illness, with a focus on children, the homeless and people living in poverty.
Criteria: Supports small UK charities helping vulnerable people, including children, the elderly, homeless individuals, and those with disabilities. Also funds education, arts, health, and community initiatives.
Grant Size: £500 – £5,000 (average £1,500)
Deadline for applications: 31st May 2026

The Grocers’ Charity

About Us: The Grocers’ Charity awards around £1 million annually to UK-registered charities through its open grants programme. It typically provides one-off grants to support a wide range of charitable activities. The charity receives over 1,000 applications each year and funds around 14% of applicants.
Criteria: Applications must be submitted online, with support available for those unable to apply digitally. Funding is restricted to smaller charities (generally under £500,000 turnover, with higher limits for medical charities) and excludes individuals, non-UK charities, educational institutions, places of worship, and overseas beneficiaries.
Grant Size: Up to £5,000
Deadline for applications: 1st September 2026

Asda Foundation – community spaces grant

Programme Structure – Capital‑focused grant supporting the creation, improvement or repair of local community spaces.

Application Process – Applications submitted via your local Asda Community Champion; store‑level review followed by Foundation approval

Eligibility – UK community groups, charities, CICs and community benefit societies with a physical community space open to the public

What They Fund – Building repairs, room refurbishments, kitchen upgrades, accessibility improvements, outdoor community areas and essential equipment

Grant Size – Typically £10,000–£25,000 for major improvements; smaller awards available for minor works

Funding Priorities – Spaces that reduce isolation, improve community cohesion, support vulnerable groups and provide long‑term community benefit

Application Deadlines – 28th April

The Asda Foundation’s Community Spaces Grant supports the creation, improvement or refurbishment of community spaces that bring people together and strengthen local resilience. Eligible organisations include charities, CICs and community groups with a publicly accessible building or outdoor area. Grants typically range from £10,000 to £25,000 and fund capital works such as repairs, refurbishments, accessibility upgrades and essential equipment. Applications must be developed with a local Asda Community Champion, and the programme operates one main annual deadline, usually in late spring. Due to the scale of funding available, competition is strong, with priority given to projects that clearly demonstrate long‑term community impact and support for vulnerable or isolated group.

The Wildlife Trust- Green Community Grant

Programme Structure – One‑year flexible funding for not‑for‑profit groups in England, Scotland and Wales with annual income between £10,000 and £1 million

Application Process – Online application via Wildlife Trusts portal; guidance notes and application questions provided for preparation

Eligibility – Organisations operating for at least 12 months; core purpose must align with nature recovery, climate action, or improving nature‑rich spaces and access

What They Fund – Nature recovery, climate action, improving nature‑rich spaces, access to green areas, and wider sustainability activities such as recycling, litter picking and sustainable transport

Grant Size – Up to £25,000, capped at no more than 25% of the organisation’s most recent annual income

Funding Priorities – Organisations with income under £250,000; groups in the top 15% most deprived areas; organisations supporting marginalised communities (e.g., disabled people, racialised communities, LGBT+ groups)

Application Deadlines – Three annual windows for 2026: 25 March–22 April, 24 June–15 July, and 30 September–21 October; current window closes 22 April 2026

The Wildlife Trusts’ Green Community Grants Programme provides one‑year flexible funding of up to £25,000 for not‑for‑profit groups across England, Scotland and Wales whose core purpose aligns with nature recovery, climate action or improving access to nature‑rich spaces. Eligible organisations must have been operating for at least 12 months and have an annual income between £10,000 and £1 million. Funding can support a wide range of environmental and sustainability activities, from habitat restoration to community recycling initiatives. Priority is given to smaller organisations, groups working in highly deprived areas and those supporting marginalised communities. The programme runs three application windows in 2026, with high demand expected due to oversubscription in previous years.

Berkshire Community Foundation- Pargiter Trust Funds for Older People

Status: Open for applications

Opens: Thursday 23 April

Deadline: 10am, Thursday 21 May

Grant size: Up to £5,000

Beneficiaries: Adults aged 65+

Decision notification: August

Eligible Project Areas
Improving health and wellbeing

Reducing social isolation (including befriending schemes)

Improving access to facilities, advice and training

Providing respite for carers

Improving access to information and IT, especially intergenerational work

Supporting people facing illness, injury, disability, bereavement or financial difficulty

Summary
The Funds for Older People programme is now open, offering grants of up to £5,000 for initiatives that improve the lives of adults aged 65 and over. Managed by BCF, the fund supports projects that enhance wellbeing, reduce isolation, expand access to services and training, provide carer respite, and help older people overcome challenges such as illness, disability or financial hardship. Applications are open until 10am on Thursday 21 May, with funding decisions communicated in August.

The National Archives Project Grants programme

About Us: The National Archives Project Grants programme supports partnerships between GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives and museums) or heritage organisations and a community groups. The programme aims to strengthen relationships between communities and heritage organisations by supporting research, skills development, and resources that reflect diverse voices and experiences.
Criteria: Community groups and heritage organisations across the UK can appy for grants to deliver heritage projects. Projects must be community-led and co-designed, and may support new work or build on earlier Seed Corn activity.
Grant Size: up to £30,000
Deadline for applications: 12th June 2026

The Baily Thomas General grants programme

About Us: The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund is a grant making registered charity which was established primarily to aid the research into learning disability and to aid the care and relief of those affected by learning disability, by making grants to voluntary organisations working in this field.
Criteria: UK charities, voluntary organisations, and schools can apply for grants to support children and adults with severe learning difficulties, including autism.
Grant Size: The main programme for grants of £5,000 or more, and a small grants programme for appeals below £5,000.
Deadline for applications: 31st August 2026

King Charles III – Small Grants

About Us: The King Charles III Charitable Fund (KCCF) Small Grants Programme supports small UK non‑profits delivering meaningful community impact across six core themes: environment, countryside, education, heritage and conservation, social inclusion, and health and wellbeing.
Criteria: UK‑registered non‑profit organisations (charities, CIOs, CICs, CLGs, excepted charities, unincorporated groups with clear social purpose).
Grant Size: Up to £3,000 per year, for up to 3 years
Deadline for applications: 7th May 2026

The Fat Beehive

About Us: Digital funding for small charities.
Criteria: The funding is available to charities with an average annual income of less than £1,000,000 to support digital expenditures that other funders may not cover. The funding will help organisations build websites and apps, digitise services, and purchase digital products.
Grant Size: up to £2,500
Deadline for applications: 30th September 2026

Grassroots Grants is open for applications – apply for unrestricted funding of up to £2,000

In partnership with Postcode Lottery, Groundworks are offering this flexible funding to organisations across England. If your turnover is less than £25,000 and you’re making a positive difference in your community, you can apply for funding of up to £2,000.

Funding is unrestricted and flexible. This means it can be used to cover core organisational costs, equipment, staff training, wellbeing activities, and even community initiatives.

Applications are open to individuals, registered charities, CIC’s, and more.

Priority will be shown to:

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

Applications are open until September 2026, and you will receive a decision within 10 weeks of applying. Successful organisations awarded up to £2,000 will have 12 months to spend the grant.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

With thanks to our local CVS’s for the information contained within this article – Involve, West Berkshire Volunteer Centre and Slough CVS

April Funding Opportunities

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The JD Foundation

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

Leathersellers’ Foundation’s ACEs Main Grant

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

National Churches Trust

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

The Big Bike Revival

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

Matthew Good Foundation

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

Schroder Charity Trust

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.

SPAR Community Cashback Grant

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

Barclays Community Sport Fund

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

Caremark Community Care Fund

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


Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation

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

Henry Smith Foundation


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

Wokingham Borough: Wokingham Borough Council- Sparks Award

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.

Parkinsons UK -Physical Activity Grant

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

National Lottery – Awards For All

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

Youth Music Trailblazer Fund

The Youth Music Trailblazer Fund supports UK‑based, legally constituted organisations to run innovative, inclusive music projects for children and young people aged 25 or under. Eligible applicants must have a bank account in the organisation’s name and be able to provide recent accounts showing income, expenditure, assets, and liabilities. Individuals, schools, academies, and sole traders are not eligible. The fund prioritises organisations whose projects address themes such as early years, disabled, d/Deaf, and neurodivergent young people, youth justice, young people facing barriers, young adults, and workforce development. Organisations less than one year old may apply but are capped at a maximum grant of £15,000. Safeguarding compliance is a core requirement.

The fund offers grants ranging from £2,000 to £30,000 for projects lasting 6 to 24 months. Multiple application rounds run throughout the year. These grants support new ways of working, experimentation, and sustainability in inclusive music‑making, with Youth Music encouraging projects that challenge existing practice and widen access.

Hospital Saturday Fund

The Hospital Saturday Fund provides grants to registered health charities, hospices, hospitals, and medical organisations operating within the UK or the Republic of Ireland, as well as grants to eligible individuals with medical needs. Organisations must have recognised charitable status through the appropriate charity regulator and must be engaged in medically related work such as medical projects, capital improvements, medical care or research, hospice/respite services, or medical training. Individuals may apply (through a professional referrer) for specialised medical equipment, mobility aids, therapeutic treatment, or home adaptations. The fund does not support non‑medical charities, debt repayment, experimental treatments, household goods, or non‑medical activities.

There are two levels of organisational grants: Standard Grants up to £2,000 and Large Grants up to £10,000, with large grants typically reserved for specific projects, research, or equipment rather than running costs.

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