Funding
Below is information which covers both ‘Small Grants’ and ‘Large Grants’. Each grant is for a specific cause, click the links to find out more information and to find out which is most relevant to your organisation.
Alternatively you can also check the Tower Hamlets Council’s website for information about current funding opportunities
Last updated: 23/05/2022 08.00
THICN Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF)
Grants of between £1000 and £5000 for youth-led activity on the Isle of Dogs. THICN Youth Opportunities Fund is aimed at supporting young people on the Isle of Dogs to thrive, and keep young people safe from violence. Strong applications will have the voice of young people in the center of their projects. Successful projects will be chosen by a panel of young people from the Isle of Dogs. Groups who want to apply can join an online session on Thursday 27th May from 2pm, or Wednesday 8th June from 4pm. Book to attend here Deadline for applications: Round 1 – 7th June 2022, Round 2 – 30th June 2022. Projects to be completed by December 2022
Life Chances Housing Association Consortium (LCHAC) Fund
A consortium of Housing Associations has been formed as part of a pilot to support East End Community Foundation’s (EECF’s) Life Chances Campaign. Led by Peabody Housing, the consortium is currently focused on Tower Hamlets but with potential to extend to other boroughs. Current Housing Associations involved in the consortium are Clarion, Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, One Housing, Peabody and Poplar HARCA.
Grants are available to community organisations supporting residents in Tower Hamlets and specifically around the housing estates managed by the above Housing Associations in the consortium. The Fund is open to organisations based in/delivering projects in the following wards in the borough of Tower Hamlets:
- Canary Wharf, Cubitt Town and Millwall
- Stepney
- Bow East & Bow West
- Aldgate
- Whitechapel
Please read full guidelines for details of funding priorities. Deadline for applications: 20th June 2022
Drop-in Session: The Grants Team will be hosting an online webinar on this Fund for applicants to go over the guidelines and answer any questions on Tuesday 31 May 10-11am.To register please click here.
tower hamlets
London Catalyst Partners for Health 2022
Grants of between £3000 and £10,000 for projects that can demonstrate:
- Positive outcomes for people facing significant barriers to health
- A new approach or thoughtful development of service
- Partnership between health and community organisations.
Deadline: 2 June 2022
EQUIP: New grants for small employment and skills organisations
This project is fully funded by the European Social Fund. Paddington Development Trust is giving notice of a new round of funding under the Community Grants scheme in West and Central London. A new round of funding applications opened on 19th May 2022 and closes on 10th June 2022. Projects in this round will be required to start on the 1st August 2022.
Grants of £20,000 will be available for third sector organisations and SMEs (those with 49 FTE staff or fewer) that carry out employment and skills work and have previous proven track record of delivering EQUIP projects. The funding has been made available by the ESFA under their Community Grants Scheme. Deadline: Friday 10 June
The Ulverscroft Foundation- Grant
The Ulverscroft Foundation supports projects that help those with visual impairment. Applications for grants of up to £10,000 can be considered from any source, UK or overseas, charities, CIC or social group. Deadline 15 June 2022
The Mayor of London- Shared Endeavour Fund
Groundwork is working with the Mayor of London to offer grants of up to £45,000 for projects which identify opportunities to counter violent extremism in London. The Shared Endeavour Fund welcomes applications from groups that can demonstrate that the project addresses one or more of the four priority themes;
Awareness raising, Building psychosocial resilience, Encouraging prosocial behaviours, Stakeholder capacity building.
The fund is open for registered UK charities, charitable Incorporated Organisation, Companies limited by Guarantee, Not for Profit registered Community Interest Company, Constituted Community Groups, Voluntary Sector Organisation. It is in the intention of the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime that projects should
be completed by the end of March 2023. Deadline 20 June 2022
Tower Hamlets Council Small Grants Fund (Themes 1-5)
Fund Priorities: The Tower Hamlets Council Small Grants Fund is designed to support voluntary and community sector activity across Tower Hamlets that will make a positive difference to the lives of local residents. There are five themes to this fund and organisations must apply under one of these. It is important to read through the theme guidelines fully to make sure you are selecting the right theme for your project.
Organisations with an annual turnover in excess of £250,000 are not eligible to apply to this Fund.
Grant Amount: Grants of £200 to £5,000 will be available to support local organisations delivering activities under the following themes:
- Theme 1: Innovation. To encourage innovation or pilot something new, especially where there is a gap in provision.
- Theme 2: Prevention. To promote grassroots activity to reduce the need for statutory services
- Theme 3: Neighbourhood Action. To promote local neighbourhood initiatives
- Theme 4: Community Cohesion. To develop community resilience, promote cultural opportunities and reduce social isolation
- Theme 5: Partnership. Making the sector more effective through closer partnership working within the sector and across sectors
Guidelines: Please click here to read the full guidelines for themes 1-5.
Grant Deadline: 12 pm (noon) on Monday 20th June 2022
Tower Hamlets Council Small Grants Fund: Loneliness (Theme 7)
Fund Priorities: The aim of this theme is to reduce the impact of loneliness and social isolation on the residents of the borough. The Council is seeking to fund activities that will help ensure that Tower Hamlets is a welcoming and friendly place, where people of all ages and backgrounds have opportunities to connect with each other in enjoyable, fun, and life enhancing ways.
Organisations with an annual turnover in excess of £250,000 are not eligible to apply to this theme.
Grant Deadline: 12 pm (noon) on Monday 20th June 2022
Grant Amount: Applicants can apply for grants of up to £1,000 for small local actions which will help people connect, enjoy each other’s company and enhance their quality of life. Grants of up to £5,000 are also available for activities that will make a difference in a neighbourhood or to a wider group of people and be innovative.
Guidelines: Please click here to see the full guidelines for the Loneliness theme.
Tower Hamlets Council Small Grants Fund: Community Support Services for Older people (Theme 8)
Fund Priorities: This theme aims to provide community support services for older people and to promote well-being and a longer healthy life by reducing social isolation, increasing physical activity, and maintaining independence in older age. This small grant theme is focussed on supporting community-based services run by Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) led community groups. The Fund aims to support activities that bring older people together and provide activities that will increase independence and wellbeing and reduce social isolation.
The Community Support Services for Older People Theme will support organisations which can show that at least 50% of their trustees/committee/board members are from BME communities.
Organisations with an annual turnover in excess of £250,000 are not eligible to apply to this theme and priority will be given to organisations with a turnover of less than £100,000 per annum.
Grant Deadline: 12 pm (noon) on Monday 20th June 2022
Grant Amount: grant of up to £15,000 are available
Guidelines: Please click here to see the full guidelines for the Community Support Services for Older people theme.
Tower Hamlets Council Small Grants Fund: Cohesion Events (Theme 9)
Fund Priorities: this theme aims to support a programme of community events; held indoors, outdoors, or virtually. The Cohesion Events Fund focuses on community cohesion and re-connecting communities who have been most affected by the pandemic.
Grant amount: Grants of up to £500 for street party events or small scale events and grants of up to £3,000 for larger scale events.
Please note that the Council is eager to support applications for Black History Month Events through this Fund. If you would like to submit an application to deliver a BHM event in October, please apply by the April deadline.
Grant Deadline: 12 pm (noon) on Monday 20th June 2022
Guidelines: Click here to read the full guidelines.
We Move Fund: Youth Social Action – BBC Children in Need
The fund aims to empower Black children and young people through Youth Social Action. We define youth social action as when children and young people use their voice to tackle subjects that matter to them. Up to £50,000 Deadline: 20 June 2022
The Span Trust- Grant
The Span Trust is awarding grants between £5,000 and £20,000 that will alleviate poverty, disability, age or ill health, and advance urban regeneration through the improvement of the built environment. Grants are available to both registered and exempt charities. Deadline 24 June 2022
Tower Hamlets Council Small Grants Fund (Theme 6, Access and Participation)
Fund Priorities: This theme aims to support voluntary and community sector groups which are trusted by their communities to provide support, referral and informal advocacy services, connecting residents to the services that might best meet their needs and provide wider intelligence on the needs of their community. The Fund is seeking to support activities that will enable community groups to act as a source of information and signposting and also activities that will help small organisations act as informed advocates on behalf of the communities they represent.
The Access and Participation theme will only support organisations that show at least 50% of their trustees/committee/board members are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities.
Organisations with an annual turnover in excess of £250,000 are not eligible to apply to this theme and priority will be given to organisations with a turnover of less than £50,000 per annum.
Grant Deadline: 12 pm (noon) on Monday 20th June 2022
Grant Amount: Grants of up to £5,000 are available.
Guidelines: Please click here to read the full guidelines for the Access and Participation theme
Woodwood Charitable Trust
Grants to fund projects that help families and young people and that are aiming to improve the life chances of the beneficiaries. Projects that promote community cohesion and the development of skills that will change the outlook and outcomes for the users. Deadline 29th July, 2022
The Leche Trust- Performing Arts and Conservation Grants
The Leche Trust is offering grants for Performing arts projects and Conservation projects. The Trust is offering funding of up to £5,000 to UK registered charities, public authorities, or institutions.
Priorities for Performing Arts projects include; Excellent in professional performance, The production and performance of new work, The development of young, professional artists aged 18 or over.
Priorities for Conservation projects include; Historic objects, collections and features of buildings and designed landscapes which are pre-Victorian in date i.e. pre-1830s, In the case of churches, the Trust will consider supporting the conservation of items such as monuments, wall paintings, stained glass and historic furniture and fittings, Conservation surveys and preventive measures as well as remedial work.
Deadline: 23 September 2022.
Trust for London Grants
If you’re an organisation in London tackling the root causes of poverty and inequality and your work fits one of our seven funding programmes, Trust for London would love to hear from you. Recommended to check carefully the elegibility criteria.
How they support:
- They fund organisations undertaking charitable activities. They do not need to be a registered charity.
- They primarily support small and medium-sized organisations, usually with an expenditure of less than £2 million a year.
Deadline: October 2022
Dynamic Collections – Heritage Lottery Fund
The Dynamic Collections campaign will support collecting organisations by bringing together project funding through our open programmes, digital resources and knowledge sharing. It is designed to address long-term challenges in the sector, many of which have been made worse by the coronavirus COVID-19) pandemic. It will also help organisations build on innovative ideas and trends developed over the past few years, particularly in digital engagement. The campaign also acts on the demand for collections to evolve to meet the changing needs of the communities around them, and to reflect more people’s history and experiences. Dynamic Collections funding will be delivered through our National Lottery Grants for Heritage. We expect applicants to apply for a grant below £250,000. Apply until 31st March 2023
Together Fund to tackle inequalities – Sports England
An additional £20m will help groups recover from the pandemic
A further £20 million of National Lottery money is being made available to help tackle inequalities in physical activity levels as the nation continues its recovery from the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The support is designed to enable further recovery and growth up until March 2023.
The National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) – Covid-19 Response Fund
Public sector organisations, charities, voluntary groups, and other not-for-profit organisations can apply for a share of £40 million in funding to protect nationally important heritage which is at risk due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) – Covid-19 Response Fund will allocate £20 million in funding to safeguard nationally important heritage assets within England such as works of fine and decorative art, museum collections, archives, and historic buildings. This funding has been made available by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport through the Cultural Assets Fund to distribute alongside the NHMF’s own commitment of £20 million to applicants across the UK. Funding is available until the end of April 2023 and applications can be made at any time.
LGBT+ Futures: Equity Fund
Providing small grants to LGBT+ groups and organisations who are community-led and whose primary focus is one of 5 priority targeted areas:
- Trans and Non-Binary people;
- Those facing racial injustice;
- D/deaf and/or Disabled people;
- Older people;
- Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans+ Women
If your organisation supports a wider group of people (e.g. all LGBT+ people), unfortunately your project is not eligible for this fund even if you have a project to support one or more communities of focus. Your organisation must be set up to support one or more of the above communities of focus. Deadline funds must be spent by August 2023
Little Lives UK – Children’s Community Support Programme
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Little Lives UK are making grants of up to £1,500 available to support London based organisations working with underprivileged children who are in need of support during the crisis. Charitable children’s groups and organisations, such as play groups or sports classes, can apply for funding from the Children’s Community Support Programme to provide a range of initiatives which allow children to access free services and support. Funding could also be used for the purchase of equipment such as sports equipment or to help groups remain sustainable during the crisis. Little Lives UK will also promote successful applicants on their social media and website. Applications from start-up projects are also encouraged. The deadline is the 1st of each month.
Funding: Nationwide Building Society – Community Grants
Your project will need to support one of our three aims: helping people into a home, preventing them from losing their home or supporting them to thrive at home.
Up to £50,000 . Open – will close when a set number are received
The 7Stars Foundation – Project Funding
The 7Stars Foundation is offering project grants of up to £2,500 to organisations with a turnover of under £1.5 million supporting young people ages 16 years and under. The 7Stars project grants aim to fund projects that have a direct impact and respond to (one/multiple):
- Abuse
- Addiction,
- Homelessness,
- Child Carers.
Shine Bright Funding
The Shine Bright grants are to provide relief, respite and happiness at a time of anxiety and worry. The grants are awarded to regional charity partners to purchase educational and art materials, such as toys, books and emotional support for young people aged 16 and under who have been challenged by abuse, addiction, homelessness, or those who are child carers. The fund is only for charitable organisations with a turnover below £1.5million.
Star Start Funding
As part of the Star Start funding, breakfast clubs can receive grants between £1,000 to £15,000 per partner. The grant is to tackle child food poverty escalated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Applicant organisations must be based in London and have a turnover of below £500,000.
Applications for all three of the above 7Stars Foundation funds will be open for applications between:
- 1 June 2022 to 31 July 2022 for September funding review,
- 1 September 2022 to 30 October 2022 for December funding review,
- 1 December 2022 to 31 January 2023 for February funding review,
ASDA Empowering Local Communities Grant
Funding stream designed to support a broad range of activities helping to transform communities and improve lives. Support and funding what is needed and important to your community. Priorities are:
- Building Resilient Communities – supporting community groups with the equipment, essentials and facilities to enable activity to take place. This might be enhancing what is already available, providing core items or enabling an activity to continue.
- Active Lives – supporting participation in group physical activities. Whether low or high impact, regardless of age or ability, encouraging people to lead more active lifestyles and for everyone to feel able to participate.
- Seasonal Celebrations & Festivals – enabling communities to celebrate what matters to them. Helping to bring people together to share experiences & encouraging everyone within the community to be together. E.g. Easter, Holi, Passover, Platinum Jubilee, community garden party etc.
- Leading Healthier Lives – supporting things like cooking and education classes, and enabling positive mental health.
Applications should be submitted to the local ASDA superstore, which has a Community Champion role.
BlueSpark foundation
BlueSpark Foundation is a registered charity which supports the education and development of children and young people by providing grants for educational, cultural, sporting and other projects..
They support a wide range of projects initiated by many different organisations and individuals. We value academic, vocational, artistic and sporting endeavour in equal measure but we are particularly keen to support projects which will help enhance the self-confidence, team working skills and future employability of children and young people. Deadline: They review applications on a rolling basis at approximately 8 week intervals.
The Arnold Clark Community Fund
Up to £1,000 is available for charities & community groups whose work falls into the following categories: food banks, toy banks, housing and accommodation, and poverty relief. Rolling Deadline.
The Arnold Clark Community Fund
The Fund is open to all UK charitable organisations and local community groups, with up to £1,000 available. They are currently only accepting applications from organisations whose work falls into the following categories: food banks, toy banks, housing and accommodation & poverty relief. Rolling Deadline.
Berkeley Foundation – Resilience Fund
Over the next four years, the Berkeley Foundation’s Resilience Fund will invest £900,000 in strengthening the youth voluntary sector. This will provide support for local and grassroots charities to invest in their ability to prepare for and adapt to challenges, building resilience for the future. Rolling Deadline.
Community Business Crowdmatch
Up to £10,000 of match funding is available to back community businesses such as community-owned shops, hubs, pubs, sports facilities, local landmarks and more. You will need a crowdfunding project to apply for funding. Rolling deadline.
Connect Fund
The Connect Fund currently has four programme areas: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Post Covid-19 Recovery; Peer Networks and Challenge Funds. The average grant size varies across the different funding strands. Rolling deadline.
Westfield East Bank – Creative Futures Fund
This five-year programme aims to invest £10 million into the local communities of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Waltham Forest. This project will provide new jobs, learning, training and educational programmes through the means of arts, culture, innovation, public realm and creative place making.
The programme aims to transform and catalyse the lives and careers of people in East London by putting funding, resources and support straight into local people’s hands. Capital Grant Scheme has a pot of £100,000. Proposals will be accepted from £3,000 upwards. The deadline for applications is ongoing.
The Percy Bilton Charity
Organisations assisting disadvantaged youth, people with disabilities and older people may apply for grants of between £500 and £5,000 towards capital expenditure, such as furniture and equipment. Social workers may apply on the behalf of individuals who have a disability or mental health problem, or who are over 65, for grants to purchase basic furniture, equipment, and clothing. The deadline for applications is ongoing.
Mayor announces grants to help Covid-19 recovery – Building Strong Communities Fund
Not-for-profit organisations can now apply for their share of a £900,000 funding pot for projects which foster community strength and connections across Greater London and delivers a range of community-building activities in London. The GLA have two further rounds (round one is now closed). Next round in Spring, final round in Summer.
Vision Foundation’s Vision Fund Opens for New Round
Funding is available for not-for-profit organisations working to improve opportunities and inclusion for the blind and partially sighted in London. The focus is on ‘Opening London Up’, ensuring that everyone living, working or visiting London has access to the cultural, economic and social opportunities of the city.
Small capital grants are available for grassroots football organisations
The Small Grants programme is provided by the Football Foundation, which aims to transform lives and strengthen communities through the power of football. The Foundation provides funding for smaller capital projects to support grassroots football in England, improving the experience of playing football for everyone involved.
Transforming young lives through sport and education
The Hargreaves Foundation is a grant-making charitable foundation with funding available for projects that give under-18s, those living with a mental health condition, disability, or growing up in poverty, the opportunity to fulfil their potential, improving wellbeing, self-esteem and independence. Online application process and no deadlines.
The Get Out! to get pupils learning outdoors.
The Get Out! Grant is awarded every month to primary, secondary schools, charities or CICs or micro businesses to enable them to purchase equipment; specialist training; travel and resource with the focus on supporting pupils getting outside learning. Applications open on the 1st and close on the 20th of each month.
Funding for organisations tackling disadvantage and supports education
Merchant Taylor has two streams within their Disadvantage strategy which includes a Small Grants Scheme is for Community-based charities operating exclusively in the London boroughs of Hackney, Lewisham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets. Any charity needs to work with people who are in need on account of age, ill health, disability, financial hardship or through some other form of disadvantage. Deadline: Ongoing
Pivot Project 2: open for applications
A £1000 grant and additional business support will be available for Micro and Small Tower Hamlets based businesses.
City Bridge Trust – Stepping Stones Fund
City Bridge Trust is in the process of reopening funding programmes which were temporarily closed due to Covid-19. The Stepping Stones Fund is a grant-making, social investment readiness facility for charitable organisations London, delivered in partnership with UBS. It aims to provide grants to pilot new ways of creating improved social outcomes. Deadline: Ongoing.
City Bridge Trust – Small Grants for Green Projects
There’s also Small Grants available of up to £10,000 per year, for a maximum of five years, for greening and growing projects which bring communities together and projects which enable disabled people and/or disadvantaged, older people to actively participate in wellbeing opportunities. Deadline: Ongoing.
Jack Petchey Foundation – Funding for Internship programmes for youth charities
Providing funding to Youth charities in London & Essex to hire young interns for a year.
The Edge Foundation 2021 Innovation Grant Fund
The EIF is now open and looking for projects which are disruptive and innovative in their thinking and approach, challenging the current education system approach. Be innovative, address broad curriculum and address EIF priorities. Grant size between £20,000 and £100,000
Isle of Dogs Grants Chest & Millwall Park Endowment Fund
EECF has two funding streams available, the Isle of Dogs Grants Chest and the Millwall Park Endowment Fund. Both funds will award grants to support positive community activities across their geographic areas of benefit.
Through our grant making, we aim to fund high quality projects or services that will make a positive and long-lasting difference to local residents. Grants of up to £10,000 either through the Isle of Dogs Grants Chest or Millwall Park Endowment Fund to support community needs. Applications can be submitted at any time and will be considered by the EECF Grants Committee and Board of Trustees usually within 4-6 weeks of submitting your application.
KFC Community Grants Programme
The KFC Foundation is providing grants up to £2000 to support grassroots organisations in the heart of our restaurant’s communities. Organisations empowering young people to fulfill their potential by providing safe social spaces, mentoring or work, and social skills.
This grant programme is for registered charities, registered community interest companies, unincorporated clubs or associations or unregistered charities with a turnover of less than £300,000.
Tower Hamlets Council COVID Community Fund
Grants of up to £5,000 for VCS organisations based in Tower Hamlets
Deadline: Ongoing for a limited period
For a limited period, VCS organisations in Tower Hamlets will be able to apply for funding and organisational support. Two grants are being offered:
- Covid Organisational Support Fund– Up to £5,000 available for VCS organisations that need to restructure
- Covid Re-Purposing Fund– Up to £5,000 available for VCS organisations, either to deliver services differently to residents and beneficiaries, such as adapting services to remote delivery, or where Covid-19 has meant that there is good reason for the organisation to deliver different kinds of services
- Wider Support – Alongside the award of funding, council officers and Tower Hamlets Council for Voluntary Service (THCVS), will engage with organisations on the issues they face arising from or impacted by Covid-19
Culture Recovery Fund
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has launched the third and final round of the Culture Recovery Fund to help the cultural, heritage and creative sectors move towards reopening at full capacity. Approximately £220 million in funding will be available via two funding streams: the Culture Recovery Fund: Continuity Support programme will help organisations that have already received funding from the Culture Recovery Fund; and the Culture Recovery Fund: Emergency Resource Support programme will provide support to organisations which haven’t received funding and are at imminent risk of failure. Funding will be distributed by Arm’s Length Bodies, including the Arts Council England. Guidance for each funding stream will be published shortly. The deadline for applications is ongoing.
Covid-19 Homeless Support Fund
Recognising that homeless people are particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 the Foundation, has pledged £500,000 towards its Homeless Support Fund to support charities working with homeless people. Areas of funding include outreach and support for rough sleepers, delivery of services in hostels and shelters and information and advice. The deadline for applications is ongoing.
The Foyle Foundation – Small Grants Scheme
support for smaller, grass roots and local charities, with a turnover of less than £150,000 per annum, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Organisations which are currently delivering services to the young, vulnerable, elderly, disadvantaged or the general community, either directly or through online support, can apply for grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 for core costs or essential equipment, to enable ongoing service provision, homeworking, or delivery of online digital services to charities that can show financial sustainability. The deadline for applications is ongoing.
Sport England – Return to Play Fund
Sport England has launched a new fund that will support groups, clubs and organisations that have been impacted by restrictions brought in to tackle Covid-19. The Return to Play Fund includes:
- a £15m Return to Play: Small Grant Fund which will provide grants of between £300 and £10,000 to help sport and activity groups, clubs and organisations respond to the immediate challenges of returning to play in a Covid-19-safe environment
- a £2.5m Return to Play: Active Together fund which is a crowdfunding initiative will help sports clubs and organisations set up their own campaigns to help sustain them through the crisis. Sports England is matching crowd funds of up to £10,000 raised by clubs and organisations hit by the coronavirus crisis. Programme is open to sports clubs and also to charity, community, voluntary or social enterprise organisations that deliver sports or physical activity in the community but are not solely or primarily sports organisations. The deadline for applications is ongoing.
Arts Council England – Culture Recovery Fund
The UK Government has announced an additional £400 million will be awarded to arts, culture and heritage organisations across England in the form of grants and loans from the Culture Recovery Fund. Funding, which was held back in previous rounds, will be available for Cultural organisations that were financially stable before Covid-19, but are now at imminent risk of collapse. £300 million in grants and £100 million in loans will be offered to support organisations’ transition back to their usual means of operating from April 2021. The Fund will be administered by the Arts Council England. The deadline for applications is ongoing.
Comic Relief – Capacity Building Grant
Grants of up to £1,000 to support small community organisations to become stronger and more robust and improve their ability to deliver, both during and after the Covid-19 crisis. The deadline for applications is ongoing.
The Portal Trust (previously the Sir John Cass Foundation)
The aim of the Trust is to enable young people, particularly those from disadvantaged or low-income backgrounds, to experience life-enhancing educational opportunities. There is no minimum or maximum grant amount that can be applied for. Sometimes projects are funded in their entirety while others require match funding. Areas funded include widening access and participation in further and higher education, truancy, and prisoner education. Applications can be made at any time and will be considered three times a year (usually in March, June, and October
#LetsPullTogether campaign
“Our Tower Hamlets” campaign
Along with pledges from your local community, there is an opportunity to get up to £10,000 from the council towards your crowdfunding campaign.
Sport England – Active Together Programme
Commitment of £1 million to combat the impact of Covid-19 on sports clubs and community activity groups, in the form of match funding through Crowdfunder. Sports England is matching crowd funds of up to £10,000 raised by clubs and organisations hit by the coronavirus crisis. Programme is open to sports clubs and also to charity, community, voluntary or social enterprise organisations that deliver sports or physical activity in the community but are not solely or primarily sports organisations.
Childhood Trust – Champions for Children Campaign
The Childhood Trust campaigns are run in partnership with The Big Give. Funds raised during Campaign Week are MATCHED from two different pots: pledge donors and Childhood Trust funds. The campaign offers unrestricted funding, as well as the opportunity to increase awareness and build up their donor base, to charities working with vulnerable children and young people across London.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation: Ideas & Pioneers Fund
Grants of up to £15,000 to support people with a vision of a better society to explore their ideas for change. Applicants can be individuals or groups of up to three people to charities, social enterprises or limited companies of up to five employees.
The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
Funding for charities in the fields of the advancement of the arts, health and medical welfare and environmental protection or improvement.
All Churches Trust – Hope Beyond Fund
Grants of up to £50,000 to support churches and Christian charities to meet changing needs within their communities, helping them and the communities they support to adapt to the challenges and opportunities presented by the Coronavirus pandemic. In addition to funding capital projects, such as adaptation of buildings and the purchase of equipment, the programme will also fund project-related salaries and some other revenue costs (to the end of 2021), such as training of staff and/or volunteers.
BBC Children in Need – Emergency Essentials Programme
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, BBC Children in Need are expanding their Emergency Essentials programme to include a broader range of basic essentials to support children and young people living with severe poverty across the UK. The fund supports families with children who are living with financial, health and social difficulties, by providing items that meet children’s most basic needs such as kitchen appliances, furniture, baby equipment, beds, clothing, and other items and services that are critical to children’s wellbeing. Applications must come through a registered referral agency that is supporting the family or young person. The programme is delivered by Family Fund Business Services.
Comic Relief – Capacity Building Grant
Grants of up to £1,000 to support small community organisations to become stronger and more robust and improve their ability to deliver, both during and after the Covid-19 crisis.
Arts Council England – Culture Recovery Fund
The UK Government has announced an additional £400 million will be awarded to arts, culture and heritage organisations across England in the form of grants and loans from the Culture Recovery Fund. Funding, which was held back in previous rounds, will be available for Cultural organisations that were financially stable before Covid-19, but are now at imminent risk of collapse. £300 million in grants and £100 million in loans will be offered to support organisations’ transition back to their usual means of operating from April 2021. The Fund will be administered by the Arts Council England.
The Foyle Foundation – Small Grants Scheme
Support for smaller, grass roots and local charities, with a turnover of less than £150,000 per annum, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Organisations which are currently delivering services to the young, vulnerable, elderly, disadvantaged or the general community, either directly or through online support, can apply for grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 for core costs or essential equipment, to enable ongoing service provision, homeworking, or delivery of online digital services to charities that can show financial sustainability.
Big Society Capital – Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund
A new fund for social enterprises and charities that are improving people’s lives across the UK who are experiencing disruption to their normal business model as a result of COVID-19. It has been established to make an existing government scheme, Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, more easily accessible to charities and social enterprises.
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport – Culture Recovery Fund
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has launched the third and final round of the Culture Recovery Fund to help the cultural, heritage and creative sectors move towards reopening at full capacity. Approximately £220 million in funding will be available via two funding streams: the Culture Recovery Fund: Continuity Support programme will help organisations that have already received funding from the Culture Recovery Fund; and the Culture Recovery Fund: Emergency Resource Support programme will provide support to organisations which haven’t received funding and are at imminent risk of failure. Funding will be distributed by Arm’s Length Bodies, including the Arts Council England. Guidance for each funding stream will be published shortly.
Little Lives UK – Children’s Community Support Programme
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Little Lives UK are making grants of up to £1,500 available to support London based organisations working with underprivileged children who are in need of support during the crisis. Charitable children’s groups and organisations, such as play groups or sports classes, can apply for funding from the Children’s Community Support Programme to provide a range of initiatives which allow children to access free services and support. Funding could also be used for the purchase of equipment such as sports equipment or to help groups remain sustainable during the crisis. Little Lives UK will also promote successful applicants on their social media and website. Applications from start-up projects are also encouraged.
The Triangle Trust 1949 Fund – Development Grants
Triangle Trust’s Development Grant scheme enables organisations supporting young carers or the rehabilitation of offenders and ex-offenders to undertake a progressive development to improve future resilience. This might be a short piece of work requiring investment over a few months or a more significant programme of work requiring dedicated support for up to 3 years. Grants are available from £10,000 up to £80,000 for a duration of 6 months to 3 years.
The Clothworkers’ Foundation – Open Grant Programme
Grants to UK registered charities, CICs, and other registered UK not-for-profit organisations (including special schools). Grants are awarded towards capital projects defined as:
- Buildings: purchase, construction, renovation, or refurbishment.
- Fittings, Fixtures, and Equipment: this includes but is not limited to office equipment/furniture, sports/gym equipment, digital/audio visual equipment, garden equipment, specialist therapeutic (excluding medical) equipment. It does not include equipment for one-off use, or which will be given to service users for personal use on a permanent basis.
- Vehicles: This includes a minibus, car, caravan, people-carrier, or 4X4. We are unlikely to fund the total cost of a new vehicle and do not provide grants towards vehicle leasing.
Masonic Charitable Foundation – Funding to Support Vulnerable Older People
Local and national charities in England and Wales can apply for grants of between £500 – £15,000 for projects lasting up to three years that support vulnerable and disadvantaged people over 50. To be eligible the charity needs to have an annual income of below £500,000 per year.
The Wakeham Trust
The Wakeham Trust provides grants to help people rebuild their communities. They are particularly interested in neighbourhood projects, community arts projects, projects involving community service by young people, or projects set up by those who are socially excluded. They favour small projects – often, but not always, start-ups and they try to break the vicious circle whereby you have to be established to get funding from major charities, but you have to get funding to get established. Apply at TheWakehamTrust@icloud.com.
Wooden Spoon Charity
Projects must fall within Wooden Spoons Vision Statement: Our aim is to make a positive impact on the lives of children and young people through our commitment to quality charitable work.
Lloyds Bank Foundation
Small and local charities in England and Wales helping people overcome complex social issues can now apply for two-year unrestricted grants of £50,000 from Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales. The funding will be open year-round, meaning charities can apply at a time that suits them and will not be restricted by deadlines. Successful charities will also get support from a regional manager who will work with them to access a wide range of organisational development support to help meet identified needs.
The Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation
The aim of this foundation is to help raise the quality of life in the UK, particularly for those who are young, disadvantaged, or elderly. Each year grants totalling about 2.5 million are made to a wide range of charities.
True Colours Trust – UK Small Grants
The UK Small Grants programme supports local organisations and projects that work to improve the lives of disabled children and young people, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families. Grants of up to £10,000 are available, although many grants are smaller than this.
Asda Foundation – Healthy Holiday Grant
These grants are designed to support groups that typically would be holding summer holiday activities to ensure children are provided with a hot meal. If social distancing hasn’t been relaxed, the Asda Foundation will provide grants for groups to deliver provisions to children at home. The maximum grant available is £500.
Peter Cruddas Foundation
The Foundation gives priority to programmes designed to help disadvantaged and disengaged young people in the 14-30 age range to pursue pathways to education, training, and employment, with the ultimate aim of helping them to become financially independent. Past grants have been in the range of £2,000 to £20,000.
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
Applications are now open for projects that improve the natural world, secure a fairer future, and strengthen the bonds in communities in the UK. Esmee’s new strategy will focus on the following three interdependent aims: Improving our natural world; Tackling injustice to deliver a fairer future; Nurturing creative, confident communities.
The Archer Trust
Supports organisations working in areas of high unemployment/deprivation and who make good use of volunteers. Funding of up to £4,000 is available.
The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts
The Sainsbury family. It exists to provide economies of scale in the management of the trusts’ activities. Each trust is an independent legal entity with its own separate and autonomous board of trustees, actively led by an individual member of the Sainsbury family. Each trust’s charitable giving follows the family member’s own interests, priorities, and ways of working. The trusts only fund registered charities or activities with clearly defined charitable purposes. They do not make grants directly to individuals.
Tesco – Bags of Help 2021
Community groups and schools can now apply for funding of up to £1,000 for projects in England, Wales and Scotland that benefit their local community. The funding has been made available by the Tesco Bags of Help programme and can cover a broad range of projects. It can be used to purchase sports kit, litter pickers, camping equipment; improvements to buildings; the development of outdoor spaces such as a play areas or woodland; running community events, or supporting seasonal activities. A public vote determines which groups will receive a grant. Following the vote, the project that received the most votes in its area will receive a grant of up to £1,000.
Marsh Christian Trust
The Trust focuses on providing funding which could help small organisations pay for various running costs, such as volunteer expenses, training days, equipment maintenance and other core outgoings. Areas include arts and heritage, education and training, environmental causes and animal welfare, healthcare, and social welfare. Grants of between £300 and £2,000 are available.
National Lottery Community Fund
Mainstream National Lottery Community Fund’s priorities for funding are projects and organisations supporting communities through the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding will be prioritised for organisations who are:
- supporting people who are at high risk of Covid-19
- supporting communities most likely to face increased demand and challenges as a direct result of COVID-19
- support communities with the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19.
National Lottery Community Fund – Reaching Communities
Large grants over £10,000 (grants are available for up to five years) are available to voluntary and community organisations in England for projects that make positive changes in their communities. The aim of the programme is to support communities to thrive by funding projects that:
- Build strong relationships in and across communities.
- Improve the places and spaces that matter to communities.
- Help more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage.
National Lottery Community Fund – Partnerships
Grants of at least £10,000 are available to voluntary and community organisations in England which work together with a shared set of goals and values to help their community thrive. The aim of the programme is to encourage organisations to work in partnership to help their communities thrive by focusing on the bigger picture, rather than just what their organisation can do on its own. The funding can support different types of partnership, including:
- Cross-sector partnerships.
- Local place-based collaboration.
- Local and national organisations working together around a particular theme.
National Lottery Grants for Heritage
Grants of between £3,000 and £100,000 for organisations working with heritage to adapt and respond to the changing environment they are now operating in due to the coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis. The funding is intended to help the UK’s heritage sector respond to the impacts of coronavirus/COVID-19 and to adapt and thrive again. This funding is designed to focus on organisational resilience or on projects that deliver inclusion in heritage.
National Lottery Awards for All
Grants of between £300 and £10,000 are available for charities, voluntary groups, schools, and local authorities in England to carry out projects that will improve their local community. The aim of the grants programme is to support communities to thrive by funding projects that:
- Build strong relationships in and across communities.
- Improve the places and spaces that matter to communities.
- Help more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage.