Funding News - November 2025

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Funding News is produced by East Sussex County Council and is aimed at charities and community sector organisations. Should you require further information about services available please visit our Funding pages.

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Information and Guidance
Funding News Survey 2025 – Listening to your Feedback- what you told us
Kings Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) 2026 Open for nominations
Workshop in Wealden event for Community Buildings with Action in Rural Sussex

Government
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) -Small Grants for Village Halls re-opens for applications
Homes England - Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP)
Lewes Town Council – Community Grants Scheme
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) - Social Housing Innovation Fund
Wealden District Council - Community Led Infrastructure Fund (CLIF)

Lottery
National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) - #iwill Fund 2025 - Strand 2

Trusts and Foundations
Airbnb Best of British Fund
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust - VALOUR Recognised Centres (VRCs) Development Fund
Association of Independent Museums (AIM) – Museum Fundamentals
British Science Association – British Science Week Grants
CABWI Lifelong Learning and Development Fund
Calisen Impact Charitable Trust – Net Zero and Energy Efficiency
Castle Studies Trust
David Riddell Memorial CIO – Suicide awareness and prevention
D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
Fight for Sight - Digital Inclusion Fund for Employment
The Fore – opens for registrations this November
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) -Your Station, Your Community Improvement Fund
Homity Trust
Kristina Martin Charitable Trust for mental health
Money Saving Expert (MSE) Charity - 2026
National Deaf Children’s Society – Community Grants
Ogden Trust – Physics Education Programme - 2026
The Paddle Trust
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Ideas and Pioneers Fund
Radcliffe Trust – Music, Heritage and Crafts
Royal Society and Julia Rausing Trust - Science Community Grant Programme
Sanctuary Housing - Sustainable Communities Fund
SUEZ Communities Fund
Thomas Wall Trust – communication skills for employability
UnLtd - Awards for Social Entrepreneurs

Funding Diary

Information and Guidance

Funding News Survey 2025 – Listening to your Feedback- what you told us

Between 7th July and 4th August 2025, we invited subscribers to share their thoughts on the Funding Newsletter. We received 108 responses, and we’re grateful for the time and insight people provided.

Your feedback covered the newsletter’s usefulness, content, layout, and publication frequency, as well as its impact on helping you secure funding.

The overall response was positive. Most readers find the content useful and easy to navigate, and the majority are happy with the monthly schedule. We also received suggestions around content you would like to see more of, which we will work on in the coming months.

For a full summary of your feedback and suggestions, please visit the Council’s website.

Kings Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) 2026 Open for nominations

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK. Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), the Award has been shining a light on the fantastic work of voluntary groups from all across the UK for many years.

Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest Award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life.

Benefits to the group:

The KAVS is only awarded to the very best of hundreds of nominations each year. This is a badge of excellence and a real achievement for a group. It provides a big boost to the volunteers as well as great publicity for their work. The names of awarded groups are announced on 14th November, His Majesty’s The King’s Birthday, in The Gazette and promoted widely elsewhere.

How to nominate a group: Anyone can nominate a group, as long as they are not one of its employees or volunteers. Nominations are particularly encouraged from beneficiaries of a group’s work, or from those who are not involved with the group but have observed and admired the results of their work.

The closing date for nominations for the 2026 KAVS is 1st December 2025.

The KAVS Team at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport administers the Award and will happily help with any queries. Tel: 0207 271 6206 / Email: kingsaward@dcms.gov.uk .

For local questions, please contact: lord.lieutenant@eastsussex.gov.uk

Workshop in Wealden event for Community Buildings with Action in Rural Sussex

This event is organised by Action in rural Sussex and funded and supported by Wealden District Council.

This event is ideal for groups that own or lease facilities such as village and community halls, sports pavilions, clubhouses, multi-use church halls, scout and guide huts, and other spaces that serve the wider community.

Join to learn about:

How Action in Rural Sussex can support your community building (AiRS)
Top fundraising tips for your projects (AiRS)
How to show evidence of local demand and need in your funding applications (AiRS)
Wealden’s new Community-Led Infrastructure Fund and how to apply (WDC)
Other Wealden funding available (WDC)
Other funding options

The event takes place at Crowborough Community Centre, Tuesday 25th November, 9.45 am to 1 pm.

For further information and to book on, please go to: AirS Community Buildings Workshop in Wealden Tickets.

Government

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) -Small Grants for Village Halls re-opens for applications

This Defra funded grant scheme has re-opened for applications.

This is for new applicants who wish to undertake smaller projects such as disability access, toilet upgrades and new kitchens.

You can apply for grants of £2,000 to £5,000, provided you secure 80% match funding. While there is no cap on total project costs, the fund prioritises smaller-scale projects.

Applicants must seek to achieve one or more of the following outcomes for their communities:

Improved health and/or wellbeing and/or reduction in rural loneliness.
Positive impact on the local environment, contributes towards net zero
Support for the local rural economy
Promotion of community cohesion

This fund accepts applications from registered charities, charitable trusts, Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) and Community Associations which are registered charities.

They also accept applications from multi-purpose church halls, Scout and Guide buildings where they are open for the whole community, there is no alternative village hall in the vicinity, they are not single use and are clearly advertised as multi-purpose.

All project work must be completed by 31st March 2026. Visit ACRE’s website for details about how to apply.

Applications opened on the 10th November 2025 and will close when all the funding is allocated.

Tel: 01285 653477

Email: villagehallsfund@acre.org.uk

Homes England - Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP)

Homes England has announced details of the forthcoming Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) 2026–2036, with bidding expected to open in February 2026.

This ten-year government-funded initiative will support the delivery of new social and affordable housing across England.

In total, up to £39 billion will be available to support the delivery of around 300,000 affordable homes. At least 60% of homes delivered through the SAHP will be for social rent, with additional support for council-led, supported, community-led and rural housing developments.

There will be two routes to access SAHP funding:

Continuous Market Engagement (CME) – allows partners to bid on a scheme-by-scheme or portfolio basis while funding remains available. It supports small and medium-sized partners, new entrants and local authorities that cannot deliver at scale or that are progressing complex schemes:

General CME: for individual site bids, prioritising proposals that demonstrate value for money, deliverability and alignment with housing priorities
Portfolio CME: for allocations across a portfolio of schemes at different delivery stages, helping to accelerate development and meet place-based priorities

Strategic Partnerships – provide long-term, programme-level funding to partners delivering housing at scale over the lifetime of the programme.

The Programme will welcome bids from existing and new partners, including not-for-profit registered providers; for-profit registered providers; local authorities ; housebuilders and developers; charities and community-led organisations. Applicants can bid as an individual organisation or as part of a consortium or Strategic Partnership.

Further guidance will be issued closer to the launch, outlining the bidding process and funding routes.

Tel: 0300 1234 500

Email: SAHP@homesengland.gov.uk

Lewes Town Council – Community Grants Scheme

Lewes Town Council’s Community Grants Scheme aims to support and strengthen the many networks and community groups that promote a vibrant and active community in Lewes.

The Council has a budget of £70,000 this year for grants to organisations that benefit the town and its residents.

Their grants are intended to help maintain a vibrant community in the town, with particular emphasis on groups who support the council’s priorities, which include but are not limited to:

Strengthening communities
Trees and biodiversity; wildlife; the environment; open spaces
Support for equality, diversity and inclusion, and specifically disadvantaged and under-represented groups and foodbanks
Sustainable transport and related infrastructure

There are 3 levels of grants you can apply for:

up to £750
up to £2,000
or up to £5,000

Grants can be used for the following:

Capital costs – funding for equipment, furnishings, premises or other items that cost substantial amounts and will last for several years
Revenue costs – costs incurred in the day-to-day running of the organisation and its projects. These include items such as stationery, rent, heat and lighting, phone bills and materials
Project costs – costs that are clearly and directly incurred as a result of a project. For example, the salaries of project staff, their travel and subsistence, project materials, and all other costs easily identifiable as part of the project
Various costs – your application might include all of the above

The Council welcomes applications from charitable, voluntary and other not-for-profit organisations.

Their deadline for applications is 30th November 2025 (midnight).

Tel: 01273 471469.

Email: communitygrants@lewes-tc.gov.uk

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) - Social Housing Innovation Fund

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched the Social Housing Innovation Fund, investing £1 million to strengthen tenant engagement and give social housing residents a greater voice in shaping the services they rely on.

This Fund offers grants up to £100,000 per project, with most awards expected to fall between £60,000 and £100,000.

Examples of eligible projects and activities include:

Development of a marketing campaign, application or website for tenants to communicate changes, signpost to local community events, crowdsource improvement ideas, and provide key housing contacts
Establishment of a local union or association of residents, or supporting the growth of existing tenant unions or associations
Creation of events or a dedicated board to engage underrepresented groups, such as young people or tenants where English may not be their first language
Training, sponsoring or funding the establishment of specialist team of staff or tenants to engage underrepresented residents and relay feedback to providers
Development of a digital solution that gives tenants access to key data about their home
A dashboard which tracks the various ways tenants engage with their landlord and identifies response rates and satisfaction levels

This fund is open to registered providers of social housing, Tenant Management Organisations, Arm’s Length Management Organisations and groups representing the interests of social housing tenants.

Applicants must be legally constituted as one of the following:

Company Limited by Guarantee
Community Interest Company
Community Benefit Society
Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Local Authority

The Fund encourages applications from consortiums, which can include non-eligible bodies, provided the lead partner meets all eligibility criteria.

All proposals must be co-produced with social housing tenants. As such, MHCLG expects that grant recipients should partner with either formal or informal tenant groups to develop and deliver their proposals.

The deadline for applications is 9th January 2026. (Note - Projects must start after 28th February 2026 and end on/or before 5th April 2027).

Tel: 030 3444 0000

Email: socialhousinginnovationfund@communities.gov.uk

Wealden District Council - Community Led Infrastructure Fund (CLIF)

The Community-Led Infrastructure Fund (CLIF) by Wealden District Council is a capital grant programme designed to support community-led projects that address local needs and align with the Council Strategy.

It is funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy and the Climate Emergency Reserve, with a budget of £2 million allocated for capital grants ranging from £5,000 to £200,000.

CLIF is strictly a capital fund, requiring grants to be spent on assets that create or improve physical spaces or infrastructure.

The fund aims to contribute to key Council Strategy goals across three main areas:

Community Resilience & Wellbeing: Supporting initiatives that build community resilience, promote mental and physical health, foster social connection, and prioritize equality, diversity, and inclusion
Climate Change and Environment: Advancing the district’s carbon neutrality, protecting biodiversity, and enhancing sustainable transport options such as walking, cycling, and electric vehicle infrastructure
Local Economy: Supporting local retail vitality with emphasis on culture and sustainability

The project site must be within Wealden District, and applicants must demonstrate ownership or secure leases of appropriate duration (minimum five years for projects under £50,000 and ten years for larger projects). Where applicable, planning permission and building control approvals should be obtained prior to application, with relevant documentation submitted.

This Fund is open to not-for-profit entities such as charities, constituted community groups, parish or town councils, community interest companies, sports clubs, schools (with community benefit), and cultural organisations active in Wealden within the last 24 months.

The programme will operate on a rolling basis over a three-year funding period, with applications processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tel: 01323 443322

Email: CLIF@wealden.gov.uk

Lottery

National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) - #iwill Fund 2025 - Strand 2

#iwill Fund’s Strand 2 supports organisations to deliver youth social action projects or give out funding to others.

#iwill has a total of £20 million and expects to support 15 to 20 organisations.

Organisations can apply for between £30,000 and £5 million to deliver projects for up to four years. NLCF requires match funding (no fixed amount) which can be money or in kind.

This funding round prioritises initiatives that bring new voices into the social action space - particularly those participating for the first time - while ensuring they play a leading role in shaping and delivering activities. The programme places strong emphasis on challenging negative stereotypes about youth and is especially focused on supporting young people experiencing poverty, disadvantage, or discrimination.

Your project must:

Create opportunities for young people to take social action
Help young people get involved, and stay involved as they grow up
Reach young people who have not taken part in regular social action activities before
Give young people a say in the work you do, and in running your organisation

Projects must also help achieve one of the National Lottery Community Fund’s missions.

This Fund welcomes applications from funders, not for profit companies, registered charities, Community Interest Companies, Community Benefit Societies, Co-operative Societies, local authorities and schools (as long their project benefits and involves communities around their school).

#iwill’s deadline for applications is 19th November 2025 (midday) with a decision in 26 weeks.

Tel: 03454 10 20 30

Email: general.enquiries@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

Trusts and Foundations

Airbnb Best of British Fund

Airbnb, supported by VisitBritain, has launched the Best of British Fund to inspire more Brits to travel beyond the usual guidebook or social media hotspots to typically lesser visited areas of the UK, helping communities attract more overnight trips.

This fund has £1 million to distribute in grants ranging from £25,000 to £100,000.

This funding is for initiatives of all sizes that support the visitor experience and make British travel unforgettable.

Eligible projects should fall into at least one of the following categories:

Nature & Outdoors – submissions that encourage visitors to get outside and explore the very best of UK's rich and diverse landscape
Food & Dining – submissions that showcase the best of UK food culture, from pubs and street food to world- class cuisine
Music & Arts – submissions that shine a light on UK's global creative influence, from local festivals and theatre to iconic cultural stories
Culture & Heritage – submissions which protect, restore or celebrate UK's rich history and traditions.

This Fund welcomes applications from a broad range of recognised groups or organisations, including small businesses, social enterprises, community groups and cultural and heritage groups.

Their deadline for applications is 23rd November 2025 (11:59 pm)

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust - VALOUR Recognised Centres (VRCs) Development Fund

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA), in partnership with the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, has launched a new funding programme to support veterans and the wider Armed Forces community.

With a total budget of £50 million, VALOUR Recognised Centres Development Fund aims to establish welcoming, place-based centres that offer coordinated services tailored to individual needs.

This programme will be delivered through two funding rounds:

Round One targets larger, well-established organisations or consortiums capable of rapidly delivering operational centres. These applicants should already have strong partnerships, policies, and referral pathways in place, along with a substantial regional presence. Grants available range from £500,000 to £1 million, supporting delivery over a three-year period
Round Two, expected to launch in spring 2026, will focus on regional and community-based organisations with deep local knowledge and connections. This round will offer grants of up to £500,000, with some areas potentially eligible for up to £1 million

This funding can be used for most of the things needed for the project or activity, including people’s time, costs of delivering work online or buying/hiring equipment, and a reasonable contribution to overhead/core costs for the project.

Round One is open for applications until 14th January 2026 (midday).
Round Two is expected to launch in spring 2026 subject to confirmation.

Email: info@covenantfund.org.uk

Association of Independent Museums (AIM) – Museum Fundamentals

AIM’s Museum Fundamentals Grants Programme supports small to medium-sized museums (under 50,000 visitors/year) with core activities to help meet Accreditation standards.

This Fund awards up to £20,000 for costs such as training, surveys, equipment, volunteer expenses, and small-scale building work.

It also offers successful applicants the opportunity to work with mentors, who can offer up to 2-3 days of support, to help guide and support them to deliver their project successfully

Applicants must be AIM members registered with the Charity Commission, have exempt status, or be local authority museums. All applicants must own the collections that are the focus for their project.

Applying involves a two-stage application process, starting with an Expression of Interest. Successful applicants are then invited to submit a full application.

Their next deadline for Expressions of Interest is 6th February 2026.

Email: programmes@aim-museums.co.uk

British Science Association – British Science Week Grants

The British Science Association is offering two grant schemes for British Science Week (6th–15th March 2026), themed “Curiosity: what’s your question?”

Community Grants awards up to £600 to support community-based groups to run their own activities. This is for groups working directly with people who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM and currently not engaged in STEM activity. Example activities include sports science sessions, community science exhibitions in places of worship, community gardens and libraries and youth-led experiments with youth clubs

Kick-Start Fund for Schools awards up to £400 to state funded schools in challenging circumstances, widening access to events and activities, helping the learning and development of children through science and engineering-based activities. Kickstart encourages activities or events which align with British Science Week’s priorities, with emphasis on involving children supported by Free School Meals, from ethnic minority backgrounds, special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) or from any other groups of young people more likely to be underrepresented in STEM.

The deadline for applications is 24th November 2025 (5pm).

Tel: 0870 770 7101

Email: communities@britishscienceassociation.org

CABWI Lifelong Learning and Development Fund

This fund supports small, registered charities that empower people to advance their careers or overcome barriers to entering the labour market.

CABWI supports projects that:

Work with individuals with complex barriers to employment, enabling them to move closer or into employment, including but not restricted to ex-service personnel and ex-offenders
Work directly with young people and adults who are either not in employment, education, or training (NEET) to improve their access to employment and the labour market
Increase the life skills of people so that they may further develop their careers, with a particular focus on the water, utilities, and construction industries

CABWI is particularly interested in supporting innovative approaches that highlight new ideas/ways of tackling barriers to training and employment.

This Fund provides core and/or project costs. Depending on your organisation’s income, you could apply for:

Up to £40,000 (if your income is between £266,666 and £1 million)
Up to 15% of your annual income/previous year’s turnover (if your income is below £266,666)

Applying involves a two-stage application process, starting with an Expression of Interest. Shortlisted applicants are then invited to submit a full application.

CABWI’s opens for Expressions of Interest (EOI) on 5th January 2026. Their deadline for EOIs is 26th January 2026.

Tel: 020 7469 2641

Email: Grants@cabwi.org.uk

Calisen Impact Charitable Trust – Net Zero and Energy Efficiency

While this Trust prioritises charities based in areas where Calisen operates, and where their employees live, their Priority Net-Zero and Energy Efficiency Projects, is open to charities across Great Britain.

This Priority supports infrastructure projects that deliver environmental and cost-saving benefits, for example, solar panels, heat pumps, or building retrofits.

To be eligible, your charity’s core mission should align with at least one of Calisen’s key focus areas:

Youth Empowerment, Children's Play and Safe Spaces actively reducing social exclusion, improving physical and mental wellbeing, and equipping young people with life and employment skills through hands-on engagement
Hospice and Palliative Care
Community-Based Social Benefit Projects that strengthen local communities through direct support, such as food banks, befriending schemes, accessible transport services, or improvements to shared facilities that promote inclusion and wellbeing
Community-Led Environmental Action, providing hands-on projects that enhance local environments and foster community wellbeing, including but not limited to tree planting, habitat restoration, community gardens, and the creation or improvement of outdoor spaces designed for public use

This Trust awards up to £10,000 and welcomes applications from organisations registered with the charity commission.

They have quarterly funding rounds. Their next deadline for applications is 31st December 2025.

Email: charitabletrust@calisen.com

Castle Studies Trust

The Castle Studies Trust funds work to enhance the understanding and knowledge of castles.

Their grant giving focuses on new work on castles such as architectural and geophysical surveys or scientific tests such as radio-carbon dating as well as projects to enhance the general public’s understanding of castles such as reconstruction drawings.

The Trust awards up to £14,000 (incl VAT) which can also be used in conjunction with other funding sources to co-fund projects of a larger scale.

They prioritise projects on sites that are not managed by major heritage bodies.

This is an annual grants scheme. The deadline for applications is 1st December 2025.

Email: admin@castlestudiestrust.org

David Riddell Memorial CIO – Suicide awareness and prevention

The David Riddell Memorial CIO funds organisations that raise awareness and prevent suicide.

It awards grants of £5,000 to £25,000 to cover project costs and associated overheads.

The fund prioritises innovative approaches and showcases examples of projects they have supported on their website.

They favour smaller organisations with annual incomes below £1 million and welcomes applications from registered charities, Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs), and Community Interest Companies limited by guarantee.

Organisations can apply at any time, and the fund typically responds within three months of submission.

Email: grants@davidriddell.org

D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust

The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust favors small scale, locally based projects that bring people together, improve wellbeing, and protect heritage skills.

This Trust accepts applications from registered charities, and generally awards £500 to £6,000, for core costs and projects.

They fund the following areas of work:

1. Arts initiatives that open up access to the arts:

Choirs and singing groups that build community
Performance development opportunities in the performing arts for those in the early stages of their careers
Music and drama projects to engage young people on the margins of society, improve their employability and diminish the risk of social exclusion

2. Medical Welfare to improve health and wellbeing:

Music, art therapy and non-clinical interventions using singing, drama and musical techniques
Support for charities concerned with alleviating the suffering of adults and children with medical conditions who have difficulty finding support through traditional source
Welfare of carers, through the provision of breaks for carers, with an emphasis on projects and schemes assisting young carers

3. Environment to improve outcomes for people

Hands-on conservation activities, particularly those for young people living at the margins of society to improve their skills, build their confidence and break down barriers to their employment
Rural crafts and skills in heritage conservation, with emphasis on increasingly rare skills that would otherwise be lost
Social and therapeutic horticulture projects that embrace nature as a tool for mental wellbeing by using gardening or other environmental activities to bring about positive changes in the lives of those who are living with disabilities or ill-health

The Trustees usually consider applications three times a year in March, July and November.

Their next deadline for applications is 21st January 2026 (11.59pm) for consideration at the meeting on 10 March 2026.

Tel: 0203 637 3003

Email: info@doylycartecharitabletrust.org

Fight for Sight - Digital Inclusion Fund for Employment

Fight for Sight’s Digital Inclusion Fund is designed to help blind and visually impaired people access employment by improving their digital skills.

The fund supports individuals at key moments—whether they’re preparing to enter the workforce, starting a new job, or aiming to progress in their careers—by removing digital barriers and promoting inclusion.

Fight for Sight welcomes projects addressing the following priorities:

Getting ready for the workplace - for people with recent vision loss or just starting out at work
Looking for and applying for jobs
Job retention and progression
Working in technology or digital support - providing clear and accessible pathways for blind and vision impaired people who want to pursue a career in this area

You can apply for up to £30,000 for projects lasting between 12 and 36 months.

Fight for Sight welcomes applications from registered charities, Charitable Incorporated Organisations, Community Interest Companies and exempt charities.

Their deadline for applications is 6th January 2026 (midday).

Tel: 020 7620 2066

Email: info@fightforsight.org.uk

The Fore – opens for registrations this November

The Fore aims to strengthen small charities and social enterprises, giving them the resources they need to grow and become more sustainable.

To achieve this, it offers unrestricted funding of up to £45,000, spread over one to three years. This flexibility means organisations can use the grant for core costs, capital projects, or any purpose that supports their development.

Beyond funding, The Fore provides non-financial support, including access to a network of skilled pro-bono volunteers and lifelong learning opportunities through online workshops and seminars. This combination of financial and practical help is designed to empower organisations to take the next step forward.

The Fore welcomes applications from not-for-profits with an annual income of less than £500,000, working in any of the following charitable sectors:

Arts and culture
Disability
Economic development and employability
Environment
Health and well being
Housing and homelessness
Human rights, law and justice
Poverty and disadvantage
Sport
Women and girls
Youth and education

Applying involves a multi-stage application process:

Your first step is to register interest when the fund opens. This takes two or three minutes.

Registered applicants receive confirmation they have been allocated a place on the funding round. If there are more applicants registered than places available, the Fore allocates places at random.

Once registered, you follow a three-stage application process:

Stage 1 - confirmed applicants have around three weeks to complete their application
Stage 2 – online meeting for long listed applicants who are invited via email for a meeting with one of the Fore’s Strategic Applicant Consultants
Stage 3 – shortlisted applications go to the funding panels

The Fore’s Spring Round will open for registrations from 26th November (12 noon) to 3rd December 2025 (12 noon).

Tel: 07858 339 981

Email: info@thefore.org

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) -Your Station, Your Community Improvement Fund

GTR’s fourth round of ‘Your Station, Your Community’ Improvement Fund (YSYC) 2026/27 has opened to support local groups, charities, customers, and communities across GTR’s network.

The YSYC fund makes grants up to £50,000 to support causes under the following key themes: mental health, employability skills amongst marginalised groups, diversity and inclusion, environmental sustainability and improving station environments. Groups must be working within 15 miles of a GTR network station. GTR is prioritising projects in communities based around stations, along with projects that clearly demonstrate the impact for the railway, passengers, and staff.

GTR also has two Station Partner Support Grants open for applications under two themes: Arts/Creative projects and Horticulture/Environment projects. Each of these themed strands awards up to £25,000. These grants must cover the whole of the GTR network.

GTR welcomes applications from registered charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs), Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs); community groups and other not-for-profit organisations such as community rail partnerships, schools & colleges, Business improvement districts, town councils and parish councils.

Their deadline for applications is 9th December 2025 (midnight).

Email: ysycfund@gtrailway.com

Homity Trust

The Homity Trust, in Brighton, is seeking grant applications from Sussex based community groups.

The fund provides smaller grants of up to £1,000 to registered charitable organisations helping end users in financial difficulties.

The Trust is particularly open to organisations helping with the increasing cost of living crisis. Application details and prior contact information are all on the website.

Their next deadline for applications is 12th December 2025 for decisions in mid-January 2026.

Contact Form

Kristina Martin Charitable Trust for mental health

The Kristina Martin Charitable Trust supports registered charities working to improve mental health.

The Trust has a total funding budget of £400,000 for their current funding round, which will be divided across the following themes (£100,000 per theme):

Breaking the link between homelessness and poor mental health is for charities providing housing accommodation for those who are currently homeless, with ongoing support for the improvement of their mental health thereafter. The level of the grant will be at the discretion of the trustees
Reduction in the effects of social media on mental health is for charities creating significant pathways from online to physical community participation, for example, through volunteering, peer/influencer/educator, or paid work. The Trust will award four grants, with a maximum grant of £50,000
Reduction of social isolation: The level of the grant will be at the discretion of the trustees. This strand is for charities that own or operate a community hub which is used to improve social inclusion, reduce isolation, provide support services and activities that support mental health and loneliness within their community
Improving mental health outcomes for children and young people: The level of the grant will be at the discretion of the trustees. This strand is for charities with demonstrable experience improving mental health outcomes, through early identification of mental health concerns to facilitate early intervention, or through providing resources, activities and programs to support positive mental health experiences. The level of the grant will be at the discretion of the trustees.

The Trust’s deadline for applications is 12th December 2025.

Tel: 01635953437

Email: info@kmct.org.uk

Money Saving Expert (MSE) Charity - 2026

MSE Charity gives grants to not for profit organisations delivering activities which make a lasting impact on how people think, behave and manage their money.

The Charity has announced their funding rounds for 2026. It anticipates supporting six to nine projects through each grant round.

MSE awards £2,000 and £10,000. Their grants can be used for all sorts of activities related to increasing personal financial capability, for example:

Money management workshops - understanding the basics, how money works in the UK, online banking, staying financially safe, household budgeting, how to generate and supplement low incomes
Training volunteers to deliver workshops or to provide peer-support to others
Upskilling existing staff to access financial capability training to support their clients directly
Providing access to financial inclusion activities for people who are disadvantaged in any way such as by age, disability, ethnicity or gender

MSE welcomes applications from small not for profits (annual income £10,000 - £600,000). Your organisation must have been established and active for at least 18 months.

They are running two grant rounds in 2026. Their Winter will open 19th January 2026 and close 26th January 2026. Their Summer round opens 6th July and closes 13th July 2026.

Email: info@msecharity.com

National Deaf Children’s Society – Community Grants

The National Deaf Children’s Society’s Community Grants programme offers £1,000 to £10,000 to groups supporting deaf children and their families.  

The Society’s aim is to build communities that unite families of deaf children.

This funder is seeking projects supporting deaf children in the early years (aged 0-5). This can be directly or indirectly, and projects can also involve older deaf children, deaf young people, families and professionals.

The Society awards £1,000 and £10,000 for:

Play schemes
Baby groups specifically for deaf babies and toddlers
Peer-to-peer support for parents
Schemes to train deaf young people as role models for younger children
Professionals receive deaf awareness information and resources to support deaf children in their care

Their grants cover venue hire, transport, promotion, wages for sessional workers, equipment or technology to deliver your project.

They welcome applications from community groups, charities, and not-for-profit organisations.

This is a rolling programme, so you can apply at any time.

Email: communitygrants@ndcs.org.uk

Ogden Trust – Physics Education Programme - 2026

The Ogden Trust helps schools and organisations bring physics to life for young people—whether in the classroom or through extracurricular activities

Their Physics Education Programme offers grants up to £5,000, under two themes:

Curriculum support for secondary schools and post-16 institutions to improve teaching and learning the core curriculum. Funding can be used for equipment, teacher resources, or Continuing Professional Development
Enrichment activities for primary and secondary schools, colleges, and non-profit organisations (charities, Community Interest Companies and other not-for-profits) to run extra-curricular activities such as physics-related clubs or family activities, aimed at students from underrepresented groups.

This Fund will open for applications on 2nd January 2026 and close 2nd March 2026 (9am).

Tel: 020 8634 7470

Email: office@ogdentrust.com

The Paddle Trust

The Paddle Trust (formerly the Canoe Foundation) helps organisation’s get their projects off the ground to ensure paddling in the beautiful British outdoors is something that everyone can enjoy.

This Trust does not specify grant values, but most grants awarded have ranged from £500 to £10,000.

They’re looking to fund:

Launch and landing platforms, ramps or steps
Improvements to pathways and accessible routes to the water’s edge
Designated or essential additional parking for water users
Works that create more sustainable access points
Access improvement projects that actively engage and allow water users to protect/enhance the waterway or riverbank environment (e.g. by preventing bank erosion)
Signage and information that promotes positive behaviour
Projects that would benefit more than one user group
Projects that benefit or provide opportunities to a wide range of paddlers rather than facilities limited to members

This Trust welcomes applications from paddling clubs, community groups, parish councils, local authorities, organisations or partnerships with local paddlesport groups.

Their deadline for applications is 17th December 2025.

Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Ideas and Pioneers Fund

The Ideas and Pioneers Fund is for individuals and groups who want to explore ideas for social change.

The Fund prioritises people aged 18- 30 with the following characteristics:

Have a connection to the idea they want to explore. They have personally experienced the issue they want to work on
Are ready to take action, with a strong sense of their idea or vision and what they would do next with a grant
Face barriers accessing grant funding. The Trust wants to support to reaching people who would benefit from it the most, including those who haven’t had the opportunity to use grant funding before

This Fund wants to fund ideas that are:

Challenging injustice - ideas that show a clear vision to help build a better society. Your idea will contribute to shifting power and challenging and transforming the root causes of systemic oppression. The Trust is equally interested in ideas working at a local level or a national level
Emerging- ideas that are still forming and taking shape. You will have a clear sense of the learning and experimenting you need to do to progress your idea.
Long-term potential. You can see the long-term potential of your idea, and you’re motivated to make change beyond the lifetime of the funding.

You can apply for up to £20,000. Alongside funding, the Foundation offers support to help individuals and organisations develop their skills and ideas. They also provide pre-application access support and a bursary up to £750.

This Fund welcomes applications from individuals, groups or collectives working together (you don’t have to be a registered organisation) and organisations of any legal structure with a turnover under £150,000.

Their deadline for applications is 2nd December 2025 (1pm)

Tel: 020 7812 3300

Email: ideas@phf.org.uk

Radcliffe Trust – Music, Heritage and Crafts

The Radcliffe Trust awards grants in the following areas:

Music Grants support classical music performance and training, especially chamber music, composition and music education. The Trust is particularly interested in music education projects for children and adults with special needs, youth orchestras and at secondary and higher levels, including academic research
Heritage & Crafts Grants support developing skills, knowledge and experience of the UK’s traditional cultural heritage and crafts sectors. This includes support for engaging craftspeople, training, projects demonstrating creative outcomes for designer-makers, capacity building within the sector, and special needs projects focused on therapeutic benefits of skills development

The Trust also considers other areas of cultural creativity related to heritage and crafts. This includes theatre, performance, and literature, especially where projects promote and develop of high-level skills among early career practitioners and disadvantaged groups.

The Trust typically awards £2,500 - £7,500 and accepts applications from charities, Community Interest Companies, Charitable Incorporated Organisations and other not-for-profits.

Their next deadline for applications is 31st January 2026 (for consideration in June).

Tel: 01285 841900

Email: radcliffe@thetrustpartnership.com

Royal Society and Julia Rausing Trust - Science Community Grant Programme

The Science Community Grant Programme aims to support hands-on, inquiry-based STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning in schools and colleges, provide professional development for teachers, foster collaboration among schools and STEM professionals, and promote lasting partnerships and outreach engagement between students, educators, and early-career researchers.

The Programme has 10 Science Community Grants available, each providing a maximum of £105,000 over three years.

Grants may be used for:

Equipment for schools and colleges to enable small‑scale investigative STEM projects
School and college expenses linked to participation (eg teacher cover, travel costs)
Training costs and travel for STEM professionals engaged in visits to schools/colleges
Costs related to data collection, monitoring and evaluation of the project's impact.

This Programme is open to all STEM institutions/organisations that can demonstrate a significant track record of engagement with both schools/colleges and STEM professionals.

The deadline for applications is 27th February 2026.

Tel: 020 7451 2586

Email: education@royalsociety.org

Sanctuary Housing - Sustainable Communities Fund

Sanctuary’s Sustainable Community Fund provides grants for community initiatives which make a difference to the lives of Sanctuary residents.

This Funder aims to help build resilience and connection between Sanctuary customers and their communities by:

Supporting people to create conditions in which they can thrive, increasing their ability to adapt to adversity in a positive way
Supporting people to maintain and build relationships, increasing connection to others, knowing their community and feeling part of it
Supporting community groups to access funding, advice, peer networks and training to build resilience and connection

The Fund is especially interested in initiatives that have been shaped by Sanctuary customers themselves. The level of funding is discretionary and depends on the project’s impact.

The Fund welcomes applications from community and residents’ groups, registered charities, voluntary groups and schools.

You can apply anytime.

Tel: 0800 012 1991

Email: community@sanctuary.co.uk

SUEZ Communities Fund

The SUEZ Communities Fund supports projects to improve village halls, community centres, historic buildings, sports and recreational spaces facilities

This Fund offers grants ranging from £3,000 to £50,000 for initiatives with a total project cost not exceeding £250,000.

SUEZ is open to community groups, Parish councils, charities, Community Interest companies, sports clubs, community associations and Local authorities.

To qualify, applicants must own or hold a lease for the project site with at least five years remaining. Additionally, eligibility is location-dependent, and SUEZ offers a postcode checker to help organisations confirm whether their site falls within the funding area.

Applying involves a two-stage application process, starting with submitting an Expression of Interest. The Fund then invites organisations to submit a full application.

Their next deadline for applications is 11th February 2026.

Tel: 01908 247630

Email: info@grantscape.org.uk

Thomas Wall Trust – communication skills for employability

The Thomas Wall Trust supports projects to improve communication skills for disadvantaged adults and support NEET people into employment.

The Trust supports work with people aged 18+ experiencing multiple deprivation, or other groups facing major hurdles to employment, especially women, people with physical, mental, or learning disabilities, and refugees.

Beneficiaries must gain at least one accredited vocational qualification during delivery or within two months of project completion.

The Trust offers grants up to £5,000. They also consider annual repeat funding for up to three years, subject to satisfactory annual reviews of progress and impact.

They welcome applications from small, registered charities, with a turnover between £25,000 - £500,000, that have been established for at least three years.

Applying involves a two-stage application process, starting with stage one Expression of Interest.

The Trust’s deadline for first stage applications is 22nd December 2025.

Contact

UnLtd - Awards for Social Entrepreneurs

UnLtd helps social entrepreneurs by providing tailored support and resources to grow their impact.

UnLtd’s Awards Programme is split into two areas:

Funding Futures is open to social entrepreneurs aged 16 to 30 years old, tackling financial exclusion
Millennium Awards Trust is open to any social entrepreneur aged 16+ tackling a range of social issues

UnLtd offers the following levels of funding:

Starting Up - funding up to £8,000 for social entrepreneurs with an idea for a venture which has not yet been established, or which has been running for less than a year. Funding is intended to cover essential start-up costs (not including wages)
Scaling Up - funding up to £18,000 to grow an existing social enterprise that has been operating for between one and four years. is intended to support wages and living costs as the venture grows

Alongside funding, UnLtd assigns each award recipient to a dedicated support programme for up to one year, tailored to the needs of their social venture.

UnLtd run regular information sessions on their programmes, where you’ll get an overview of what to expect, the support available, and the application process.

The current round opened on 1st October 2025. The next round is expected to open on 6th January 2026. Due to high demand, UnLtd limits each funding round to 650 submitted applications. Once this cap is reached, the portal closes until the next round.

Tel: 0207 566 1100

Email: awardapplications@unltd.org.uk