Grants up to £10,000 for a wide range of initiatives that will make a positive impact on communities across the UK.
One key focus is to fund innovative local and community-led projects that may not be eligible for traditional funding sources. This could include anything from setting up a community garden to running a digital skills workshop. The fund also seeks to help disadvantaged people develop the skills they need to find employment by providing training and support.
Additionally, the fund will address specific skills gaps in local areas and reach out to communities where access to training and development opportunities is limited. By working with external organisations, the fund aims to create a sustainable model for delivering social impact through funding and match-funding.
You can apply if you are:
- A registered charity with a voluntary income of less that £1m. If your organisation had income of over £1m last year, they will ask for a matching contribution that will be tailored to your size.
- Registered Social Enterprises, with clearly defined asset locks, with an income of less than £1m
- Colleges, FE providers and other City & Guilds customers, where the proposals are clearly additive to existing funding.
- Individuals and community groups, but only instances where they have a supporting organisation that is willing to act as the recipient of funds and meets one of the criteria above (for example a local college, Scout Group, charity etc.)
The Fund supports projects that are:
- Seeking funding for projects or activities that will be delivered in the UK
- Supporting people 16+ who are facing barriers
- Supporting the development of skills required to move towards or into employment
Projects will also be viewed positively if they address any of the following:
- people with convictions
- young people at risk of offending
- refugees and displaced people
- neurodiverse learners
- lower socio-economic groups
- Can evidence that they are addressing local skills gaps and/or directly link to job outcomes
- Are in a community or region of defined social need (Indices of Multiple Deprivation, DofE cold spots)
You can apply for a grant of up to £10,000 and most grants will be around £6,000. There is a two stage process starting with an Expression of Interest.
Grant recipients will be required to sign an agreement which commits them to reporting the outputs and outcomes of any funding.
The community grants programme is open year-round and they will review submissions on a monthly basis.