Funding pots open for applications this winter

We’ve rounded up seven funding pots that are open for applications between now and February 2025. Don’t wait to apply, some pots close for applications in November.

1.      Comic Relief

Community organisations with an annual income of less than £250,000 can apply for funding for projects that address one or more of these themes:

• Mitigating the impact of poverty, such as food provision, warm spaces, shelter and financial advice.
• Building resilience to poverty and hardship, such as skills training, job search support, volunteering, mental health resilience and supporting financial fluency.
• Working to support social justice, diversity and inclusion, such as provision of services that tackle inequalities such as gender, sexuality, race, language or ability.
• Working to support climate justice and communities vulnerable to the effects of climate change through, for example, practical measures or by building community awareness.

Closes 9 November 2024.

Read more and find out how to apply on the Groundwork website.

2.      National Lottery Heritage Fund

Are you working with a local authority? Funding is available for projects meeting the following criteria:

• fostering collaboration between community and statutory organisations
• a focus on improving the quality of, and access to, historic parks and urban green spaces
• developing new ways to engage local communities and generate greater investment.

Projects can last for up to three years. Closes 12 November 2024.

Read more and apply on the Heritage Fund website.

3.      Weavers Company

Funding is available for projects offering employment opportunities for young and adult ex-offenders, as well as projects that support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Closes 14 November 2024.

Read more and apply on the Weavers Company website.

4.      Power to Change Community Shares Booster Fund

The Community Shares Booster Fund supports new and existing community businesses in England who want to develop community shares. Development grants are available to support a community business to prepare a community share offer. This includes support with financial planning, governance, marketing costs and the award of a Community Shares Standard Mark.

Closes 29 January 2025.

Read more and apply on the Power to Change website. 

5.      The Hedley Foundation

If you’re a small or medium-sized registered charity, you can apply for funding for initiatives that benefit the lives of young, disabled, elderly and terminally ill people and their carers.

Closes 11 December 2024.

Read more and apply on the Hedley Foundation website.

6.      Thomas Wall Trust

If your charity has been registered for three years or more, with a turnover of £25,000 to £500,000, you can apply for funding to support projects that equip adults from disadvantaged backgrounds with skills to gain employment.

Priority is given to projects that support people facing major hurdles to employment through inequality, such as women, people with disabilities, refugees and asylum seekers.

Closes 6 January 2025.

Read more and apply on the Thomas Wall Trust website.

7.      The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust

Grants are available for UK registered charities that work on projects supporting people in one or more of these three areas:

• the arts
• health and medical welfare
• the environment

Closes 4 February 2025.

Read more and apply on the D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust website.

Additional support and resources for Big Local areas

Browse our community action plans and explore our support partner offers.