This week's Funding Bulletin (April 27th - May 1st 2026)
- eloisehallwcvs
- 12 minutes ago
- 4 min read
A short summary of funding opportunities that have come to our attention this week.
Big Give’s Christmas Challenge
The Christmas Challenge is the UK’s largest collaborative fundraising campaign, supporting a wide range of charitable organisations across diverse causes, including poverty, gender equality, climate change, and mental wellbeing. The campaign enables charities to maximise their impact by doubling public donations through a matched funding model.
The initiative operates using Big Give’s Pledge Model, where participating charities secure match funding in advance from their own supporters (pledgers). Eligible charities may then receive additional match funding from Big Give’s Champion partners, creating a combined funding pot that is used to double donations made by the public during the campaign week via the Big Give platform.
To participate, charities must first secure a portion of their match funding from pledgers. This model incentivises early fundraising engagement and strengthens donor confidence, while significantly increasing the total funds raised during the campaign.
Introductory and support webinars are available to guide applicants through the process, including an overview of how the campaign works and strategies for securing pledges.
Current deadline: 3rd July 2026
Read more: Christmas Challenge - Big Give
SIB's Energy Resilience Fund
The Energy Resilience Fund (ERF) provides a blended funding package designed to strengthen the energy resilience of charities and social enterprises across England. The fund combines 60% loan and 40% grant, with total funding available ranging from £25,000 to £250,000.
Delivered through a partnership including Social Investment Business, Big Issue Invest, Charity Bank, Co-operative and Community Finance, Groundwork UK, Homeless Link, Key Fund, Resonance Ltd, The Architectural Heritage Fund and The Ubele Initiative, the programme builds on a previous pilot fund managed by Key Fund.
The fund supports organisations seeking to improve energy efficiency and sustainability. This may include reducing carbon emissions, lowering energy costs, upgrading buildings to meet future regulatory standards, improving comfort and usability of spaces, or replacing outdated vehicles and equipment with more energy-efficient alternatives. Eligible applicants must be charities or social enterprises based in England and delivering demonstrable social impact.
The LandAid Charitable Trust's Young Futures Fund
The LandAid Charitable Trust has announced its new LandAid Young Futures Fund. LandAid is a UK charity that brings the property industry together to fund and support charities helping young people who are or have been homeless, or are at risk of homelessness
The Young Futures Fund offers one-year grants of £5,000 to £40,000 to not-for-profit organisations supporting 16 to 25-year-olds who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The programme will distribute £1.178 million raised through this year’s StreetSmart campaign.
The fund will support projects that improve access to safe, secure and affordable housing, alongside support that helps young people keep their homes and move towards independent living. LandAid is looking to support organisations delivering frontline services with strong local connections and a clear understanding of young people’s needs in their communities.
Current deadline: 22nd May 2026
To read more: LandAid Young Futures Fund - LandAid
The James Tudor Foundation's Mental Health Grants Programme
Grants of up to £25,000 are available to UK-registered charities that support children and young people recovering from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and parents affected by ACEs, mental illness, or addiction.
The James Tudor Foundation’s Mental Health Grants Programme funds evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches.
The programme has two main goals:
To assist children and young people who have experienced ACEs in overcoming trauma
To help parents address their own mental health issues to prevent them from harming their children
This could include therapies for children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse or domestic violence, specialist support for bereaved children and young people, whole-family therapies, and support for parents or caregivers to help break intergenerational cycles of abuse.
Current deadline: 8th May 2026
To read more: James Tudor Foundation
The AB Charitable Trust's Open Programme
The AB Charitable Trust (ABCT), a grant-making foundation focused on promoting and defending human rights in the UK and supporting marginalised and excluded groups whose rights are at risk or under threat, has announced that its Open Programme is currently accepting applications from UK registered charities that address the root causes of injustice and inequality in the UK.
Through its Open Programme, ABCT offers grants ranging from £10,000 to £30,000 per year, for up to three years. The programme provides both core funding (unrestricted grants) and project funding (restricted grants), enabling charities to deliver essential activities that protect and promote human rights.
The Trust prioritises support for charities operating in the following thematic areas:
The Human Rights Framework
Funding is available for organisations working to uphold, enhance, and implement the UK's human rights protection frameworks. This includes defending civic space, safeguarding the right to protest, and holding the government accountable for its human rights obligations.
Access to Justice
ABCT supports work that ensures fair access to legal advice and representation. Grants are available for organisations that promote the rule of law and seek to strengthen the justice system, especially for those facing discrimination or disadvantage.
The Criminal Legal System and Penal Reform
The Trust funds organisations aiming to create a more just and equitable criminal justice system. This includes advocacy for penal reform and efforts to reduce the harms caused by incarceration.
Migrants and Refugees
Organisations that support migrants, refugees, and people seeking asylum in the UK are eligible for funding. This includes service provision, policy and advocacy work, campaigning, narrative change, and community organising to promote a fair and humane immigration system.
Applicants must be UK-registered charities with annual incomes between £150,000 and £1.5 million.
Current deadline: 31st July 2026
To read more: The A B Charitable Trust
Our past Funding Bulletins will also have grant opportunities that are still open!
Need support applying to any of the above? Get in touch with us at groups@wcvs.org.uk to access bespoke advice and one-to-one support with grant funding.
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