This week's Funding Bulletin (August 18th - August 22nd 2025)

lewishallwcvs
Aug 22
7 min read

A short summary of funding opportunities that have came to our attention this week.

Wirral CVS' Small Grants Programme

Wirral CVS has £100,000 of funding from Wirral Council Public Health to provide small grants up to £5,000, with the majority of grants expected to be under £3,000.

We will be looking to fund activities that:

- Improve physical and mental wellbeing

- Reduce health inequalities

- Promotes preventative health

- Enhance social inclusion and community resilience

- Increase access to health and wellbeing activities

- Improve self-management of health conditions

- Empower communities to take charge of their wellbeing.

Eligibility:

- Organisations based and operating in Wirral

- Income under £10k in the last year

- Charities, Social Enterprises or other Community Groups that have a Governing Document (Set of Rules)

- A bank account in the organisation's name and at least two unrelated signatories, or agreement from an appropriate organisation to hold the funds on your behalf

To apply: Wirral Small Grants

Household Support Fund Small Grants Programme

Grants of up to £20,000 will enable community-based food and welfare support groups to provide food and essential items, support and skills to those most in need in their local communities. The application process will be through Wirral CVS.

Unlike previous years there will only be one funding round to cover Summer and Winter.

To read more: Household Support Fund

The Allen Lane Foundation

The Foundation is offering grants of between £5,000 and £15,000 to charities and not-for-profit organisations working with young people aged 12-21 who are socially excluded or marginalised, and who may have experienced significant issues within their lives.

The grants can be used to support a range of activities, including core costs, project work and capital expenditure.

The Foundation is particularly interested in supporting organisations that focus their work on:

Young people within the criminal justice system or those at risk of offending
Looked after children or care leavers
Those with significant mental health concerns or complex needs
Young people who have been traumatised by challenging family backgrounds, neglect, violence or abuse
Those that have fallen through the gaps in care and/or education
Those already affected by, or vulnerable to, exploitation
Whose experiences could seriously impact their transition into adulthood

To maximise the impact of its grants, the Foundation will only fund smaller organisations. Organisations that work across a local area, such as a village, estate or town, must have an annual income of less than £100,000 to be eligible. Organisations that work across the entire UK must have an annual income of less than £250,000 to be eligible.

The National Lottery Community Fund's #iwill Fund 2025

The National Lottery Community Fund, in partnership with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), has launched the #iwill Fund 2025, making £3 million available to support youth-led social action across England.

The programme will fund four to six major initiatives, with a strong emphasis on projects rooted in local communities and designed with young people at their heart. Applicants must be able to match the Fund’s investment with at least £200,000, either in cash or in-kind contributions such as services, equipment, or facilities.

Eligible applicants include funders, voluntary and community organisations, and statutory bodies. The Fund specifically seeks to support initiatives engaging young people up to 20 years old, or up to 25 for those with additional support needs. The focus will be on creating opportunities for young people, particularly from low-income communities, to take action on issues that matter to them locally.

The programme aims not only to broaden access to youth social action but also to embed youth voice in project design, encourage participation from those who have not previously been involved and build sustainability beyond the grant period.

The type of projects and activities that could be funded include:

Youth-led environmental projects
Peer mentoring programmes
Campaigns to improve local health or wellbeing
Tackling food insecurity in deprived neighbourhoods
Supporting intergenerational projects in rural communities
Targeted initiatives for young carers
Work with young people with disabilities
Structured volunteering linked to skills development
Creating new youth networks

Current deadline: 24th September 2025

The National Churches Trust's Medium Grants Programme

Grants of up to £10,000 are available to listed and unlisted Christian places of worship of any denomination across the UK for project development and investigative work up to RIBA planning stage 1. This support is for churches preparing for a major project and developing their project to the point at which they can approach a major grant funder. Grants will never exceed 50% of the net project costs for this phase.

The programme can now offer grants of up to £10,000 for urgent and essential maintenance and repair projects costing between £20,000 and £80,000. Grants cannot exceed 50% of the net project costs.

Current deadline: 16th December 2025

Matrix Causes Fund

Funding is available for registered charities supporting the needs of the most vulnerable people.

One-off grants of up to £5,000, or grants of up to £3,000 a year for 3 years, are available to support organisations both in the UK and internationally, that promote access to justice (particularly for people trying to get support to meet their basic personal needs), equality of opportunity or a sustainable environment.

The funding can be used for core activities that support vulnerable persons such as prisoners, asylum seekers, people with mental health difficulties, people (particularly children) with disabilities or women in refuges.

Applications from organisations not registered as a charity but established for charitable purposes may also be considered. Each application cycle will have a maximum of 30 applications accepted for funding.

Current deadline: 30th September 2025

To read more: Matrix Causes Fund - Matrix Chambers

Paul Hamlyn Foundation's Youth Fund

Not-for-profit youth organisations that support young people (aged 14 - 25) facing disadvantage can apply for grants of up to £150,000 spread over three years.

The Youth Fund supports organisations whose main purpose is about helping young people who face complex transitions to adulthood.

The Foundation provides core funding for organisations that:

Seek to sustain, prepare to grow, or grow impact with and for young people.
Put young people at the centre in terms of power, voice and agency – as part of an asset-based approach, starting with recognising and building on young people’s strengths and potential.
Aim to achieve a wide impact for young people (for example, going beyond direct delivery and focusing on systemic or structural change).
Are committed to continuous improvement in asset-based approaches to working with and for young people.
Support young people who are facing complex transitions, challenges and barriers to accessing support and opportunities. Particularly young people who are socially excluded or marginalised; whose experiences can be hidden or less well known; and whose voices are often erased or ignored.

To read more: Youth Fund | Paul Hamlyn Foundation

Help the Homeless

Small homeless charities can apply for capital grants of up to £5,000 to help individuals rebuild their lives.

Eligible applicants must be registered charities with an annual turnover below £500,000 and less than six months of unrestricted reserves. Typically, funding is awarded to organisations running residential or training facilities designed to provide homeless people with direct support and pathways to independence.

Help the Homeless are a grant-giving trust founded in 1975 to assist people off the streets and into healthier, more independent lives.

Projects previously supported include the Booth Centre in Manchester, which received £1,500 for centre improvements, and the Amber Foundation, which was awarded £3,000 to purchase new bedroom furniture for its residential centre in Devon.

Current deadline: 15th September 2025

UK Government's Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund

The UK Government has launched a £9.5 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund aimed at tackling digital exclusion and boosting access to online services across the UK. The Fund forms part of the Digital Inclusion Action Plan: First Steps and the wider government Plan for Change strategy.

The fund aims to help identify and replicate what works in bridging digital divides, while ensuring communities most at risk of exclusion—such as older people and low-income households—benefit from lasting change.

Eligible initiatives include

Digital skills training for groups such as older people, job seekers and low-income households;
Schemes improving access to devices and connectivity, including tackling data poverty;
Programmes that build confidence and motivation through mentoring or community champions.

The fund will also back innovative pilots and research that generate evidence on effective approaches, alongside scaling up proven best practices to reach new communities. Additionally, grants can cover capital assets, such as devices, assistive technologies and software to improve access.

Grants will range from £25,000 to £500,000, with projects required to complete by 31 March 2026.

Eligible applicants include local authorities, combined authorities, charities, research organisations, and consortiums led by these bodies. Private companies may participate only as delivery partners.

Current deadline: 10th September 2025

The Co-operative Bank Donation Fund

Organisations such as Registered Charities, Community Interest Companies, Co-operatives, and Credit Unions with a Community Directplus account can apply for up to £1,000 from the Customer Donation Fund.

Since 2003, the Co-operative Bank Donation Fund has donated over £1,000,000 to over 1,100 local good causes. The money can be used to support special projects and fundraising activities, and all Community Directplus account holders are eligible to apply.

Applications are open all year round. Applications received from the 1st October to the 31st March will be assessed in April. Applications received from the 1st April to the 30th September are assessed in October.

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.