This week's Funding Bulletin (August 31st - September 4th 2026)

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

SUEZ Communities Fund

Not-for-profit organisations in England can apply for funding to deliver projects that improve communities and the environment.

The funding is made available through the SUEZ Communities Fund for projects that improve public amenities, repair religious or historic buildings, or support biodiversity in areas surrounding Suez landfill sites. The maximum grant amount that organisations can apply for is £50,000.

Funding typically covers:

• Materials

• Equipment

• Contractors for improvement work

Projects must be located within a funding zone surrounding a qualifying site owned by SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK. Please use the Post Code Checker to check eligibility.

Current deadline: 18th November 2026

To read more: SUEZ Communities Fund - Grantscape

The Kelly Family Charitable Trust

Registered charities whose activities support and encourage families to work as a cohesive unit to tackle problems faced by one or more members can apply for grants of up to £5,000 through the Kelly Family Charitable Trust.

Trustees may award higher grant amounts at their discretion.

Both capital and revenue grants are available, and the Trust welcomes requests for core operating costs in addition to project-based funding. Newly established organisations are encouraged to apply, as the Trust seeks to help charities grow and establish their services.

Initiatives supported by the Trust focus on preventing the fracture of the family unit through interventions such as practical support, relationship counselling, or mediation. Proposals addressing sexual abuse, domestic or physical violence, alcohol or drug misuse, and support for prisoners and their families are also supported

Although the Trust prefers to fund charities with annual incomes below £500,000, it may consider applications from larger organisations presenting pioneering pilot projects.

The Trust has supported charities like Mosac, which assists non-abusing parents and carers of sexually abused children, and Westminster Befriend a Family, a group that trains volunteers to befriend and regularly visit families under stress in their homes.

Current deadline: 1st March 2027

To read more: Kelly Family Charitable Trust

Groundwork's Comic Relief Community Fund

Grants of up to £5,000 are available through the Comic Relief Community Fund, which is now open for applications. Groundwork is working with Comic Relief for a seventh year to deliver the programme for grassroots, community-led organisations across England.

The fund supports local organisations working to create positive change in their communities, with projects informed by the experiences of the people they support.

For 2026/27, funding will focus on three priority areas:

• Basic needs, including homelessness, food, essential goods, welfare advice and cost of living support;

• Early childhood development for children aged up to eight; and

• Safety, including work to prevent violence against women and girls and support refugees and asylum seekers.

Voluntary and community groups, charities, social enterprises, Community Interest Companies (CICs) limited by guarantee, and not-for-profit companies limited by guarantee can apply. Organisations must be based in England, deliver their work in the region where they are located, and have an annual income of £250,000 or less.

Grants can support project or core costs, including staff wages, rent, energy bills, venue hire, training, volunteer-led services, outreach work and improvements to facilities.

Just over £600,000 is available in total, with around 120 organisations expected to receive funding. Priority may be given to organisations working in areas with higher levels of deprivation.

Current deadline: 20th September 2026

To read more: Comic Relief - Groundwork

The Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation

The Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation has announced that it is currently accepting applications for grants of up to £5,000 for UK registered charities that are helping people experiencing hardship or from underserved groups to access housing or improve financial wellbeing.

Key areas of support include helping people experiencing hardship and/or underserved groups to:

Access a Place to Call Home:

• Assisting people in need to find safe and secure permanent or temporary accommodation.

• Supporting individuals in crisis situations, such as homelessness or health emergencies.

• Funding community spaces that provide help and wellbeing support.

Financial Wellbeing:

• Providing guidance on money management and improving financial literacy.

• Supporting charities that offer financial education programmes.

• Enhancing digital competence related to financial management.

Priority is given to charities working in areas ranked within the top 50% of the UK Index of Multiple Deprivation1.

Eligible organisations must be registered charities established for at least three years with three or more trustees. The funding can cover core costs including salaries, rent, utilities and training, or project expenses such as equipment, materials, venue hire and small capital contributions.

The round will close as soon as 75 applications have been received, so applicants should apply promptly.

To read more: Skipton Charitable Foundation

The Leathersellers' Foundation's Small Grants Programme

The Leathersellers’ Foundation has announced that the next round of its Small Grants Programme is open. The programme offers unrestricted grants of up to £5,000 to support registered charities and Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) improving the lives of people and communities across the UK.

The Leathersellers’ Foundation is a grant funder that supports individuals and communities through charities, education, and the leather industry.

Applications are open to registered charities and Charitable Incorporated Organisations that have been active for at least one year. Applicants must have annual income and expenditure below £200,000, no more than six months’ running costs in free reserves, published annual accounts, and a public website.

Key points include:

• Funding is unrestricted and awarded for one year

• Applicants must show evidence of need and impact

• Capital projects, hospices, medical research, CICs, PTAs, scouting groups

• Services charging participants for access are excluded

Current deadline: 17th September 2026

To read more: Small Grants - The Leathersellers

The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust

The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust has announced that Round 3 of its grants programme is open for applications. Grants of £5,000 are available to support projects for unpaid adult carers.

The Trust is a UK charity that gives grants to registered charities working with people with limited opportunities.

This round is focused on projects that provide therapeutic support for unpaid carers aged 18 and over. The project must be exclusively for unpaid adult carers and must not include other beneficiary groups.

Examples of projects that could be supported include:

• Wellbeing sessions for unpaid carers, such as mindfulness, relaxation or therapeutic group activities

• Outdoor walking, gardening or nature-based wellbeing sessions for adult carers

• Healthy eating workshops for unpaid carers, including cooking, nutrition and practical food education

• Structured peer support activities with a therapeutic focus

• Short programmes combining outdoor activity with wellbeing support for adult carers

Applicants must be UK registered charities, or exempt charities, with a minimum operating income/expenditure of £1 million. CICs, social enterprises and other non-profit organisations are not eligible. Only one application per charity will be considered.

Staff salaries are not funded unless the role is specifically employed for the project concerned.

Current deadline: 30th September 2026

To read more: How to Apply - The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust

One Stop's Community Partnership Programme

Convenience store operator One Stop has announced that its Community Partnership programme has re-opened for applications. The programme provides grants of up to £1,000 to community groups and other not-for-profit organisations operating within a two-mile radius of a One Stop shop.

The grants are available to support projects and initiatives that are:

• Tackling food poverty

• Supporting the vulnerable

• Supporting the elderly

• Supporting low-income families

• Running youth sports teams

• Reducing / recycling waste

• Improving the environment

In addition to the grant, the One Stop Community Team and One Stop Store Team create a long-term, tailored support programme for successful applicants. Grant recipients then partner with the One Stop Store Team at their local shop to deliver this programme.

Applications will be welcomed from various organisations, including voluntary/community organisations, registered charities, schools, health bodies, Parish/Town councils, social enterprises, and Community Interest Companies.

Current deadline: 30th September 2026

To read more: One Stop Community Partnership - Groundwork

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Our past Funding Bulletins will also have grant opportunities that are still open!

Check our 'Funding' tab on our News page to see other funding opportunities you could be eligible for.

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.