This week's Funding Bulletin (December 15th -December 19th 2025)
- eloisehallwcvs
- 2 minutes ago
- 5 min read
A short summary of funding opportunities that have came to our attention this week.
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 National Churches Trust's Medium Grants 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: 14th April 2026
To read more: Medium grants | National Churches Trust
The Architectural Heritage Fund's Heritage Revival Fund
The Architectural Heritage Fund has announced that its Heritage Revival Fund, a grants programme aimed at revitalising neglected historic buildings in town centres across England, is now open for applications.
Funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Historic England, this initiative is part of the government's £270 million investment in arts and culture. The programme seeks to empower community organisations to take ownership of local heritage assets, transforming them into thriving spaces that meet community needs.
The Heritage Revival Fund offers three types of grants:
Project Viability Grants: Up to £15,000 for early-stage work to assess the condition and potential uses of historic buildings. Expressions of interest can be submitted at any time. Notification of decisions within six weeks. Those who are successful at stage one will be invited to submit a full application.
Project Development Grants: Up to £100,000 to support the development and coordination of projects, taking them towards the start of on-site work. Expressions of interest can be submitted at any time. Notification of decisions within six weeks. Those who are successful at stage one will be invited to submit a full application by the 19th January 2026.
Capital Grants: Up to £350,000 for the physical restoration and adaptation of historic buildings. The Capital Grants programme is currently closed to new applications.
This funding addresses the need to preserve historic buildings that are at risk of neglect or decay. By supporting community-led initiatives, the programme aims to breathe new life into these structures, ensuring they continue to serve as valuable assets for local communities.
Eligible applicants include charities, parish councils, not-for-profit organisations, and social enterprises, etc. Priority will be given to projects located in town centres across England.
To read more: England | The Architectural Heritage Fund
The Matthew Good Foundation
The Matthew Good Foundation has opened the next round of its Grants for Good Fund. The aim is to support small charities, not-for-profit groups and social entrepreneurs who are passionate about making a difference to people, their community or the environment.
The Fund will share £15,000 between five shortlisted projects every three months, which will be voted for by John Good Group employees. The project that receives the most votes will receive a grant of £5,000, second place £3,500, third place £2,500 with fourth and fifth place both receiving £2,000.
As well as established projects and charities, the Foundation wants to hear from people with innovative ideas that need some funding to get their projects up and running.
To be eligible, applicants must have earned less than £50,000 in the last 12 months.
Current deadline: 15th March 2026
To read more: Grants for Good - Small Charity Funding up to £5,000
The Allen Lane Foundation Young People's Programme
Grants of up to £15,000 are available to UK charities and not-for-profit organisations working with young people aged 12-21 who are socially excluded or marginalised and who are experiencing, or may have experienced, significant issues in their lives.
The Allen Lane Foundation Young People's Programme is keen to support young people who are facing complex challenges and barriers to accessing support and opportunities.
A particular focus is given to supporting:
Children who are considered persistently absent from school
Those leaving school with no qualifications
Children and young people in/leaving care
The average grant is around £5,000-£6,000.
The funding could be used, for example, for:
Pro-active youth clubs
Activities for disaffected young people
Employment opportunities
To provide experience which help young people to find structure
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.
To read more: Young People’s Programme – The Allen Lane Foundation
The Charities Aid Foundation's Venturesome Impact Fund
Charities, social enterprises and community organisations across the UK can apply for flexible social investment through the Charities Aid Foundation’s Venturesome Impact Fund.
The Charities Aid Foundation is a UK-based charity that supports and strengthens the charitable sector by providing funding, advice and financial services.
The Venturesome Impact Fund aims to help organisations strengthen their financial resilience, grow trading income and increase social impact where traditional grants or bank lending may not be suitable. Rather than providing one-off grants, the fund offers repayable finance, allowing capital to be recycled to support more organisations over time.
Funding is available as loans ranging from £50,000 to £1 million, typically over three to five years, with fixed interest rates. In some cases, particularly for smaller or early-stage organisations, CAF may offer blended finance packages that combine a loan with a grant element to reduce risk and improve affordability.
The Venturesome Impact Fund is open to UK-registered charities, social enterprises and community groups that can demonstrate a clear social purpose and measurable impact. Applicants must usually have been operating for at least one year, show a minimum annual turnover of £75,000, and be able to repay the investment from trading or other earned income.
Organisations can use the funding to support working capital, manage cash flow, expand services, invest in staff or systems, or develop new income-generating activities.
Floating Support - Homeless Prevention [TENDER]
Wirral Council wishes to commission a non-accommodation based (floating support) service that will deliver housing-related support to vulnerable people, aimed at preventing homelessness, and supporting households to manage and maintain independent living. The service, which will need to respond innovatively and creatively in supporting people and by working in close partnership with Service Users, their family and/or carers and other professionals, will aim to help people maintain their independence and encourages people to settle back into the community and promotes self-reliance. The support will be solution focussed aimed at resolving issues and preventing crisis.
Current deadline: 27th January 2026
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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