This week's Funding Bulletin (December 8th -December 12th 2025)

eloisehallwcvs
1 day ago
5 min read

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

Grow Wild

Grants of up to £2,000 are available to community, youth and voluntary groups from across the UK that want to bring local people together to transform urban areas by sowing and growing UK native wildflowers and/or fungi.

The funding, which is being made available through the charity Grow Wild (an initiative of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew), will support activities and costs such as:

Seeds, plants, soil
Tools and materials
Events and workshops
Specialist experts and contactor costs
Staff costs related to project delivery

The programme will support twenty-three community-led projects that benefit both wildlife and people, with a particular focus on engaging:

Young people (aged 12-25)
People experiencing disadvantage or reduced access to services
People who are less engaged with others in their local community 
People who face barriers to connecting with nature
Disabled people

Successful groups can also apply for a £500 follow-on grant for spring 2027 to support ongoing activities, along with access to tailored online training sessions and opportunities to connect with other participating groups.

Current deadline: 4th February 2026

To read more: Community Programme | Grow Wild | Kew

Friends Provident Foundation

Organisations such as registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations, social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations, etc, that are working towards a fairer economic system in the UK can apply for funding through the Friends Provident Foundation’s grants programme.

The Friends Provident Foundation is an independent UK charity focused on supporting projects that contribute to a more sustainable and equitable economic system.

The Foundation is currently accepting applications through two funding strands.

The “Transforming Financial Systems” strand supports projects addressing structural issues within the financial system - such as banking, investment, and government regulation - to promote a fairer, more sustainable economy.

The “New Economy Infrastructure” strand offers long-term support to organisations driving systemic economic change, strengthening their capacity to challenge norms and build a resilient, equitable economy.

Most grants are £50,000 – 75,000, but can be as high as £200,000 for projects up to 5 years.

This rolling programme runs until September 2027, with applications reviewed four times a year.

To read more: Grants

The Stobart Sustainability Fund

As part of its long-term commitment to sustainability, the Stobart Group has launched a new fund to support community-led environmental and sustainability projects across the UK.

The Stobart Sustainability Fund will support not-for-profit organisations, community groups, and educational facilities, such as schools and colleges, in transforming their local communities through projects that:

Tackle climate change
Reduce carbon emissions
Protect and enhance the environment

The fund aims to help educate communities on how they can make a difference by supporting diverse projects and initiatives making a positive change.

Organisations are invited to specify the level of funding they require in their application.

CLA Charitable Trust

Charities and not-for-profit organisations in England and Wales can apply for grants of up to £5,000 for projects that help disadvantaged people connect with nature and the countryside.

The funding, made available through the CLA Charitable Trust, supports projects that improve the physical and mental health and well-being of disadvantaged people by helping them visit and participate in recreational and educational opportunities in the countryside.

This includes but is not limited to the following:

Farms providing day or residential experiences for disabled or disadvantaged young people.
Growing projects, including horticultural therapy and community projects supporting people through outdoor activities and gardening.
Forest school-type activities give people the opportunity to use their outdoor spaces to benefit their mental and physical well-being.
Conservation and environmental projects giving people the chance to learn about the natural environment and how to care for it.

To read more: CLA Charitable Trust • CLA

The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation

The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation provides grants for voluntary sector organisations delivering family support services across the United Kingdom. These grants range from £10,000 to £100,000, with an annual maximum of £50,000, and can be awarded for project periods spanning one to three years.

Funding can be allocated towards core operational expenses, including salaries, running costs, and project-specific activities, with project costs limited to 50% of the total project budget. The foundation specifically targets organisations with annual incomes up to £500,000, prioritizing those working in the most economically disadvantaged areas - defined as the most deprived 15% of urban regions or 50% of rural areas, as measured by the Index of Multiple Deprivation.

The programme has a particular interest in supporting initiatives addressing complex family challenges, specifically:

Early intervention programmes
Support for families struggling with addiction
Assistance for families of prisoners

Applicants who can demonstrate a track record of successful family support work are especially encouraged to apply. The application process involves two stages: first, completing an online Expression of Interest form, with successful candidates then invited to submit a comprehensive application.

The Adamson Trust

Families and groups of children, schools, organisations, and other registered charities can apply for financial assistance from the Adamson Trust for the cost of holidays or respite breaks for disabled children with physical, mental, or emotional impairments.

To be eligible, the child must be a resident of the UK and between the ages of 3 and 17. The Trust requires evidence of their disability or illness from a medical or social services professional. Grants from the Trust usually only cover a portion of the holiday expenses.

Current deadline: 31st December 2025

The Archer Trust

The Archer Trust is a UK grant-making trust, set up in 1994 in memory of Ronnie (and Catherine) Archer. Its core aim is to support “small charities where a grant of £1,000-£5,000 will make a big difference,” especially those working with disadvantaged or marginalised people.

The Trust typically awards between about £1,000 and £5,000 per grant, funding capital, revenue or core costs. Grants are made to registered UK charities, regardless of faith or ethnicity, though the Trust has Christian foundations.

The Trust prioritises:

Projects working in areas of high unemployment, deprivation or social disadvantage.
Organisations that make good use of volunteers.
Charities supporting defined groups of disadvantaged or marginalised people — e.g. poverty relief, employability, education, welfare, advocacy, community support.

They are unlikely to fund large organisations or those with substantial reserves: they typically expect the grant to be meaningful (not more than 10% of the charity’s income), and they don’t fund charities with cash balances exceeding nine months’ expenditure. They won’t fund individuals, animal welfare efforts, research projects, large umbrella charities — or heritage/conservation/environmental projects.

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.