top of page
Search

This week's Funding Bulletin (June 30th - July 4th 2025)

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

Home Instead small grants programme

Small grants are available to fund projects to improve the lives of the elderly across the UK. Home Instead Charities awards grants for well-being events, activities, or pastimes that prevent social isolation and loneliness among adults over 55.


Eligibility Criteria:

  • Small grass roots organisations can apply for funding up to £500

  • Small local registered charities can apply for funding up to £1,500


Eligible projects may include:

  • Regular weekly or monthly events and activities such as a weekly cinema club, weekly knit and natter or Thursday lunch club

  • A one-off activity such as a day trip or a Christmas lunch

  • Activities such as yoga or a guest speaker for your group, such as a local historian


Applications will also be considered from groups, associations, and charities that do not directly service the over-50s but the project they require funding for does, e.g., a local school wishes to hold a special afternoon tea for its local care home residents.



Matrix Causes Fund

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



ASDA Foundation's Foodbank Fundamentals Fund

In response to the cost-of-living crisis, the Asda Foundation has launched the Foodbank Fundamentals Fund, allocating a total of £400,000 in funding to support not-for-profit organisations that provide food and essential supplies to the UK’s most disadvantaged communities.


The fund will consider applications from not-for-profit organisations with an annual income below £250,000, such as:

  • Food banks

  • Community pantries

  • Social supermarkets

  • Soup kitchens

  • Breakfast clubs


Grants of £750 can only be used for the following (or a combination of):

  • Essential food (inc. baby food/formula)

  • Basic hygiene items (inc. toiletries, nappies and baby wipes)

  • White goods (e.g. fridge, freezer)

  • Storage and essential fixtures/fittings (i.e. containers, shelving)

  • Fuel costs for delivering food provisions to isolated members of the community


Current deadline: 29th July 2025



Better Youth Spaces programme

Youth organisations will soon be able to apply for a share of £30.5 million in funding through the Better Youth Spaces programme, which aims to enhance youth facilities across England.


Grants ranging from £5,000 to £100,000 will be available for small-scale capital projects, including equipment purchases and refurbishment.


Funded by the UK Government and administered by Social Investment Business, the programme will support projects in 42 priority areas identified by the government using the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index.


Projects must meet at least one of the fund objectives:

  • Improving the reach of activities provided

  • Improving the safety of existing youth facilities

  • Improve the youth sector’s capacity and quality to deliver a range of enrichment activities

  • Funding priority areas on the basis of youth need

  • Improving the financial sustainability of youth facilities


The fund will support youth organisations working with disadvantaged young people aged 11 to 18, or up to 25 for those with additional needs or vulnerabilities.


The maximum size of any grant for refurbishment purposes is £50,000.


Current deadline: 1st September 2025



Calisen Impact Charitable Trust

UK-registered charities can apply for grants to support projects that deliver positive environmental, social, or wellbeing outcomes for communities across the country.


The funding aims to drive economic and social development within communities by supporting initiatives that focus on at least one of the following:

  • Help to achieve the UK climate target

  • Move the UK towards zero emission

  • Create a more sustainable energy system

  • Embrace and promote inclusion and safe, diverse educational and working environments

  • Extend economic and social development in communities where Calisen operates in the North West and across the UK


Supported initiatives include partnerships with Eco-Schools, helping to fund Green Flag accreditation for schools and engaging children in environmental action, as well as Youth Zones, which provide nutritious meals for disadvantaged young people.


The Trust does not list a specific total fund value or maximum grant amount per application.


Current deadline: 30th September 2025



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: 30th September 2025



Charles Hayward Foundation’s Main Grants Programme

UK registered charities working in the areas of Social and Criminal Justice can apply for funding to deliver projects that prevent people from entering the criminal justice system and to support those already in it to rebuild their lives.


Funding is being provided through the Charles Hayward Foundation’s Main Grants Programme, which supports projects over one to three years with grants ranging from £15,000 to £25,000 per annum.


The Foundation will fund projects in the following categories:

  • Targeted early intervention programmes aimed at reaching the most troubled and vulnerable families in a community

  • Tailored preventative and diversionary projects for young people at risk of offending, including interventions identifying and addressing the particular needs of girls and young women

  • Programmes combining prison-based and community interventions dealing with the rehabilitation of offenders, accommodation and support on release, maintaining family relationships, mentoring, and creating pathways to employment

  • Schemes offering viable alternatives to custody, in particular for women and young people

  • Programmes of support that alleviate the consequences of domestic abuse


Charities with an annual income of between £350,000 and £4 million are eligible to apply.


Current deadline: 19th September 2025



The MSE Charity

Small to medium-sized not-profit organisations, including UK registered charities, community interest companies, social enterprises, and credit unions can apply for grants of up to £10,000 to improve people’s money management skills and make a lasting impact on the way people think, behave & manage their money.


Up to £500 per application for essential IT equipment for project delivery.


This funding is being made available through the MSE Charity, which was founded by Money–Saving Expert Martin Lewis and aims to support activities that improve financial education and capability across the UK.


Examples of activities that could be funded include:


  • Money management workshops - understanding the basics, how money works in the UK, online banking, staying financially safe, household budgeting, how to generate and supplement low incomes

  • Training volunteers to deliver workshops or to provide peer-support to others

  • Upskilling existing staff to access financial capability training to support their clients directly

  • Providing access to financial inclusion activities for people who are disadvantaged in anyway such as by age, disability, ethnicity or gender


To be eligible, applicants must have an annual income of less than £750,000 and unrestricted reserves that are less than six months of their running costs. The application process involves a two-stage approach, beginning with an eligibility quiz and a brief outline proposal, followed by a full application for shortlisted organisations. There is a two stage application process and the deadline for submitting stage 1 applications is 5pm on the 10th July 2025.


Current deadline: 10th July 2025


To read more: Guidance Notes


Big Give's Christmas Challenge 2025 [DEADLINE EXTENDED]

Big Give are pleased to announce that they will be extending the applications for the Christmas Challenge to 5pm Wednesday 16th July.


Christmas at Big Give is back! Applications for the UK’s biggest fundraising campaign are open. For seven days starting on #Giving Tuesday, supporters of participating charities can double their donations and, in doing so, make an extraordinary difference to some of the world’s biggest challenges.


Big Give have a funder exclusively looking to fund charities in Merseyside. If you are a charity working in the region, Big Give would welcome an application from you.


Early submissions are encouraged to allow plenty of time for pledge collection. Don’t leave it until the last minute! Find out more about how to apply via the Christmas Challenge page.


Current deadline: 16th July 2025



The GSK Community Health programme

The GSK Community Health programme supports small charities tackling health inequalities with total annual income between £20,000 and £150,000.  Up to 10 charities will receive up to £10,000 in unrestricted funding plus access to free training and development valued at £5,000. Closing date Monday 11 August 2025.


Current deadline: 11th August 2025



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.




Comments

Rated 0 out of 5 stars.
No ratings yet
Add a rating
bottom of page