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This week's Funding Bulletin (March 16th - March 20th 2026)

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

Wirral CVS Funding Opportunities


Arts & Culture Fund


The Arts & Culture Fund is open to VCFSE organisations delivering arts and cultural activities that benefit Wirral communities. Grants of up to £5,000 are available.


This fund focuses on strengthening the sustainability and resilience of organisations working in the arts and culture sector, while also increasing volunteer engagement.


Funding can be used to:

  • Build organisational capacity, including governance, workforce development, financial planning, and digital skills

  • Support innovative approaches to income generation and long-term sustainability

  • Enhance the ability of organisations to respond to challenges and opportunities in the sector

  • Enable arts and culture organisations to adapt, grow, and secure their future


Eligible applicants include registered charities, CICs, CIOs and unincorporated associations with a governing document, provided they are delivering arts or cultural activity that benefits people and communities in Wirral.



General Funding Opportunities


Henry Smith Foundation


Schools, youth groups, not-for-profit organisations, and charities can apply for grants of £500 to £3,000 to support recreational trips or holidays within the UK for groups of disabled or disadvantaged children (aged 13 or under).


Applications from the 20% most deprived areas in the UK will receive priority. Funded by the Henry Smith Charity, grants can cover up to two-thirds of the cost of a holiday or trip lasting one to seven days.


Previous visits supported include:

  • All Saints Catholic Primary School received a grant of £1,500 towards a two-night trip to Wales for a group of disadvantaged children from Merseyside;

  • Bridgewater School, which received a grant of £1,900 towards an overnight trip to London for a group of disadvantaged children from Newcastle; and

  • 6th St Helens (Parr) Scout Group received a grant of £1,100 towards a two-night trip to an activity centre in Lancashire for a group of children from a disadvantaged area of Merseyside.


Current deadline: 19th August 2026



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.


This funding is made available by Help the Homeless, 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: 20th June 2026



Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation


Small and medium-sized charities across the UK can apply for funding from the Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation to support people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.


The Foundation offers Small Grants of up to £2,500 to UK registered charities with an annual income under £500,000 for core, project or capital costs.


In addition, Large Grants of up to £75,000 are available to charities with an income of £1 million or less based in Yorkshire or the North East, typically awarded over two to three years to support running costs, staffing and service delivery.


Funding prioritises projects that help people access or sustain a safe and secure home, including support with financial hardship, housing access, tenancy sustainment, and health and wellbeing linked to poor housing. Previously funded projects have included homelessness prevention services, supported accommodation schemes, and initiatives providing essential household items for vulnerable individuals.


Current deadline: 1st June 2026



Home Instead Grants


Community groups and small charities working with older people can now apply for grants from Home Instead Charities.


The charity, part of the Home Instead UK network, provides funding to projects that enhance wellbeing or reduce social isolation among people aged 55 and over. Grants are available to grassroots organisations, small local charities and registered charities, with Community Interest Companies also eligible.


Projects typically supported include social clubs, day trips, yoga sessions, and guest speakers. Funding cannot be used for salaries, operating costs, capital projects, or repeat applications for the same project within the same year.


Applicants must demonstrate inclusivity and hold a bank account in the same name as the applying group. Organisations with more than three months’ reserves may only be awarded up to 50% of their request.


Home Instead Charities said it aims to support small groups making a direct difference in local communities.


To apply, applicants need to contact their local Home Instead office directly to discuss their project or organisation. The local office will advise applicants on the next steps within the grant application process.



The Art Society's Charity Grants Programme


UK registered charities working in the arts, heritage and crafts can apply for funding through The Arts Society’s Charity Grants Programme.


The scheme supports smaller organisations, typically with an annual income of under £1 million, to deliver projects that increase access to the arts, develop practical skills, and engage local communities. Grants of up to £3,000 are available for activities such as community workshops, training and apprenticeships, conservation and heritage initiatives, and exhibitions or museum-based projects.


Priority is given to projects that benefit underserved groups and demonstrate clear local impact.


Previously funded projects have included craft training schemes for young people, community-led heritage conservation work, and outreach programmes that bring arts activities to isolated or disadvantaged groups. Applicants are expected to show strong planning, clear outcomes, and measurable public benefit.


Current deadline: 31st March 2026



Comic Relief Grants


Comic Relief has announced a new funding opportunity for organisations working in youth homelessness and racial justice.


The programme will have two separate funding routes.


The first route will support organisations that help young people aged 16 to 25 who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. This includes services such as housing advice, wellbeing support, and help to access education, training, or employment.


The second route will support organisations that work to promote racial justice within the homelessness sector. This includes influencing policy, campaigning for change, and tackling inequalities that affect racially minoritised communities.


Applicants must be UK-based voluntary or community organisations with relevant experience.


Funding amounts and application deadlines have not yet been announced.


Comic Relief has previously funded projects that provide tailored housing support for young people, specialist services for minoritised groups, and work that aims to improve policies and create fairer systems.


More details about eligibility and how to apply will be published before the programme opens.


Current deadline: 30th March 2026



The Leathersellers' Foundation's ACEs Main Grants Programme


The Leathersellers' Foundation has announced the opening of its ACEs Main Grants Programme 2025, aimed at preventing and addressing the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) across the UK. Eligible charities can apply for unrestricted grants ranging from £20,000 to £25,000 per annum for up to four years. ​


The ACEs Main Charity Grants Programme is open to UK-registered charities or charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs) but not Community Interest Companies (CIC) that:

  • Expect to have an organisational income of £200,000-£2,000,000 in 2025-26

  • Have as their core focus, the goal to prevent and/ or reduce the impact of ACEs by providing services to children, young people and/ or adults (our definition of ACEs is outlined in ‘what we fund’ below)

  • Can demonstrate that the vast majority of people using the service have experienced ACEs/ are supporting people who have experienced ACEs, such as parents and caregivers

  • Use a trauma-informed approach and evidence-based interventions

  • can demonstrate the effectiveness of their approach through evaluation or external research

  • Can demonstrate that the voice of service users/ experts by experience informs service design and delivery


The Foundation is particularly interested in organisations utilising creative arts, nature, and sport in their approaches, as well as those operating in Northern Ireland.


Expressions of interest need to be submitted by 5pm on the 30 April 2026. Given the high volume of applications—498 expressions of interest were received last year, with 17 grants awarded—interested organisations are encouraged to apply promptly. ​


To apply, organisations should review the eligibility criteria and FAQs provided on the Leathersellers' Foundation website. A Word version of the expression of interest form is available for drafting purposes before online submission. For charities with an income under £200,000, information about the Small Grants Programme is also available.



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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