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This week's Funding Bulletin (May 18th - May 22nd 2026)

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


Easyfundraising’s Community Pledge Fund


Tesco and easyfundraising have partnered once again to provide funding support for voluntary groups, charities, and Community Interest Companies (CICs) across the UK through their Community Pledge initiative. As part of the campaign, Tesco will award five £1,000 funding pots to community organisations using easyfundraising.


Organisations can take part by registering with easyfundraising and encouraging their supporters, volunteers, staff and wider networks to shop with Tesco or F&F Clothing via the easyfundraising website or app before 31 May. Each eligible shop generates a free cashback donation for the organisation and increases its chances of being selected for one of the £1,000 awards.


Registered organisations will also gain access to a range of ready-made promotional materials, including social media messages, emails, and handouts, designed to help encourage supporter participation throughout the campaign.


Current deadline: 31 May 2026



Henry Smith Foundation's Proud Homes Fund


Homelessness organisations across the UK can apply for grants of £200,000 through the Henry Smith Foundation’s Proud Homes Fund to make their services safer and more inclusive for LGBT+ young people.


The fund is aimed at generalist homelessness organisations that already support young people facing or experiencing homelessness, including housing advice services, hostels, supported accommodation, outreach and prevention services.


Applicants must be formally registered not-for-profit organisations with a charitable purpose, such as registered charities, CICs or community benefit societies. They must have an annual income of between £250,000 and £3 million.


Funding is available over four years, with grants typically worth £50,000 per year. The Foundation can support long-term organisational development rather than one-off training, including work to improve safeguarding, placement decisions, staff capability, supervision, organisational culture, systems and inclusive practice. The fund can also include core costs such as salaries, rent, utilities and staff wellbeing.


The Foundation expects applicants to show a strong track record of working with young people, a clear understanding of why LGBT+ young people face heightened risks within homelessness systems, and meaningful involvement of youth voice and lived experience.


The Foundation expects to support up to 6 organisations and will also fund 1-2 ‘established practice’ grants to organisations that already demonstrate strong or exemplary practice in supporting LGBT+ young people facing or experiencing homelessness.


Current deadline: 3rd June 2026



The Tree Council's Branching Out Fund


The Tree Council has announced that its Branching Out Fund is open for applications, offering small grants to support community tree planting projects across the UK.


Grants of £250 to £2,500 are available for projects in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.


Eligible applicants include community groups, schools, colleges, universities, Tree Warden Networks, parish or town councils, tenants’ and residents’ associations, community-funded nurseries or care homes, community interest companies limited by guarantee, and small registered charities.


Applicants must have written permission for the planting site.


Funding is intended for trees, hedging, hedgerow trees and orchards, together with establishment items such as guards, ties, stakes, mulch, peat-free compost and some irrigation equipment.


The Tree Council is looking for strong community involvement, good value, local knowledge and clear aftercare plans, with larger requests expected to show broader project design and volunteer-led delivery.


Professional labour, heavy equipment hire and peat-based products are not normally funded.


Current deadline: 19th July 2026



Gardening with Disabilities Trust


Grants are available to individuals through the Gardening with Disabilities Trust to enable them to continue gardening despite advancing illness, age, or disability.


To apply for a grant, individuals must provide a letter from their doctor or other healthcare professional indicating their disability and a copy of another official document, such as a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or a Blue Parking Badge.


The grants can be used for:

  • Raised beds

  • Poly Tunnels

  • Greenhouses

  • Tools

  • Small-scale garden adaptations. e.g. access pathways.

  • Plants or Shrubs

  • Compost


Preference will be given to keen gardeners who can no longer garden due to their physical disabilities.


There is no application closing date, and applications can be submitted at any time.


Further information on how to apply is available on the Gardening with Disabilities Trust website.



The Henry Smith Charity's Holiday Grants


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.


Applications must be made at least 6 weeks before the trip.


Current deadline: 19th August 2026


Cellnex's Community Fund


Telecommunications company Cellnex has reopened its Community Fund, offering grants of up to £5,000 to charities, CICs and not-for-profit groups across the UK.


The fund supports projects that strengthen communities, build digital confidence and improve the environment in local authority areas where Cellnex UK operates.


Funding is available for activities under four themes:


  • Digital Inclusion and Skills - helping people get online, build digital skills or use technology with confidence

  • Circular Economy - reducing waste, encouraging repair and reuse, or supporting sustainable use of materials

  • Biodiversity and Conservation - improving local nature, protecting wildlife habitats or supporting community environmental action

  • AI and Education - building awareness of artificial intelligence, responsible use of technology or STEM learning


Unregistered community groups may apply through an accountable body.


Applications can be submitted at any time, with decisions usually made within five weeks.



ChurchCare Conservation Grants Programme


Grants of up to £10,000 are available for the conservation of historic Anglican church interiors and churchyard structures in England.


The ChurchCare Conservation Grants programme is delivered by the Church of England in partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other funders. It supports specialist work on items and structures of artistic, historical, architectural or archaeological significance.


Eligible projects include the conservation of:

  • Bells and bell frames

  • Books and manuscripts

  • Church plate

  • Churchyard structures

  • Clocks

  • Monumental brasses and decorative metalwork

  • Monuments

  • Organs and organ cases

  • Wall paintings and paintings

  • Stained glass

  • Textiles

  • Woodwork and wooden objects


Applications are submitted under separate grant strands, each with its own deadline.


Applications are accepted until 26 October 2026 for books and manuscripts, church plate, churchyard structures, monumental brasses and decorative metalwork, monuments, textiles, and woodwork and wooden objects.


Applications are also being accepted for grants for wall paintings and paintings (deadline 1st June 2026), bells/bell frames (deadline 22nd June), stained glass (deadline 24th August), clocks (deadline 14th September), and organs (deadline 5th October).


Decisions are notified around 8 weeks after the application deadline.


Fabric repair grants are also available to churches that have previously received a conservation grant.



The Architectural Heritage Fund's Heritage Revival Fund


The Architectural Heritage Fund, a charity that helps communities adapt and reuse historic buildings for the benefit of local people, has relaunched its Heritage Revival Fund. The programme helps communities take ownership of neglected or derelict historic buildings and give them useful new roles. It particularly supports projects in areas of high deprivation.


The fund focuses on restoring historic buildings in town centres. These buildings may be reused for a wide range of purposes, including arts and culture, workspaces, community facilities and affordable housing.


Grants are available for projects at different stages, from early planning through to repair and restoration work. These are:


Project Viability Grants of up to £20,000 are available for early-stage work. These grants can help organisations assess whether a project is realistic. This may include checking the condition of the building, exploring possible future uses and testing whether those uses are practical and sustainable.


Project Development Grants of up to £100,000 are available for more advanced projects. These grants can help cover the costs of developing proposals, coordinating the project and preparing for building work to begin.


Capital Grants of up to £500,000 are available for repair and conservation work. They can also help cover related professional costs, such as architects’ or surveyors’ fees. Funding may also support temporary uses of a building or work needed to adapt it for a new purpose.


The programme aims to help communities bring neglected historic buildings back into use. It also supports wider regeneration in disadvantaged areas.


The Heritage Revival Fund will prioritise:

  • Projects that help regenerate town centres and bring clear economic and social benefits to communities.

  • Historic buildings in deprived areas, including areas ranked among the 30% most deprived in official deprivation measures.

  • Projects that bring historic buildings into community ownership.

  • Projects that restore and reuse vacant or at-risk buildings.



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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