This week's Funding Bulletin (September 1st - September 5th 2025)

lewishallwcvs
Sep 5
5 min read

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

Wirral CVS' Small Grants Programme

Wirral CVS has £100,000 of funding from Wirral Council Public Health to provide small grants up to £5,000, with the majority of grants expected to be under £3,000.

We will be looking to fund activities that:

- Improve physical and mental wellbeing

- Reduce health inequalities

- Promotes preventative health

- Enhance social inclusion and community resilience

- Increase access to health and wellbeing activities

- Improve self-management of health conditions

- Empower communities to take charge of their wellbeing.

Eligibility:

- Organisations based and operating in Wirral

- Income under £10k in the last year

- Charities, Social Enterprises or other Community Groups that have a Governing Document (Set of Rules)

- A bank account in the organisation's name and at least two unrelated signatories, or agreement from an appropriate organisation to hold the funds on your behalf

To apply: Wirral Small Grants

The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust's Refugees and Asylum Seekers programme

The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust is currently accepting applications for its "Refugees and Asylum Seekers" grant programme. To be eligible, a project must focus exclusively on refugees and/or asylum seekers as its beneficiaries, without extending services to other groups.

Funding is available for revenue costs (e.g. materials, activities) directly linked to the project. Salaries are not funded, unless the staff member is specifically employed for the project in question.

Organisations eligible to apply include UK-registered charities or organisations that are exempt from registration. The Trust does not give grants for any other type of not-for-profit organisation, social enterprise or community foundation.

Eligible charities can apply for a grant of £5,000 during Grant Round 4, which is open from 1st September 2025. To qualify, charities must have a minimum operating income and expenditure of £1,000,000.

Applications are submitted online through the Trust's website. Prospective applicants should first review the eligibility criteria and priorities to ensure their project aligns with the Trust's focus areas. A sample application form is available to guide applicants through the required information.

Current deadline: 30th September 2025

The William and Jane Morris Fund

The William and Jane Morris Fund provides grants of between £500 and £5,000 to churches, chapels and other places of worship built before 1896 for small programs of conservation work to decorative features and monuments.

To be eligible for funding, the work must be directed by a professional architect or established conservator and completed according to the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) principles. Eligible work includes, but is not limited to, stained glass windows, sculpture, furniture, internal monuments, tombs, and wall paintings.

Current deadline: 31st March 2026

SIB's Better Youth Spaces programme

Youth organisations can 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 are 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.

Current deadline: 21st September 2025

The NGS' 2026 Community Garden Grants scheme

The National Garden Scheme (NGS) has announced the 2026 Community Garden Grants scheme, supported by a £1.5 million award from the Julia Rausing Trust. The scheme, which was launched in 2019, aims to strengthen local communities by funding projects that transform outdoor spaces into shared community resources.

Applications open on the 15th September, though only the first 300 applications will be accepted. Grants of between £1,500 and £5,000 will be available, with funding available to community groups, charities and Community Interest Companies across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.

Projects might include developing communal gardens, creating safe spaces for children, establishing wildlife-friendly habitats, or enhancing biodiversity. Priority will be given to schemes that increase access to green spaces for disadvantaged groups and support physical and mental wellbeing through horticulture.

Current deadline: 20th October 2025

Barchester's Charitable Foundation

Barchester's Charitable Foundation is a grant-giving charity that helps older people and other adults with disability across England, Scotland & Wales lead more fulfilled lives and reach their full potential.

The Foundation focuses on connecting or re-connecting people with others in their local community, helping combat isolation and loneliness and enabling people to be active and engaged.

Funding of between £100 and £2,500 (£1,000 for individuals) is available for individuals charities and small community groups to help improve people's mobility, independence and quality of life. Applications for individuals must be completed by a third-party sponsor such as a health care professional, social worker or charity/support group representative.

The Foundations helps individuals with:

Manual and powered wheelchairs
Mobility scooters
Specialised trikes / bikes
Car adaptations

Groups and organistaions can apply for grants to help with:

Activity projects
Equipment and materials for use by members
Member transport
Day trips, outings and group holidays in the UK

The FCC Community Action Fund

The FCC Community Action Fund, run by FCC Communities Foundation and funded through the Landfill Communities Fund tax-credit scheme, is accepting applications for its next round of funding. Supported through the Landfill Communities Fund, the fund offers grants between £2,000 and £100,000 for projects that improve public amenities, conservation and biodiversity costing up to £500,000, including VAT.

The funding is available for the following:

Village Halls and Community Centres
Public Play Areas
Publicly available Multi use games areas, skate parks and BMX tracks
Sport and recreation grounds including pavilions and clubhouses with full public access
Churches – community spaces only which are available for hire
Nature Reserves
Public gardens, parks, country parks and woodlands with at least dawn to dusk access
Museums

Current deadline: 10th November 2025

To read more: FCC Community Action Fund / FCC

The Inman Charity

The Inman Charity makes grants of around £350,000 per year. They support a wide range of UK Registered Charities.

The directors are particularly interested in supporting the following areas of charitable work:-

Medical research
Care of the elderly
General welfare
Hospices
The Deaf and Blind
Care of the physically & mentally disabled
The Armed Forces

Although the Inman Charity does not publish a rigid minimum or maximum grant size, most grants awarded have been between £2,000 and £5,000.

Current deadline: 28th February 2025

To read more: The Inman Charity

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.