This week's Funding Bulletin (September 22nd - September 26th 2025)

lewishallwcvs
Sep 26
7 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 Onward Community Fund

Community organisations located in Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Lancashire can apply for grants of up to £2,500 to support projects that make a positive difference in their locality. Onward is a registered provider of social housing based in the North West of England.

Onward is a registered provider of social housing based in the North West of England and projects need to take place in neighbourhoods where Onward Housing has a presence.

During this funding round, the focus is on the theme of Winter resilience and the Fund is keen to support initiatives that will help communities stay warm, connected, and supported during the colder months. This can include projects related to tackling food poverty, reducing isolation, or boosting wellbeing,

In the last financial year, Onward awarded over £99,900 in funding to 61 local community organisations.

Current deadline: 15th October 2025

To read more: Onward Community Fund | Onward

The Equilibrium Foundation Community Support Scheme

Charities and other not-for-profit organisations in the North West can apply for grants of up to £500 for projects that makes a positive difference in their community.

The Equilibrium Foundation Community Support Scheme provides funding for initiatives that support disadvantaged communities, encourage sporting or arts activities, aid education and development or benefit the environment.

Projects previously funded have included in-school mentoring, after-school clubs, holiday camps and family drop-in days to supports disadvantaged children and families, a one-stop centre providing assistance and information regarding the needs of young people, and driving experiences for people with disabilities.

Applications are reviewed every six months, with five winners being chosen each time.

Current deadline: 1st March 2026

The Wildlife Trusts' Green Community Grants programme

Local groups in the UK can now apply for funding of up to £25,000 to support projects that restore nature, improve access to green spaces and tackle the climate crisis. The new Green Community Grants programme aims to empower small charities and not-for-profit organisations to deliver practical, community-led solutions.

Eligible organisations must have been operating for at least a year and have an annual income between £10,000 and £1 million.

Priority will be given to organisations:

That have an income of £250,000 or below.
That work in communities located in the top 15% of the Index of Multiple Deprivation.
Whose main activities are focused on supporting marginalised groups. This could include, but is not limited to, disabled people, communities experiencing racial inequity, and LGBT+ people.
Projects can include habitat creation, species protection, recycling, litter-picking, beach cleans, and sustainable transport initiatives.

Applications open on 17 September 2025, with the deadline set for October 2025. Successful applicants will be announced in early 2026. Funding comes from the Postcode Green Trust, supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, and is managed by The Wildlife Trusts.

Current deadline: 8th October 2025

Road Safety Trust's Small Grants Programme

The Road Safety Trust, the UK’s largest independent road safety grant-giving charity, has launched its latest funding round of the Small Grants Programme. The programme offers funding of between £10,000 and £50,000 to support practical initiatives that improve road safety across the UK. Projects can run for up to two years.

The programme is open to local authorities, police forces, fire and rescue services, UK-based universities, registered charities, social enterprises and community interest companies. All projects should involve an element of partnership working or collaboration with other organisations that can help achieve the project’s objectives.

Funding is intended to support projects that reduce casualties and make roads safer for all users. Past projects have included education and training programmes, enforcement and compliance initiatives, technology trials, and community-led interventions to improve local road safety.

The Trust expects bids to show clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and evidence of need. Applicants are also encouraged to bring additional cash or in-kind support in conjunction with the grant.

Current deadline: 29th October 2025

To read more: Small Grants — Road Safety Trust

The Happy Days Children's Charity

The Happy Days Children’s Charity is inviting applications for funding towards trips, respite breaks and group activity holidays for disadvantaged children and young people with additional needs.

The charity awards funding for different types of activities to support families with children aged 3-17 who have a disability, a special need or have been abused.

Grants are available for the following activities:

Family Day Trips - eligible trips include zoos, farm parks, theme parks, the seaside or the theatre
Family Holiday Breaks - a short break family holiday by the seaside or in the countryside, usually in the United Kingdom. Other destinations will be considered according to cost.
Group Day Trips and Visiting Theatre - a day trip to a wide variety of destinations, for example, the seaside, a theme park, the theatre, or for a theatre workshop to visit the applicants' premises. Items that can be funded are tickets/passes and transport costs
Group Activity Holidays - a group activity holiday to a wide variety of destinations such as outdoor activity centres, holiday camps and sailing breaks

Applications for family activities are accepted from parents, guardians, grandparents or siblings, as well as GPs, consultants, nurses or social workers.

Applications for group activities are accepted from organisations such as SEN schools and groups, young carers and women's refuges.

The Paul Hamlyn Foundation's Art-based Learning Fund

Arts organisations and charities that are working with schools, colleges and other formal education settings can apply for grants of between £30,000 and £300,000 to enhance the lives, development and achievements of children and young people who have experienced inequality through high quality arts-based learning activities.

The funding is being made available through the Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s Arts-based Learning Fund.

The Foundation are particularly interested in applications with a focus on the following areas:

Support for pupils who experience systemic disadvantage to access and make progress in their learning.
Creating more opportunities for high quality arts-based teaching and learning in education settings, especially in those which have not had this work in the past.
Exploring the role of arts-based learning in addressing issues of inclusion, especially racism, in education.
Effective practice in digital and blended arts-based teaching and learning
Enabling arts-based learning to be embedded in curricula and practice for the long-term.

Projects can last for two to four years.

All applicants must be working in partnership with schools or other formal education settings – i.e. primary and secondary schools, further education colleges, alternative provision, special schools and early years

The Foundation particularly welcome applications from organisations led by people most impacted by oppression, including racism, ableism, classism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia and/or transphobia.

The Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation

The Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation is inviting applications for projects that assist vulnerable individuals in need of a secure and safe home.

UK-registered charities with an annual turnover of less than £1 million can apply for capital funding of between £250 to £1,000 to help cover the costs of essential items and equipment that support people experiencing homelessness.

The funding is intended for projects that align with the Foundation's new purpose and one or more of the following themes:

Financial stress
Security and refuge
Quality and suitability of housing
Health and well-being support

Applications are welcomed from those who take a Housing First and/or relationship-based approach. Application should show evidence of:

Strength-based practice
Trauma-informed care
Psychologically-informed environments

Current deadline: 3rd November 2025

The SUEZ Communities Fund

Not-for-profit organisations can apply for funding to deliver projects that improve communities and the environment.

The funding is made available through the SUEZ Communities Fund for projects that improve public amenities, repair religious or historic buildings or support biodiversity in areas surrounding Suez landfill sites.

The maximum grant amount is £50,000 for projects in England and funding typically covers:

Materials
Equipment
Contractors for improvement work

Projects need to be located in a funding zone surrounding a qualifying site owned by SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK.

Current deadline: 11th February 2026

To read more: SUEZ Communities Fund - Grantscape

VOLA's Digital Connectivity Fund

VOLA is launching the final funding round of the Liverpool City Region UKSPF Digital Connectivity for Community Facilities Grants programme on Monday 29th September. Online briefing workshops will be held w/c 29th September.

There is limited funding remaining, so a more geographically targeted approach is being taken for this final round, with maximum funding values varying by borough. The areas selected are known to have a high risk of digital exclusion and relative lack of local public facilities for people to get online. The fund is only accepting applications for ‘public-use’ IT facilities (no general organisational connectivity improvements).

Wirral organisations can only apply from the following areas:

Moreton
New Brighton
Woodchurch
Prenton West

Organisations previously funded through the grants programme are not eligible to apply.

Grants will be awarded to successful applicants late November/early December. Funding needs to be spent, with the computer facilities up and running by 13th February 2026.

Current deadline: 24th October 2025