This week's Funding Bulletin (September 8th - September 12th 2025)

lewishallwcvs
24 minutes ago
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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

Allen Lane Foundation

Mental health organisations in the UK can apply to the Allen Lane Foundation for grants of up to £15,000 to support work with people experiencing moderate or severe mental health conditions. The programme aims to reduce isolation, stigma and discrimination associated with mental health while promoting recovery and inclusion.

Priority is given to specialist mental health organisations and user-led groups. One-to-one counselling or therapy is not funded under this stream.

Funding can be awarded as a single grant or spread over two or three years, with most awards averaging £5,000–£6,000.

Eligibility is geared to smaller, community-focused organisations. The Foundation accepts applications from UK-based registered charities and other charitable not-for-profits, including some CICs where activities are wholly charitable.

Funding can cover running and core costs, salaries, or project expenses, with emphasis on lasting impact and organisational sustainability. In recent years the mental health stream has awarded 15–27 grants per year totalling around £110,000. Across all programme areas, the Foundation typically makes 130–150 grants, distributing £720,000–£800,000 annually.

Current deadline: 1st December 2025

The Henry Smith Foundation's Christian Grants programme

The Henry Smith Foundation has launched its Clergy strand within the Christian Grants programme, offering grants of at least £10,000 per year, typically over one to two years, and up to three years for projects supporting Anglican clergy wellbeing across the UK.

The fund is open year-round to churches, charities and not-for-profit bodies affiliated with the Church of England, provided they have annual incomes of up to £1 million. In special cases, funding for up to five years may be considered, but applicants should contact the Foundation before requesting longer‐term support.

Projects must focus on parental-care-style support such as peer-support groups, retreats, mentoring or pastoral services dedicated to clergy health and wellbeing. Applicants should have at least 18 months of operational experience and a proven track record.

There are no application deadlines, and applications can be submitted at any time.

To read more: Clergy - Henry Smith

Comic Relief Community Fund

Small community organisations in England can now apply for funding through the Comic Relief Community Fund, administered by Groundwork UK. The programme, backed by Comic Relief, is designed to support grassroots groups working to tackle poverty, hardship, and social inequality

The Fund will support:

Organisations that are tackling the immediate and urgent impacts of being in poverty, including providing essential resources like food, shelter, advice and healthcare. For example, foodbanks, community kitchens, homeless shelters, welfare advice agencies and health outreach projects.
Organisations working to empower communities to take positive steps to lift themselves out of poverty in the longer term. For example, projects that build skills, increase access to employment, strengthen financial resilience or develop community-led solutions.
Eligible applicants include charities, community interest companies, social enterprises, and voluntary groups with an annual income of less than £250,000. Organisations must be local and working directly with communities facing economic or social disadvantage.

Grants of up to £5,000 are available through the main fund (to cover core costs), with an additional strand for the delivery of specific projects offering up to £4,000. These support work aligned to Comic Relief’s four strategic themes:

Helping children thrive
Fighting gender injustice
Providing safe spaces
Addressing mental health when part of broader services

Funding can be used flexibly – covering either project delivery or core running costs such as wages, rent, equipment and training.

The scheme is intended to benefit those most at risk of poverty, exclusion and poor life outcomes, ensuring small community-led groups have the resources to deliver vital services.

Current deadline: 6th October 2025

To read more: Comic Relief - Groundwork

The Motability Foundation's Organisation Grants programme

The Motability Foundation has announced funding opportunities for charities and not-for-profit organisations committed to improving transport and independence for disabled people.

Known as the Organisation Grants programme, the initiative consists of several funding streams designed to support projects that increase mobility and enhance quality of life. Grants are available for running costs, equipment, vehicles and large-scale projects that expand access to transport solutions.

Eligible applicants include registered charities and non-profit groups that provide direct support to disabled people. Individuals cannot apply. The Foundation emphasises that funding will be awarded to organisations demonstrating strong impact, sustainability and the ability to reach people most in need.

Funding streams include support for active travel experiences and equipment, wheelchairs and mobility aids (with separate small and large grants), and community and shared transport, also offered in two tiers. Additional programmes focus on expanding access to driving tuition, supporting travel training schemes, and building a resilient community transport sector through innovative or replicable initiatives.

The value of the grants is significant, ranging from £50,000 to £1 million, with funding available for one to three years. This scale of support allows both small community organisations and larger national charities to deliver meaningful, long-term benefits.

The Linnean Society's Our Local Nature Grant Scheme

The Linnean Society of London has opened applications for its Our Local Nature Grant Scheme, offering young people across the UK the chance to lead projects that connect their communities with the natural world.

The scheme, now in its sixth year, provides awards of up to £1,000. Funding can support costs such as materials, room hire, publicity, guest speakers, training, transport and project-specific staff.

Applications must be made by individuals or organisations linked to groups of young people, usually aged 16 or under, with proposals expected to be shaped and led by the young people themselves. This includes, but is not limited to, school staff, student groups, home education groups, community groups and small charities.

Projects should promote biodiversity awareness or improve access to local green spaces, with past examples ranging from school festivals and biodiversity murals to community gardens and guided nature walks.

Applications open in September and close in October 2025, with decisions announced in December. Successful projects will begin in January 2026 and conclude by June.

Current deadline: 1st October 2025

HDR UK's Take the Lead Community grants

Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) has opened applications for its Take the Lead community micro-grants, offering groups across the UK the chance to explore how health data can support wellbeing in their communities.

Grants of between £500 and £1,500 are available to deliver standalone projects, events or activities between 12 January and 8 April 2026. Funding can support costs such as materials, venue hire, publicity, facilitation, training and community engagement.

Applications are welcome from community organisations working primarily with under-served audiences, including people from low socio-economic backgrounds, minority ethnic communities, older children and young adults (11–25), people over 65, rural communities, and those experiencing digital exclusion.

Projects should demonstrate how data can be used creatively or practically to improve health and wellbeing. Examples include community step challenges, health data-inspired arts projects, wellbeing journals, or activities exploring local health statistics. HDR UK encourages community-led, responsive and inclusive proposals that reflect the strengths and needs of each community.

Current deadline: 13th October 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.