Funding Opportunities and Community News

12th of June, 2025

FREE Community Action Course, Eden Project – The Eden Project is running a ‘Introduction to Community Action’ course. The FREE online course is on Monday 30 June and Monday 7 July from 6.30-8.30pm

Jam-packed with workshops, inspirational talks, networking opportunities and lots of fun, the online Introduction to Community Action course is for anyone interested in making a difference in their community.

Part of our Community Camp programme, this short online course explores how to make positive change where you live, from the comfort of your own home. For information Introduction to Community Action course information - Eden Project communities and how to apply Apply to the Introduction to Community Action Course - Eden Project communities

Cyber Crime FREE Training - The Cyber Crime Unit at Lancashire Constabulary are looking to increase awareness to highlight Cyber Crime to prevent incidents. They are offering sessions with the following services and organisations:

Children's services in particular for Children's Homes and with Foster Carers
NHS Trust providers including Dentists, GPs, Pharmacies
Charities and communities
Small Businesses e.g. Vets
Public

The team are open to delivering webinars, presenting at a relevant meeting/forum, or attend an event.

If you would like to take this opportunity please contact Charlie Bamber, Cyber Protect/Prevent Officer, Email: CCU@lancashire.police.uk

Funding Opportunities

New Environment Fund for England – Applications Open 25 June - The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) is inviting applications to its new National Lottery Awards for All England – Environment fund from 25 June 2025.

Not-for-profit organisations can apply for grants of between £300 and £20,000 for up to two years.

The funding is for projects that meet one or both of these aims:

Help people connect with and care for nature in their area. (Projects that help people engage with good-quality, accessible nature close to home.)
Make a positive difference to the environment. (Projects that help care for the environment and respond to climate challenges.)

For more information National Lottery Awards for All England – Environment | The National Lottery Community Fund or contact General.Enquiries@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

Funding for Rural Village Halls in England – The fourth round of the Government’s Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund is currently accepting applications for projects that must be finished by the end of March 2026.

The funding aims to support the modernisation and improvement of village halls, so that they are fit for purpose and can provide activities which seek to achieve one or more of the following outcomes for their communities:

Improved health and/or wellbeing and/or reduction in rural loneliness.
Positive impact on the local environment, contributes towards net zero.
Support for the local rural economy.
Promotion of community cohesion.

Grants of between £7,500 and £75,000 are available. The grant will be 20% of the capital project costs including VAT. Applicants must be able to identify where the 80% is being sourced from. The minimum project costs are £37,500. There is no upper limit, but the maximum grant is £75,000

For more information Main grants scheme for village halls - ACRE or contact villagehallsfund@acre.org.uk

Co-op’s Annual Local Community Fund – Deadline 6 July 2025 - Each year, the Co-op offers grants to supports projects in Co-op members’ communities that provide access to opportunities and resources for people to thrive.

The Local Community Fund is seeking applications for a new round of funding, which starts in October 2025.

The new round will support projects that enable people to access food, create opportunities for young people, improve people’s mental wellbeing, promote community cohesion and build sustainable futures.

The funder is also keen to support projects that promote and celebrate diversity and inclusion.

There is a total of £5 million for Co-op communities across the UK with £6,000 to share between three local causes in each community.

Successful groups will receive a minimum of £1,000 to support their projects.

For more information Co-op or contact communityteam@coop.co.uk

UnLtd - Awards for Social Entrepreneurs – Closing Date 30 June 2025 - Funding up to £18,000 and specialist support are available for UK social entrepreneurs to help them develop as social leaders, and to start up or grow their idea for a social venture. For more information Awards | UnLtd or contact awardapplications@unltd.org.uk

Funding Reminders

Orchard End Community Benefit Fund – Closing Date Midnight 18 June 2025. The REG Power Management Orchard End Wind Farm project is committed to providing an annual Community Benefit Fund of £16,000 for community projects. Projects for which grants are requested must be located within 4km of REG Power Management’s Orchard End Wind Farm. Priority will be given to projects located within 3km.

The Fund will allow groups to apply for grants between £250 and £8,000. There will be two application rounds each year. Half of the available annual funding, this being £8,000, will be available at each funding round.

For more information Orchard End Community Benefit Fund Criteria - Grantscape Grantscape or contact info@grantscape.org.uk

Sport England – Movement Fund – Grants up to £15,000 are available for community groups, local sports clubs and grassroots organisations across England with ideas of how to tackle inequalities and help get more people active. Priority will be given to projects where there is the most need.

There is particular interest in projects providing opportunities for groups facing barriers to activity, such as:

People living on low incomes.
Disabled people or those with long-term health conditions.
Older people.
People from culturally diverse communities.
Pregnant women and parents with very young children.
Girls aged 5-16.
LGBTQ+ people.
People who are in foster care.
People who provide care without pay.

And in projects that address combined hurdles, such as people with long-term health conditions alongside caring responsibilities.

For more information The Movement Fund | Sport England or contact funding@sportengland.org

The funding guidance and a short quiz which starts the application process can be found on the Sport England website.

It can take between three and six weeks, longer during busier periods, for Sport England to review and respond to applications.

Family Fund Trust - Your Opportunity Grants Programme - Grants are available for families in the UK who are raising a disabled or seriously ill young adult aged 18 to 24 years old and living at home to fund a range of items and activities that will enhance the young person's life. For more information Your Opportunity grant programme reopened - Family Fund or contact info@familyfund.org.uk

MSE Charity's Summer Application Round – Deadline 10 July 2025 - A limited number of grants up to £10,000 are available to small to medium-sized UK not-for-profit organisations for projects which are focused on delivering activities which make a lasting impact on how people think, behave and manage their money. For more information Home or contact info@msecharity.com

The funding can be used for all sorts of activities related to increasing personal financial capability. Some examples include:

Money management workshops - understanding the basics, how money works in the UK, online banking, staying financially safe, household budgeting, how to generate and supplement low incomes.
Training volunteers to deliver workshops or to provide peer-support to others.
Upskilling existing staff to access financial capability training to support their clients directly.
Provide access to financial inclusion activities for people who are disadvantaged in any way such as by age, disability, ethnicity or gender.

Funding Reminders

Nature Save Trust - Connect Communities to Nature – Deadline 15 July 2025 - Grants up to £5,000 are available for Charities, social enterprises, community groups, voluntary organisations, small grassroots groups and businesses who are working to connect their communities to nature. To be eligible you must have a website or social media presence. For more information The Naturesave Trust - Naturesave Insurance or contact abhawells@naturesave.co.uk

Power of Music Fund – Deadline 16 June 2025 – Grants are available up to £2000 to local organisations that use music making to support people living with dementia and their carers in the UK and who are working with underrepresented communities, including those from racially minoritised communities throughout the UK. The funding is intended for not-for-profit organisations that are already delivering music activities or working with people living with dementia and carers. For more information The Power of Music Fund | Music For All or contact help@musicforall.org.uk

Wellbeing of Women - Women’s Health Community Fund – Deadline 15 June 2025 – Grants up to £5,000 are available for small, grassroots organisations (registered charity, non-profit, or community interest company (CIC) operating in the UK) that are providing direct services to minoritised groups to reduce stigma, share high quality information and improve education on women’s health in the areas of periods, menstrual health or perimenopause and menopause. The Fund is part of the Wellbeing of Women's work to improve the education and awareness of women’s common health issues which are currently overlooked and underfunded particularly among under-served communities, with a specific focus on lower income families, ethnically diverse communities, those with disabilities and who are LGBTQ+. For more information Women’s Health Community Fund - Wellbeing of Women or contact

community@wellbeingofwomen.org.uk