Funding Opportunities & Resources
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Make your application as easy to read as possible - the people who are assessing your application may not have a lot of time or much knowledge of the work you do so being clear is key.
Avoid complicated wording or acronyms if funders understand what you are asking for and how you meet their criteria, they are much more likely to say yes to funding your activity.
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Don’t forget if you are just starting out our get started guides have a range of information including setting up a group writing a constitution and finding and applying for funding
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Barchester Healthcare Foundation
Maximum value £ 2,500
Grants are available for small local groups and small local charities to improve the quality of life and combat loneliness in older people as well as adults with a physical or mental disability in England, Scotland, and Wales.
Background
The Barchester Healthcare Foundation (also known as the Barchester Charitable Foundation) was established by Barchester Healthcare to reinvest into the communities it serves.
It is a registered charity with independent Trustees. The Foundation was set up in 2003 with an initial grant of over £250,000. Barchester Healthcare continues to make further contributions to the Foundation.
Objectives of Fund
The Foundation aims to make a difference to the lives of older people and other adults with a physical, learning or mental disability; supporting practical solutions that lead to increased personal independence, self-sufficiency and dignity.
The aim of this fund is on connecting or re-connecting people with others in their local community. Applications that combat loneliness and enable people to be active and engaged will receive highest priority.
Grants range from £100 to £2,500.
Who Can Apply
Although most funding is awarded to individuals, small community groups and small local charities based in England, Scotland or Wales can also apply.
Eligible organisations must provide a breakdown of their budget and their latest annual accounts.
Support is mainly available to individuals in England, Scotland and Wales who are:
Older people aged 65+.
Adults with a disability or mental health problem.
All applications for an individual must be supported by a third party sponsor, such as a health or personal care professional, social worker, charity or support group representative.
The focus for funding is connecting or re-connecting people with others in their local community. Applications that combat loneliness and enable people to be active and engaged will receive the highest priority.
Restrictions
The following are not eligible for funding:
Core/running costs, including salaries and venue hire.
Indirect services such as helplines, websites, newsletters, leaflets or research.
Building/renovation projects or large capital projects, including minibuses.
Training of staff and training of volunteers.
Foodbank provision, unless part of a food preparation or activity project.
Activities for residents in a care home operated by Barchester Healthcare or by any other care home company.
Groups with financial of over £150,000 are unlikely to receive support.
Further funding is not available for three years following a successful grant award.
Eligible Expenditure
Funding is intended to help small community groups and local charities with the following:
Activity projects.
Equipment and materials for use by members.
Member transport.
Day trips, outings and group holidays in the UK.
Priority will be given to innovative projects that help older people and those with a disability to get active, meet people, and reduce isolation.
Location England, Scotland and Wales.
How To Apply
Applications may be submitted at any time.
Guidance and an online application form are available from the Barchester Healthcare Foundation website.
Documents & links
Contacts
For further information on how to obtain this fund, please contact the following:
Grants Management Team
Barchester Healthcare Foundation
Third Floor, The Aspect
12 Finsbury Square
London
EC2A 1AS
Tel: 0800 328 3328
Email: info@bhcfoundation.org.uk
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Charles Hayward Foundation - Application deadline 23/05/2025
Fund categories
Grants are available to UK registered charities for projects in the following categories: Social and Criminal Justice; Overseas; and Older People.
Background
Sir Charles Hayward used his personal fortune to establish and endow two charitable trusts, the Hayward Foundation and the Charles Hayward Trust. The two charities were combined on 1 January 2000, to become the Charles Hayward Foundation.
The Foundation places emphasis on funding projects that are developmental or innovative, and it is keen to support activities that would not otherwise happen. The Foundation prefers to fund projects in early stages that provide early intervention to society's problems. The Foundation's priorities are to:
Be an independent and effective grant maker.
Be clear and transparent in its activities.
Support activities which have been demonstrated to work and can be replicated, but is also open to creative approaches.
Promote self-reliance and independence in individuals and groups.
Be approachable, responsive and professional in all its dealings.
Objectives of Fund
The Foundation supports charitable activities under a number of grant categories which are as follows:
Social and Criminal Justice (Main grant).
Overseas (Main grant).
Older People (Small grant).
For the current round of funding, the Heritage & Conservation programme is closed.
The Foundation offers the following:
Small Grants up to £7,000.
Main Grants:
Social & Criminal Justice: between £15,000 to £25,000 per annum for one to three years. Up to £25,000 may be available for a pilot project.
Overseas: one-off grants up to £15,000.
Match Funding Restrictions
Applicants must state what other sources of funding have been sought and secured.
Who Can Apply
UK registered charities or exempt charities can apply for either a main or small grants programme depending on their annual income:
Charities with an income between £350,000 and £4 million may apply to the Main Grant programme: Social & Criminal Justice.
Charities with an annual income between £150,000 and £4 million may apply for a Main Overseas Grant.
Charities with an income of less than £350,000 may apply to the Small Grants Programme (Older People category).
UK registered charities who deliver projects in Commonwealth Countries of Africa may apply for the Main Overseas Grant.
Restrictions
Funding is not available for the following:
General appeals.
Running costs.
Core costs.
Individuals.
Grant making charities.
Loan and deficits.
Endowments.
Retrospective applications.
Each grants programme has specific exclusions:
Social and Criminal Justice
Policy and research.
Uniformed organisations.
Short-term interventions.
Trips and youth volunteering.
Generic youth programmes.
Capital projects.
Overseas
Overseas disability awareness.
Disaster appeals.
Education.
Gap years, electives, project visits overseas.
Older People
Purchase of minibuses.
Disability access.
Older people’s projects that are restricted to one section of society.
Community transport.
Community development organisations.
Community buildings and equipment.
Eligible Expenditure
Funding is available for project costs and capital expenditure.
The Foundation values projects that develop, expand and replicate a tried and tested approach as well as supporting creative solutions to problems which seem to be entrenched and elude resolution. Projects that are preventative and provide early intervention are valued and priority is given to projects that respond to a well researched and clear need, provide intervention based on evidence of what works, are able to demonstrate value for money and have a clear understanding of short-term effects and long-term impact of the intervention they propose.
To be eligible for a Main Grant, projects must address at least one of the following categories:
1. Social and Criminal Justice - The overall aim of funding in this area is to prevent people entering the criminal justice system and to support those already in the system to move on and rebuild their lives. Support is available for the following:
Targeted early intervention programmes aimed at reaching the most troubled and vulnerable families in a community.
Preventative and diversionary projects for young people at risk of offending including tailored interventions identifying and addressing the particular needs of girls and young women.
Programmes, particularly those with a focus on young offenders, combining prison based and community interventions dealing with rehabilitation of offenders, accommodation and support on release, helping with maintaining family relationships, mentoring, and mapping and creating pathways to employment.
Schemes offering viable alternatives to custody, in particularly for women and young people.
Programmes of support directed towards rehabilitating the victims of domestic abuse and criminal exploitation.
2. Overseas - projects that improve the livelihoods of disadvantaged communities in Commonwealth Countries of Africa such as:
Clean water and sanitation.
Development of sustainable livelihoods in the context of environmental and wildlife conservation
Self sustainability through training in farming skills and income generation activities.
Small grants will be made to Older People’s projects that are preventative and early intervention programmes delivered locally that allow older people to stay in their own homes and remain independent.
The Foundation is particularly interested in seeking out programmes which show some creativity in improving the quality of life of older people. The Foundation will focus on:
Programmes aiming to alleviate isolation and depression in older people, including informal day care or social, physical and recreational activities.
Programmes which mainly use volunteers to give practical help, assistance and support for older people living in their own homes.
Programmes addressing the emotional and practical needs of older carers.
Programmes designed to meet the specific needs of people with dementia.
How To Apply
The Heritage & Conservation programme is currently closed and new applications for projects in this programme area are not accepted.
The Small Grant Programme is open and applications are accepted any time (for projects for Older People). An application form is available to download online.
Submission to the Main Grants programme is a two stage process as follows:
Stage 1: A Grant Committee meets on a quarterly basis. The Committee’s role is to forward applications to stage 2.
Stage 2: Applications recommended by the Grant Committee are considered at one of the Trustees’ meetings which take place on a quarterly basis and are usually held in: January; April; July; and November.
The 2025 deadlines for Stage 1 Main Grants are:
31 January for consideration in March
23 May for consideration in July
19 September for consideration in November
For the Main Grants Programme, there is no application form. Applicants should read the guidelines before starting the application process. The proposal should be no more than four A4 pages in length and submitted by email to grants@charleshaywardfoundation.org.uk and include:
Name and location of organisation.
Contact details.
Description of organisation.
Description of project.
Project aims.
Project cost.
Funds already raised and pledged.
Outstanding shortfall.
Project timetable.
Most recent set of audited accounts.
Contact The Charles Hayward Foundation for further information.
Documents & links
Contacts
For further information on how to obtain this fund, please contact the following:
Jen Hughes
Grants Manager
Charles Hayward Foundation
Hayward House
45 Harrington Gardens
London
SW7 4JU
Tel: 020 7370 7063
Email: grants@charleshaywardfoundation.org.uk
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Grants between £10,000 and £20,000 are available to grassroots groups, delivering projects which meet at least one of the following objectives:
Carry out essential repairs to enable the space to continue to function.
Renovate an existing space to accommodate more users/activities.
Create a new community space where groups can meet and undertake activities.
Improve accessibility to, or within, a community building.
We expect to fund around 70 projects. All applications will be assessed against the aim and objectives of this grant programme.
We strive for a spread of applications across the UK, applications from the same area will be reviewed together and Asda Foundation will select the most impactful project/s which meet multiple priorities from the list above.
Timelines:
The application window for this grant opens Wednesday 7th May 2025, 10am and will close Wednesday 28th May 2025, 10am.
Applications will be reviewed by August 2025. Please plan for your project to start no earlier than September 2025, as we cannot offer retrospective payments. Funding must be used, and your project completed, by December 2026.
The focus of this Fund is on community spaces, where people of all ages and walks of life can meet and take part in activities. We encourage and will prioritise applications from groups who:
Will be unable to continue offering their service without this work taking place.
Can demonstrate a good track record of their ongoing work in a community hub setting.
Can demonstrate financial stability and provide evidence of need.
Work in areas of heightened economic and social deprivation.
Provide well-thought-out costings which are deemed good value for money.
Have a wide range of users throughout the community, or those who predominantly support at least one of the following demographics: teens and young adults, the elderly, vulnerable, and low-income users.
If we receive a high volume of applications for this programme, applications from groups who meet multiple priorities from the list above will be considered more favourably.
We are unable to consider applications from:
Organisations based outside the UK or benefitting people/communities outside of the UK.
Organisations that have previously received an Asda Foundation Investing in Spaces and Places grant
Groups with an annual income over £250,000
Groups who don’t currently operate a community space/building.
Third party grant making organisations (grantees must directly deliver the service/activity).
Schools or PTAs
Groups whose services and activities involve alcohol.
Groups affiliated with a particular political party or agenda.
Religious organisations whose services are only open to people of a particular faith.
Animal charities or groups focused primarily on animal welfare.
We encourage applications from groups with free to access services that are inclusive to many; we are less likely to fund groups with fees that prevent participation.
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
All criteria below must be met in order to be eligible to apply and to be considered for this grant.
Groups must have:
A total annual income of £250,000 or below, and unrestricted reserves of no more than £40,000
What we need:
Your most recent 2 full years of annual accounts. We are unable to accept applications from organisations who can’t provide this.
If your group is a branch or project of a parent organisation with an income over £250,000, you must show a separate bank account, independent annual accounts, and your own constitution to be eligible.
Why we need it:
Asda Foundation prioritises supporting grassroots organisations, and the limits ensure our funding supports these grassroots groups. Your income and reserves will be assessed as part of the review process.
Governing documents
What we need:
A finalised copy of your organisation’s Constitution (or Articles of Association/Memorandum, if applicable), outlining your group’s name, charitable aims, non-profit status, and asset distribution upon dissolution.
Why we need it:
To ensure groups receiving our funding have proper governance in place. For guidance, refer to the NCVO’s governing document guide.
A Safeguarding Policy
What we need:
An up-to-date Safeguarding policy specific to the age group/s of your service users. See our safeguarding guidelines here. If you support children and adults you will need to provide both policies.
Why we need it:
To ensure the protection of service users and understand your processes for handling concerns.
A bank account in your group’s name that accepts cheques
What we need:
A bank statement showing the most recent 3 months of transactions and which clearly shows your group’s payee name. Ensure your bank accepts cheques before applying.
Why we need it:
To demonstrate a good cashflow and financial stability. We can only pay by cheque, made payable to your group (not individuals or personal accounts).
Permission to carry out the proposed work
What we need:
Proof of ownership or a lease with at least 5 years remaining.
If leased, we’ll need a letter showing you have permission from the building owner/landlord to carry out the work.
If your project includes significant structural alteration you will need to show you have requested planning permission.
Why we need it:
We ask for these documents to ensure your project has a strong foundation and long-term impact which will benefit the community for years to come. It is essential that we can determine that everything is legally compliant and can go ahead as planned.
In your application, you’ll need to be able to show:
Detailed Project Costs
In your application, please provide a detailed breakdown of the total costs associated with your project, highlighting specifically how Asda Foundation funding will be used. This may include information about any other sources of funding, such as additional funders, fundraising efforts, or use of reserves.
This information is essential to help us fully understand your project and assess how our support will contribute to its success. You will also have the option to add quotes or estimates detailing the cost of the work to be completed – though these are not mandatory.
As a reminder Asda Foundation must be contributing to at least 50% of the total project cost, up to a maximum of £20,000. (minimum grant: £10,000).
Fundraising of 10% of the total project cost
You must already have 10% of the total project cost and this must be evident on the accounts or bank statements you provide during the application process. You can continue to fundraise towards any shortfall in project costs and if you have plans in place to do this, please outline in the application. This is needed to demonstrate financial stability.
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August Funding News
Laptop Scheme Giveaway Scheme!The Community Resilience Team in partnership with our ICT and Digital Service have secured recycled laptops for distribution to community groups and voluntary sector organisations across the city. The laptops come with a charger and will be pre-installed with a copy of Windows, any other software required will need to be purchasedor downloaded separately by your group/organisation.
Applications for the scheme are still open for applications for groups and organisations to apply until Friday 2nd September- click here to apply
Please check the eligibility criteria before applying.
Commonwealth Games Equipment Giveaway!
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July Funding News
Available grants
Wesleyan Foundation Large Grants - £2,000 - £10,000
The Wesleyan Foundation was established in 2017 to continue to support various good causes throughout the UK.
There are large grants available between £2,000 – £10,000 and must be spent within a year.
Grants will be considered from charities, constituted voluntary and community groups that focus on:
- Education – Charities or projects that enhance learning and develop career
opportunities. - Health – Promote health and wellbeing.
- Social – Provide local solutions to meet local needs, promote community cohesion
and develop sustainable and supportive communities.
For further information and other available grants... Continue reading
- Education – Charities or projects that enhance learning and develop career
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May/June Funding News
Empowering Local Communities Grant
Grants are available to community groups in the UK to support a broad range of activities which can contribute towards transforming their community and improving the lives of people in their community. Support to help with the cost of living rise and for refugees is available.
Objectives of Fund
The purpose of the programme is to support projects and activities which are important to a community which benefit local people.
The programme is designed to support projects under four themes:
- Building Resilient Communities.
- Active Lives.
- Seasonal Celebrations & Festivals.
- Leading Healthier Lives.
Grants available are from... Continue reading
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March/April Funding News
City of Culture Free Training Opportunity
‘Bid Writing and Budgeting’
A free Bid Writing and Budgeting course, delivered by experienced bid writer and fundraiser Laura Drane. Do you have a specific project you want to develop? Want to learn more about different funding sources? Need help on how to write proposals or funding application forms? If so this is the course for you!
Find out more here - https://coventry2021.co.uk/get-involved/community-training/(External link)
Opportunity to be a part of Common Wealth Active Games
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February Funding News
WMCA Green Grants
We have some very exciting news about funding for the green fingered groups amongst you…
West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) are set to release funding for local groups in January.
They are looking for bids between £3,000 and £25,000.
There are 3 themes to the funding
- Improving green spaces
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- Enhance local improvements
If you have a project in mind which will bring people together around growing and planting or if you want to ensure that the green space that is important to you is more accessible for others look out for more information... Continue reading
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Community Co-ordinator
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