Funding Opportunities & Resources

Top Tips - Keep it simple!

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.

Don't Forget

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

More information about the team and what we can offer can be found on our web pages.

Got an idea for the newsletter – we would love to hear from you!

Health Protection Community Grants scheme 2025

Amount : Up to £5000

Following on from the health protections grants that were offered in 2023 public health is pleased to share that they can offer this scheme again this year.

The purpose of this grant is to help local community and voluntary groups to raise awareness on the specific health protection topics using methods that are likely to engage with the groups they work with.  

This scheme offers small sum grants which can be used towards costs incurred from the project. For example, covering the costs of refreshments, printing etc.   

Applicants must detail how they plan to spend the funding and how the community will benefit from this spend in relation to the subjects.  The Health Protection team will consider each application on a case-by-case basis and contact the applicant with 14 days of applying regarding the status of their application. 

  What are the health protection topics? 

A limited sum of funding is available to deliver projects to raise awareness on the following Public Health subjects*: 

Vaccination (preconception and in pregnancy/ Pre-school and childhood/ Older Adults/ high risk groups)

Sexual Health including safer sex

HIV including promoting Undetectable equals untransmissible (U=U)

Tuberculosis (Active TB/ Latent TB)

* across the topics, we will prioritise initiatives that focus on supporting underrepresented groups. 

We want to give people the opportunity to identify which messages they think would benefit their community and come up with activities they think will get people to engage in the subject.

Grant applications will be accepted until 31 August 2025 or until the totality of the fund has been allocated. There is an expectation that all funded work should be completed by 31 March 2026.

For more information on what is involved and how to apply, please visit:

Grant Information page

How to apply

If anyone has any queries relating to this scheme, the team are happy to discuss this with you,  whether that be to discuss ideas or support with the application form. Please do not hesitate to email  HPTeam@coventry.gov.uk

Health Protection Community Grant – Coventry City Council

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Rayne Foundation £ 30,000

Grants are available to charities in the UK working to bring clear and direct benefits to vulnerable and disadvantaged people in its areas of special interest.

Background

Lord Rayne, who was Life President of London Merchant Securities plc, established the Rayne Foundation in 1962. The Foundation supports charitable causes that meet new needs and help build bridges to connect people and communities.

As an independent funder, the Foundation considers an important part of its role is to support work which is untried, tests new approaches but has clear objectives. It favours work which could change the way issues are tackled in society and which could have lessons for others beyond the funded organisation.

Objectives of Fund

The Foundation's objective is to contribute to lasting social change by funding creative and collaborative approaches that build and test solutions to some of society’s most difficult challenges. The aim is to support organisations that think differently and enable innovation. This could be through introducing new methods, ideas, or products to improve services and systems.

The funding is for charitable and not-for-profit organisations across the UK for projects that fall within the foundation's chosen areas of special interest:

Quality of life for older people and their carers.

Mental health of children and young people.

Opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers.

Grants have typically been £10,000 to £30,000 per year but average grant sizes have been increasing over recent years. The Foundation usually makes multi-year grants.

Funding can be used for specific project costs, including salaries and a reasonable contribution to overheads and on-costs. Applications for core costs will be considered where an organisation is making a step-change in the way that it works or tackles a particular issue.

Match Funding Restrictions

Match funding is required as the Foundation is unlikely to fund a project in full.

Who Can Apply

Voluntary, statutory and for-profit organisations (including CICs and CIOs) can apply.

Organisations should be able to demonstrate:

Why the funding is needed.

How the funding will be used to unlock and overcome barriers.

That they are committing funding and/or support in kind from its own resources proportionate to its capacity.

Statutory organisations will need to consider how a grant will enable transformation over and above delivering statutory obligations.

For-profit organisations will need to show that charitable funding is necessary to enable transformative change.

Statutory and for-profit organisations will be expected to work collaboratively with the voluntary sector.

Restrictions

The following are not eligible for funding:

Work outside of the Foundation's priority areas for funding.

Organisations and work that do not meet the Foundation's funding criteria.

Day-to-day running costs of local organisations or buildings.

Capital, equipment or vehicle appeal.

Medical research.

Work exclusively focused on campaigning and lobbying.

Retrospective funding.

Endowments.

Individual use.

Organisations working or based outside the UK.

Organisations who have applied and been rejected in the past 12 months.

Eligible Expenditure

The Rayne Foundation's open grants programme is focused exclusively on its three areas of special interest.

Children and young people’s improved mental health and wellbeing – the Foundation prioritises work that:

Supports early childhood (0-5 years including the perinatal period) with family/carer interventions that aim to reduce the impact of early childhood trauma.

Supports the care-experienced, those on the edge of care, or leaving care, with interventions that prioritise improved mental health and wellbeing.

Applications for creative and artistic approaches to achieving progress in this priority area are also strongly encouraged.

Refugees and asylum seekers – the Foundation prioritises work that:

Creates significant new opportunities relating to employability, entrepreneurial endeavours and personal development for refugees and asylum seekers

Supports the mental health of survivors of torture

Open to arts and creative endeavours which actively encourage building community between migrants and the wider community.

Improved quality of life for people in later life and their carers – the Foundation prioritises work that:

Is driven by collaboration in a particular place.

Connects the dots of care provision for people drawing on care in later life and their carers.

Increases agency, voice and visibility of people in later life and their carers.

Embeds and sustains creativity and the arts in the delivery of care.

As well as being within one of its three priority areas, the proposed work must meet the following essential criteria:

Approaches issues differently and enables innovation.

Has potential for wider application beyond the funded proposal.

Is informed by direct delivery and has a clear, positive impact on people’s lives.

Can demonstrate match-funding contributions to the project.

And ideally the following three desirable criteria:

Enables and encourages collaboration between sectors and silos.

Develops best practice and captures learnings to share with others.

Adds to sector expertise and leadership.

How To Apply

Applications can be submitted at any time as this is a rolling, open grants programme with no deadlines.

There is a two-stage application process:

Applicants must first complete the online expression of interest form on the Foundation's website.

Successful expressions of interest will then be invited to complete a full application.

A typical grant application takes 4–6 months to complete.

Documents & links

Rayne Foundation

Rayne Foundation UK – Application Guidance

Contacts

For further information on how to obtain this fund, please contact the following:

Grants Team
The Rayne Foundation
3 Bromley Place
London
W1T 6DB
Tel: 020 7487 9656
Email: applications@raynefoundation.org.uk

--------------------------------------------------------

Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Communities Fund

Heart of England Community Foundation

Maximum value

£ 3,000

Grants are available to small local groups for charitable projects in Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull that help people who are facing some form of disadvantage or social exclusion.

Background

Funding is provided by the Heart of England Community Foundation. Grants are awarded from the earnings of the Foundation's own endowment fund. The programme incorporates the following funds: Solihull Community Fund, The Coventry Building Society Fund and the Warwickshire Community Recycling Scheme.

Objectives of Fund

The Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Communities Fund aims supports people living in Coventry, Warwickshire, Solihull by funding projects that meet one or more of the following aims:

Promote health and wellbeing.

Tackle disadvantage.

Support local solutions to meet local needs.

Promote community cohesion.

Develop sustainable and supportive communities.

Grants of up to £3,000 are available. Funding must be spent within one year.

Who Can Apply

Applications are accepted from:

Registered charities.

Constituted community groups.

Companies limited by guarantee with charitable aims.

Community interest companies (CICs).

Co-operatives (registered community benefit societies and registered industrial and provident societies).

Social enterprises.

To be eligible, applicants must:

Have an income equal to or less than £500,000, as shown in their most recent annual accounts.

Have a constitution or governing rules.

A management committee/board of trustees/board of directors with at least three unrelated people as members.

A bank account in the name of the organisation with at least two unrelated signatories.

Safeguarding policy (if working with children or vulnerable adults).

Equal opportunities policy.

Restrictions

Funding is not available for the following:

Direct replacement of statutory obligation and public funding.

Promotion of religious or political activities.

Groups with significant financial free reserves.

Retrospective grants.

Contribution to endowment fund, payment of deficit funding or repayment of loans.

National charities.

Overseas travel or expeditions.

Medical research and equipment for statutory or private healthcare.

General appeals.

Animal welfare, unless the project benefits people (eg disabled riding schemes).

Statutory work in educational institutions.

Sponsored or fundraising events or groups raising funds to distribute to other causes.

Schools, churches, parish councils or PTAs, unless community benefit is demonstrated.

Boxing clubs or associated organisations.

Eligible Expenditure

Grants can be made for a wide range of purposes, examples of which are as follows:

Start-up costs for new organisations or projects.

Extension and development of existing projects.

Pilot projects (to gather research and evidence).

The purchase of equipment and resources.

How To Apply

Applications can be made at any time.

The application form is available to complete on the Heart of England Community Foundation website.

Available Grants | Heart of England Community Foundation

Documents & links

Heart of England Community Foundation - Grants

Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Communities Fund

Contacts

For further information on how to obtain this fund, please contact the following:

Grants Team
Heart of England Community Foundation
c/o Stellantis
Pinley House
2 Sunbeam Way
Coventry
West Midlands
CV3 1ND
Tel: 024 77800 520
Email: info@heartofenglandcf.co.uk

Top Tips - Keep it simple!

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.

Don't Forget

Got an idea for the newsletter – we would love to hear from you!

Health Protection Community Grants scheme 2025

Amount : Up to £5000

Following on from the health protections grants that were offered in 2023 public health is pleased to share that they can offer this scheme again this year.

This scheme offers small sum grants which can be used towards costs incurred from the project. For example, covering the costs of refreshments, printing etc.   

  What are the health protection topics? 

A limited sum of funding is available to deliver projects to raise awareness on the following Public Health subjects*: 

Vaccination (preconception and in pregnancy/ Pre-school and childhood/ Older Adults/ high risk groups)

Sexual Health including safer sex

HIV including promoting Undetectable equals untransmissible (U=U)

Tuberculosis (Active TB/ Latent TB)

* across the topics, we will prioritise initiatives that focus on supporting underrepresented groups. 

We want to give people the opportunity to identify which messages they think would benefit their community and come up with activities they think will get people to engage in the subject.

Grant applications will be accepted until 31 August 2025 or until the totality of the fund has been allocated. There is an expectation that all funded work should be completed by 31 March 2026.

For more information on what is involved and how to apply, please visit:

Grant Information page

How to apply

Health Protection Community Grant – Coventry City Council

-----------------------------------------------------------

Rayne Foundation £ 30,000

Grants are available to charities in the UK working to bring clear and direct benefits to vulnerable and disadvantaged people in its areas of special interest.

Background

Objectives of Fund

The funding is for charitable and not-for-profit organisations across the UK for projects that fall within the foundation's chosen areas of special interest:

Quality of life for older people and their carers.

Mental health of children and young people.

Opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers.

Grants have typically been £10,000 to £30,000 per year but average grant sizes have been increasing over recent years. The Foundation usually makes multi-year grants.

Match Funding Restrictions

Match funding is required as the Foundation is unlikely to fund a project in full.

Who Can Apply

Voluntary, statutory and for-profit organisations (including CICs and CIOs) can apply.

Organisations should be able to demonstrate:

Why the funding is needed.

How the funding will be used to unlock and overcome barriers.

That they are committing funding and/or support in kind from its own resources proportionate to its capacity.

Statutory organisations will need to consider how a grant will enable transformation over and above delivering statutory obligations.

For-profit organisations will need to show that charitable funding is necessary to enable transformative change.

Statutory and for-profit organisations will be expected to work collaboratively with the voluntary sector.

Restrictions

The following are not eligible for funding:

Work outside of the Foundation's priority areas for funding.

Organisations and work that do not meet the Foundation's funding criteria.

Day-to-day running costs of local organisations or buildings.

Capital, equipment or vehicle appeal.

Medical research.

Work exclusively focused on campaigning and lobbying.

Retrospective funding.

Endowments.

Individual use.

Organisations working or based outside the UK.

Organisations who have applied and been rejected in the past 12 months.

Eligible Expenditure

The Rayne Foundation's open grants programme is focused exclusively on its three areas of special interest.

Children and young people’s improved mental health and wellbeing – the Foundation prioritises work that:

Supports early childhood (0-5 years including the perinatal period) with family/carer interventions that aim to reduce the impact of early childhood trauma.

Supports the care-experienced, those on the edge of care, or leaving care, with interventions that prioritise improved mental health and wellbeing.

Applications for creative and artistic approaches to achieving progress in this priority area are also strongly encouraged.

Refugees and asylum seekers – the Foundation prioritises work that:

Creates significant new opportunities relating to employability, entrepreneurial endeavours and personal development for refugees and asylum seekers

Supports the mental health of survivors of torture

Open to arts and creative endeavours which actively encourage building community between migrants and the wider community.

Improved quality of life for people in later life and their carers – the Foundation prioritises work that:

Is driven by collaboration in a particular place.

Connects the dots of care provision for people drawing on care in later life and their carers.

Increases agency, voice and visibility of people in later life and their carers.

Embeds and sustains creativity and the arts in the delivery of care.

As well as being within one of its three priority areas, the proposed work must meet the following essential criteria:

Approaches issues differently and enables innovation.

Has potential for wider application beyond the funded proposal.

Is informed by direct delivery and has a clear, positive impact on people’s lives.

Can demonstrate match-funding contributions to the project.

And ideally the following three desirable criteria:

Enables and encourages collaboration between sectors and silos.

Develops best practice and captures learnings to share with others.

Adds to sector expertise and leadership.

How To Apply

Applications can be submitted at any time as this is a rolling, open grants programme with no deadlines.

There is a two-stage application process:

Applicants must first complete the online expression of interest form on the Foundation's website.

Successful expressions of interest will then be invited to complete a full application.

A typical grant application takes 4–6 months to complete.

Documents & links

Rayne Foundation

Rayne Foundation UK – Application Guidance

Contacts

For further information on how to obtain this fund, please contact the following:

Grants Team
The Rayne Foundation
3 Bromley Place
London
W1T 6DB
Tel: 020 7487 9656
Email: applications@raynefoundation.org.uk

--------------------------------------------------------

Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Communities Fund

Heart of England Community Foundation

Maximum value

£ 3,000

Grants are available to small local groups for charitable projects in Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull that help people who are facing some form of disadvantage or social exclusion.

Background

Objectives of Fund

The Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Communities Fund aims supports people living in Coventry, Warwickshire, Solihull by funding projects that meet one or more of the following aims:

Promote health and wellbeing.

Tackle disadvantage.

Support local solutions to meet local needs.

Promote community cohesion.

Develop sustainable and supportive communities.

Grants of up to £3,000 are available. Funding must be spent within one year.

Who Can Apply

Applications are accepted from:

Registered charities.

Constituted community groups.

Companies limited by guarantee with charitable aims.

Community interest companies (CICs).

Co-operatives (registered community benefit societies and registered industrial and provident societies).

Social enterprises.

To be eligible, applicants must:

Have an income equal to or less than £500,000, as shown in their most recent annual accounts.

Have a constitution or governing rules.

A management committee/board of trustees/board of directors with at least three unrelated people as members.

A bank account in the name of the organisation with at least two unrelated signatories.

Safeguarding policy (if working with children or vulnerable adults).

Equal opportunities policy.

Restrictions

Funding is not available for the following:

Direct replacement of statutory obligation and public funding.

Promotion of religious or political activities.

Groups with significant financial free reserves.

Retrospective grants.

Contribution to endowment fund, payment of deficit funding or repayment of loans.

National charities.

Overseas travel or expeditions.

Medical research and equipment for statutory or private healthcare.

General appeals.

Animal welfare, unless the project benefits people (eg disabled riding schemes).

Statutory work in educational institutions.

Sponsored or fundraising events or groups raising funds to distribute to other causes.

Schools, churches, parish councils or PTAs, unless community benefit is demonstrated.

Boxing clubs or associated organisations.

Eligible Expenditure

Grants can be made for a wide range of purposes, examples of which are as follows:

Start-up costs for new organisations or projects.

Extension and development of existing projects.

Pilot projects (to gather research and evidence).

The purchase of equipment and resources.

How To Apply

Applications can be made at any time.

The application form is available to complete on the Heart of England Community Foundation website.

Available Grants | Heart of England Community Foundation

Documents & links

Heart of England Community Foundation - Grants

Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Communities Fund

Contacts

For further information on how to obtain this fund, please contact the following:

Grants Team
Heart of England Community Foundation
c/o Stellantis
Pinley House
2 Sunbeam Way
Coventry
West Midlands
CV3 1ND
Tel: 024 77800 520
Email: info@heartofenglandcf.co.uk

Previous News

Thank you for sharing your story with us.

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September Funding News

over 1 year ago

#CovConnects grant fund
Maximum value
£ 7,500
Application deadline
17/10/2023
The Council’s #CovConnects initiative has opened a new grant fund aimed at helping community organisations in the city tackle digital exclusion and loneliness amongst older adults (55+).
The grant, which is funded through the West Midland's Combined Authority's Connected Services programme, will offer organisations in the Voluntary, Community & Social Enterprise (VSCE) sector the chance to apply for grant funding.

Funding will be attributed to those organisations who can demonstrate how they can use innovative ways to reduce loneliness and digital isolation for older adults in the city.

Projects could... Continue reading
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August Funding News

almost 2 years ago

Cash for Kids
The closing date for applications is midnight on 11 September 2023.
If selected, the groups will have from 16 September to 16 October 2023 to raise as much money as possible.
The aim of the Cash for Kids Sports Challenge is to encourage participation of disabled or disadvantaged children and young people to engage in sport. Applicants must compete in a fundraising challenge to potentially receive more funding for their project.
The selected applicant organisations will retain the total money raised during the fundraising period.
The top three fundraising groups will receive an additional £5,000, £2,500 and... Continue reading
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July Funding News

almost 2 years ago

£3,000
Deadline: end of August
The aim of the fund is to support our residents and communities to thrive. We support ideas and projects that promote mental and physical wellbeing, reduce social isolation, bring communities together and enhance local areas.
Next round of applications are open now!
Check back in here for more details or check Citizen's website for information on previous rounds!(External link)
Health Protection Community Grant
From the 1^stof July through to the end of December 2023, community groups and organisations based in Coventry will be able to apply for a small grant to help raise... Continue reading
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June Funding News

almost 2 years ago

£3,000
The aim of the fund is to support our residents and communities to thrive. We support ideas and projects that promote mental and physical wellbeing, reduce social isolation, bring communities together and enhance local areas.
Next round of applications opening soon!
Check back in here for more details or check Citizen's website for information on previous rounds!
Health Protection Community Grant
From the 1^stof July through to the end of December 2023, community groups and organisations based in Coventry will be able to apply for a small grant to help raise awareness of key health protection messages... Continue reading
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May Funding News

about 2 years ago
Mayor's Community Weekend
£500 to £2,000
Deadline: 12 noon, 7 June 2023

This year’s Mayor’s Community Weekend will take place on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September 2023.
Communities or groups can apply for funding to run activities that celebrate and support building strong community relationships. We’ll prioritise grants that focus on one or more of the following:
- bringing communities together – connecting and strengthening the relationships between neighbours and neighbourhoods.
- celebrating the strength and diversity of communities across the West Midlands, particularly the role young people can play in the communities.
- bringing together volunteers and promoting volunteering.
- creating more... Continue reading
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April Funding News

about 2 years ago
Lloyds Racial Equity Grants
£75,000 over three years (£25,000 per year)
Deadline: 31 May 2023 (5pm).

The funding is for organisations who are led by the communities they serve and alongside providing immediate crisis support and working with people over the longer term to help them break free from poverty and achieve their potential. They are particularly looking to fund:
- In-depth services – delivering a range of services supporting individuals through a structured pathway over a prolonged period. This could include services to overcome immediate needs but will also lead to longer-term support.
- Personal plans – working together with... Continue reading
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March Funding News

about 2 years ago
Magic Little Grants Fund
£5000
One-off grants of up to £500 are available in 2023.
The application is a simple 20-minute process for a £500 grant and an outcome within six weeks. The following criteria apply:
- Organisations must either be in their first year of operation or have an annual income under £250,000.
- Funding can be used to launch new projects, support existing ones, or cover core costs associated with ongoing work.
- Organisations and the projects for which they apply must be located within England, Scotland, or Wales,
Start your application or find the answers to any questions!

Community... Continue reading
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February Funding News

over 2 years ago
Benefact Trust – Community Impact Grants

Benefact Trust’s Community Impact Grants Programme supports projects that will make a positive and transformative impact on lives and communities.
The programme supports direct capital and/or revenue costs, and funding is available under the following programme areas:
- Growing congregations and Christian communities.
- Addressing social challenges facing communities.
- Enabling wider community use of church buildings.
- Empowering Christian education.
To apply to the Community Impact Grants programme, you will need to complete this online application form. You will also need to complete a Community Impact Grant Project Budget template and submit this with your application... Continue reading
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January Funding News

over 2 years ago

National Lottery Awards For All - Celebration Funding
Up to £10,000
Whilst you may be familiar with the National Lottery Awards for All funding, you may not know they are also seeking to help communities celebrate the national events that are important to them. This includes the Coronation of His Majesty The King, The Eurovision Song Contest and the 75^th anniversary of Windrush.
If you have an idea of an event or ongoing project that celebrates any of the above, get in contact with the Community Resilience Team or take a look at their website.

Lloyds Bank Foundation... Continue reading
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December Funding News

over 2 years ago
Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund
The aim of the Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund is 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 are for capital improvements only, where projects aim to either upgrade, extend or improve facilities, or where capital items need... Continue reading