Deadline: 28th July 2024

The annual Investing in Spaces and Places Grant from the Asda Foundation is available for small, local groups in the UK to improve community spaces and places where local people can be together and thrive. Support is available for projects that address building repair, building development and outdoor development.

Applications are accepted from not-for-profit grassroots, community-led organisations in the UK, particularly ones that are:

• Located in an area of deprivation.
• Inclusive and encourage diversity.
• Tackling food poverty.
• Addressing local crime/anti-social behaviour.
• Promoting a positive environmental impact.

Applicant organisations must have an annual income below £100,000 and have a bank account in the group’s name. Additionally, applicants must either own and have full responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of the building/space or have a lease of over five years and full responsibility for upkeep and maintenance.

A total of £1 million is available for 2024. Grants between £10,000 and £25,000 are available. Match funding is required for a minimum of 50% of the total project cost and organisations must have raised at least 10% at the time of application.

Deadline: 11th September 2024

The British Ecological Society (BSE) is currently accepting applications to its Outreach and Engagement Programme which offers grants of up to £2,000 for individuals, teams and organisations to engage public audiences with the ‘excitement of ecological sciences’.

The funding will support diverse formats that reach and engage public audiences in innovative, creative and impactful ways, whether through in-person events, digital formats, or physical resources.

Projects must be aimed at a non-academic audience and meet at least one of the top-level BES aims:

• Communicate evidence-based messaging for what ecology is, how nature works, and the use of ecological science as a solution to local and global challenges.
• Raise awareness and public understanding of ecological careers, their relevance and importance, breadth, and diversity, and show that anybody can become an ecologist.
• Share how individuals can take action to benefit the environment, themselves, and society.
• Increase the ability of others to deliver the above aims through outreach and engagement activities.

The grants can be used to cover costs for the engagement event including but not limited to: travel, small equipment and IT, marketing, one-off hiring of freelancers, for example, venue hire, and evaluation costs.

Deadline: 13th September 2024

The Community Energy Fund (CEF) is a national £10 million grant scheme for urban and rural communities to develop energy services to benefit their local area. It is funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and administered by five Net Zero Hubs across England.

Midlands Net Zero Hub is currently accepting applications on a rolling basis until early November 2024.

The CEF aims to empower local people to take control of their energy.

Legally constituted voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations based and working in the Midlands can apply for grant funding to help kickstart clean energy projects including small-scale wind farms and rooftop solar partnerships, as well as battery storage, rural heat networks, electric vehicle charging points as well as to support fuel poverty alleviation schemes such as energy efficiency, retrofit, and advice projects.

Applicants need to show that a good level of community engagement has been carried out and that there is genuine community support for the project, including plans for ongoing community engagement.

Funding is offered as a:

• Stage 1 Feasibility grant of up to £40,000 to produce a feasibility study to establish the technical and financial viability of a project.
• Stage 2 Development grant of up to £100,000 for a more detailed investigation of the technology, for planning applications and to develop a business case

This funding cannot be used for capital works, equipment or service delivery or to cover retrospective costs.

Deadline: 18th September 2024

The Serving Families funding programme is intended to support early intervention projects that assist military families in accessing services as they relocate. These initiatives will help families integrate into their new communities and build lasting friendships.

Projects will need to contribute towards at least one of the following outcomes:

• Provide families with ongoing information about available resources when relocating to unfamiliar areas.
• Provide families with access to enjoyable resources that meet their needs and improve wellbeing.
• Reduce isolation and loneliness by helping families build support networks.

This might include projects that:

• Provide early intervention support to prevent issues escalating and help families make informed choices.
• Engage Service families effectively with a range of support on issues that matter to them.
• Inform Service families of existing statutory and welfare provision, and ensure it is available and accessible when they need it most.
• Build capacity for Service families by increasing awareness of, and improving links and referrals to, existing services and complementing existing welfare provision.

The direct and primary beneficiaries must be current serving Armed Forces personnel, Reservists (including RFA Royal Fleet Auxiliary) and their families.

Grants up to £120,000 are available for projects being delivered over a two to three year period. The grant can pay for most of the things needed for the project or activity, including people’s time, costs of delivering work online or buying/hiring equipment. This funding will support existing activities.

Deadline: 30th September 2024

Music for All, the charity of the UK musical instrument industry, is offering an instrument-only funding round to community projects and to schools in the UK who are looking to enhance and expand their music provision. Priority will be given to applicants who are most in need of help.

The following support is available:

• Harris Foundation Schools Progression Award – grants of up to £5,000 for schools looking to deepen their music provision and support/or continue to support groups of music makers within their school. Funds can be used to support any type of ensemble including bands, orchestras or informal groups and should be put towards the purchase of instruments, studio equipment, specialised teaching support or other items specifically designed to support the establishment and/or continuation of music groups.
• Arturia Analog Lab V controller – groups can apply for up to three controllers suitable for use with standalone VST, AAX or Audio Unit. Applicants should be able to demonstrate how their group is already working with technology and how this software will enhance their work.
• Guitars (electric) + amplifier (+ The Maestro Online Masterclasses) – community-based groups can apply for up to five electric guitars and amplifiers to support disadvantaged music makers; they must illustrate the impact this award will have on advancing the music making of their group.
• Drumkit + drumsticks (+ The Maestro Online Masterclasses) – community-based groups can apply for one drumkit to support disadvantaged music makers; they must illustrate the impact this award will have on advancing the music making of their group..
• Ukulele bundle (sopranos) with added ukulele voices (concert and bass) for teacher/leader (+ The Maestro Online Masterclasses) – community and educational groups can apply for up to one bundle, which includes 25 ukuleles, to support work with deprived or marginalised communities and/or developing music education for those living in the area.
• Pbuzz instruments – community and educational groups can apply for up to 10 pbuzz instruments to support work with deprived or marginalised communities and/or developing music education for those living in the area.
• Keyboard with stand, pedal and headphones and seat – community-based groups can apply for up to five keyboards with accessories to support disadvantaged music makers; they must illustrate the impact this award will have on advancing the music making of their group.

Notification of decisions is approximately three months after receipt of application.  

UK registered charities and charitable incorporated organisations based and working in the UK that can demonstrate impact with ex-offenders, young offenders or young people at risk of offending, either within a local area or nationally may apply for small grants of up to £5,000 or larger grants with no set limit.

The funding is intended for registered charities working to:

• Support offenders and ex-offenders into work, specifically for those looking to build skills and capability to get into sustainable work.
• Help specific groups within the criminal justice sector that are less popular with funders than others.
• Support young people (up to 25 years) from disadvantaged and socio-economically challenged groups, such as immigrants, to ensure they are given every possible chance to realise their full potential and to participate fully in society.

Grants are normally awarded for one year only, though exceptions can be made.

Whilst the size of organisation is not relevant when making an application, it may be easier for smaller organisations to demonstrate impact.

The funding can be used for:

• Pump-priming - particularly where the grant would support a project piloting new approaches and where that grant would form a major element of the funding or where it would be matched by other funders.
• Project funding - preference is to support projects where the grant is used for an identified purpose.
• Associated project costs - applicants should include the cost of any overheads associated with the work, such as office/secretarial support, so that the project is not under-funded.
• Core costs for new projects - including staff salaries, training and overheads that enable an organisation to develop and maintain expertise..
• Innovative or pioneering work – new ideas are encouraged and projects that could inspire similar work in other areas of the country.