The below contains sources of funding and support for community groups in the UK. We don't fund individuals, but if you are looking for support, take a look at Turn2us.

If you haven't applied for funding before, it's worth starting by getting in touch with your local County Voluntary Council (CVC) or Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) for advice. Find yours here:

For many smaller community groups, a good place to start is to see if there is a local community foundation in your area, before applying to national funders.

Funding streams

Funding for voluntary and community organisations in the UK:

  • The Clothworkers Foundation: capital grants
  • Children in Need: Fund children and young people's projects across the UK (temporarily closed)
  • Comic Relief: funding and supporting organisations in the UK and around the world. (temporarily closed)
  • Corra: supporting groups in Scotland.
  • Edge Fund: support efforts to achieve social, economic and environmental injustice, and to end imbalances of wealth and power.
  • Esmée Fairbairn: aim to improve our natural world, secure a fairer future and strengthen the bonds in communities in the UK.
  • Garfield Weston: support small and large orgs across the UK.
  • The Henry Smith Charity: grants to reduce social and economic disadvantage
  • Lloyds Bank Foundation: fund small and local charities, investing in their work helping people overcome complex social issues across England and Wales.
  • National Lottery Community Fund: award money raised by National Lottery players to community groups in the UK.
  • Paul Hamlyn: invest around £30 million each year across six funding priorities where they wish to see change. A commitment to social justice underpins all these priorities.
  • People's Postcode Trust: a wide range of causes supported through people's postcode lottery.
  • Unltd: funds and supports social entrepreneurs - enterprising people with solutions that change our society for the better.

Funding databases:

Advice and support

General advice for community groups and charities

Specific sector/interest advice

  • CLINKS: Clinks supports, promotes and represents the voluntary sector working with people in the criminal justice system and their families.
  • Helplines Partnership: tools for organisations running a helpline.
  • MEAM: resources for organisations working with multiple disadvantage
  • National Survivor User Network: support for mental health user-led community groups and organisations
  • Reuse Network: UK’s membership body dedicated to charitable and voluntary reuse organisations
  • Youthworksupport: advice, guidance, support and tools for youth workers during the COVID 19 pandemic.

Sign up to our newsletter