Funding
Please find some funding below, that may be of interest to your parishes and residents, there is plenty more on the Devon County Council website, that maybe useful too. Please share as far and as wide as possible.
Kits 4 Kids
The next round of Poundland Foundation’s Kits 4 Kids scheme opens in May 2025. Grants of up to £750 are available to buy new kit for children’s sports teams. The grant can be spent on core kit only (clothing) and clubs must agree to display the Poundland Foundation logo on their kit.
The scheme is for local children’s sports clubs and teams: registered charities, community interest companies (CICs) and unregistered organisations can apply. Organisations must work with children under 18; have an income of under £10,000 and hold reserves under £5,000. Schools cannot apply.
There is sometimes a very short application window for these grants so keep an eye on the Poundland Foundation website for more information.
Focus of fund/fund aims:
Small grants towards kit for children's sports teams
Application deadline:
To be advised
Fund description:
https://poundlandfoundation.org.uk/kits-4-kids/
Leach Fourteenth Trust
The Leach Fourteenth Trust makes small grants to support charities in England, with an interest in the South West of England.
Grants are awarded for charitable activities that support people in poverty or with health conditions, as well as for environmental and humanitarian causes. Most grants are in the region of £2,000 to £6,000.
Charities and other voluntary organisations may apply.
The Trust does not have a website but contact details are available from the Charity Commission.
Focus of fund/fund aims:
Small grants for charitable activities
Application deadline:
Applications are considered twice a year - in June and December.
Fund description:
Grassroots Fund
FA-accredited clubs and leagues with a project involving grassroots football can apply for support from the Grassroots Fund. These small grants are intended to help clubs with practical projects such as making improvements to a clubhouse and can also be used to help clubs to improve their game and their playing environment. The fund is supported by Utilita Football Rebooted.
There is a short online application form and you will receive a response within 60 days.
Focus of fund/fund aims:
Grants to support grassroots football.
Application deadline:
Apply at any time
Fund description:
https://www.teamgrassroots.co.uk/fund
Defender Awards
Jaguar Land Rover has launched a new awards scheme for small charities and not-for-profit organisations doing humanitarian and conservation work. The Defender Awards will be a two-year programme with a budget of £1million. Organisations in the UK can enter the first round of the programme, with the chance to win £100,000 in funding and two years’ use of a Defender vehicle.
Applications are being invited in the following categories:
- Defenders of Humanity – meeting the needs of vulnerable communities, particularly in humanitarian crises, including medical and welfare services
- Defenders of the Sea – safeguarding marine life and coastal areas
- Defenders of the Land – protecting natural habitats and promoting biodiversity
- Defenders of the Wild – protecting endangered and at-risk species
You can apply if your organisation is a small charity or non-profit organisation with an annual income of below £500,000, doing humanitarian or conservation work in the UK or one of the other countries eligible to apply (Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and South Africa).
Focus of fund/fund aims:
Awards for small charities and not-for-profit organisations doing humanitarian or conservation work
Application deadline:
UK deadline: 21 May 2025
Fund description:
https://www.landrover.co.uk/defender/defender-awards/index.html
Asda Foundation: Local Community Spaces Fund
Community groups in the UK can apply to the Asda Foundation for funding to repair, renovate and develop community spaces so that they can continue delivering vital activities and services. The Local Community Spaces Fund opens to applications on 7 May 2025 and will provide grants to support safe and welcoming community spaces that bring people together, connect communities and address loneliness and isolation.
A total of £1.25million is available from the fund through grants of between £10,000 and £20,000. The Asda Foundation funding must be contributing to at least 50% of your total project costs and it can fund up to 90% of your total costs: you need to have already raised 10% of your costs when you apply.
The funding can be used towards costs such as kitchen and bathroom refurbishments, repairs to roofs and floors, disabled access, heating, extensions, creating new spaces, replacing windows and doors, security upgrades. Equipment and furniture can also be funded provided it only makes up a small portion of a wider application to repair, renovate or develop a community space.
These grants are for community groups with a constitution and with a total annual income of less than £250,000.
Focus of fund/fund aims:
Grants to repair and develop multi-use community spaces that provide services and bring people together
Application deadline:
28 May 2025
Fund description:
https://asdafoundation.org/our-grants/local-community-spaces-fund/
Warburtons Community Grants
Community organisations in the UK can apply for a small grant of up to £400 towards activities that improve Health, Place or Skills for families in their community. The Warburtons Foundation supports activities that will be of real direct benefit to families. This includes:
- supporting families to care for each other and lead healthier lives
- supporting families to flourish in communities that are safer, greener and more inclusive
- supporting families to gain useful skills for life and work
Warburtons Community Grants can be used towards something specific that supports an ongoing activity.
Not-for-profit organisations with charitable purposes can apply.
Focus of fund/fund aims:
Small grants for activities with a charitable purpose that support families.
Application deadline:
There are four deadlines a year. The next deadline is 5 May 2025.
Fund description:
https://www.warburtons.co.uk/goodstuff/financial-giving/
AHF: Heritage Revival Fund
The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) has announced the launch of a £5m Heritage Revival Fund. The aim is to help communities to rescue and repurpose neglected historic buildings in town centres. It will do this by supporting community organisations to take ownership of historic buildings, transforming them into vibrant spaces that meet modern needs.
The Heritage Revival Fund will offer advice and grants to charities and social enterprises, supporting projects from the earliest stages through to capital works, with funding available for feasibility studies, development of business plans and drawings for architectural adaptations, as well as the costs of acquiring and renovating buildings.
Three levels of grant funding are available:
- Project Viability Grants – up to £15,000
- Project Development Grants – up to £100,000
- Capital Grants – up to £350,000
Not-for-profit organisations including charitable companies limited by guarantee, CIOs, CICs, CBSs, co-operatives and parish and town councils can apply.
Focus of fund/fund aims:
Funding to help community organisations to transform neglected historic buildings in town centres
Application deadline:
There is a two-stage application process: EoIs for Project Viability and Project Development Grants may be submitted at any time. EoIs for Capital Grants by 27 June 2025. The programme closes in March 2026.
Fund description:
https://ahfund.org.uk/grants/england/
NLCF Reaching Communities
The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) Reaching Communities programme has introduced new priorities for its grants.
The priorities are to fund projects that:
- support places, people
or communities experiencing poverty, disadvantage or discrimination
AND - support people and communities to shape the decisions that affect their lives.
Project must also achieve one of the programme’s missions. These are to support communities to:
- come together, through inclusive places, spaces and activities
- help children and young people thrive, by developing positive social and emotional skills
- be healthier, by addressing health inequalities and helping prevent poor health
- be environmentally sustainable by engaging with climate issues, having a positive environmental impact or improving access to quality natural spaces.
NCLF Reaching Communities grants start at £20,001; most grants awarded are for less than £500,000.
You can apply to Reaching Communities if your organisation is a constituted voluntary or community organisation, registered charity, charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, community interest company (CIC), school, statutory or public body (including local authorities, town, parish or community councils), community benefit society or co-operative society.
Focus of fund/fund aims:
Grants of £20,001 or more for projects and organisations supporting people experiencing higher levels of poverty, disadvantage or discrimination and areas where there is limited help and support for people
Application deadline:
Apply at any time (two-stage application process)
Fund description:
https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/reaching-communities-england
Dr and Mrs Alfred Darlington Charitable Trust
The Doctor and Mrs Alfred Darlington Charitable Trust makes small grants to registered charities in the South West, but particularly in Devon. The funding is intended to support registered charities undertaking projects for: elderly people; socially excluded people; disability; medicine; nature conservation; and preservation of historic buildings.
Grants tend to be between £1,000 and £5,000.
The Trust does not have a website but contact details can be found by following the link below.
Focus of fund/fund aims:
Small grants to support registered charities
Application deadline:
Apply at any time
Fund description:
BookRelief UK
BookRelief UK supports children’s and adult literacy projects in Devon and overseas. The charity raises funds through the sale of books donated to its shop in Bideford.
You can apply for a grant for adult or children’s literacy initiatives such as library projects, storytelling activities or buying books for a school project. BookRelief UK typically awards grants of between £300 and £700 but larger grants may be offered in exceptional circumstances.
Applications are accepted from organisations with a dedicated bank account, this includes schools and libraries. Funding is not available to individuals.
Focus of fund/fund aims:
Small grants for literacy projects in Devon
Application deadline:
Apply at any time
Fund description:
https://www.bookreliefuk.org/Grant-Applications/
15th April 2025