Grant Directories

East Midlands Railway (EMR) makes funding available to support communities and organisations along the EMR Line, and the towns and villages it serves. Through the EMR Community Fund, charities, schools, youth groups, sports clubs, community rail partnerships, station adoption groups and other not-for-profit organisations based within 15km of an EMR Station can apply for funding for projects that make a difference to those that need it the most. Projects should focus on making travel sustainable, healthy and accessible; supporting diversity and inclusion; supporting social and economic development; and providing a voice for the community. 

Independent Waste Management organisation, Mick George Ltd, funds local projects that strengthen communities within the locality of their landfill sites and other waste treatment facilities in the West Midlands and Anglia regions. Organisations can only apply for a grant if their total project cost is less than £100,000.

The £150 million Community Ownership Fund, which is part of the government’s strategy to build back better from the Covid-19 pandemic, provides grants for communities throughout the UK to take ownership of local facilities, community assets and amenities at risk of closure such as pubs, theatres, post offices, sports grounds, parks and corner shops, etc. Voluntary and community organisations can bid for match funding of up to £250,000 to support the purchase and/or renovation costs of these assets. Expressions of interest can be submitted at any time. Successful applicants will be invited to submit a full application during a specified bidding window which will be announced in due course. The fund will run until 2024/25.

The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation is a grant making foundation that give grants to small and medium sized local organisations in the UK with a demonstrable track record of success working to address local issues in communities of extreme urban deprivation and deprived rural districts. Through the small grants programme the foundation provides funding of between £2,000 and £10,000 to charitable organisations with an income of less than £250,000 for projects that focus on Community Support. Examples of the kind of projects that can be funded include: CommunityServices; CommunityCentres; Alternative Education; Training, mentoring, employment and volunteering opportunities; Youth; Counselling; Family Support Services; Substance Misuse.

Nottinghamshire Community Foundation exists to benefit disadvantaged communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference to their local communities. Through the Major Oak Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £1,000 to groups who deliver projects in Hawtonville under any of the following themes and in Bassetlaw against the Children & Young people theme only: Children & young people; Older & Vulnerable People; Healthier Communities; Sustainable communities. 

The Northamptonshire Community Foundation exists to benefit disadvantaged communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference to their local communities. Through the Yelvertoft Wind Farm Community benefit Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £7,000 to support a range of charitable, educational, environmental and general community amenity projects to benefit residents in the parishes of Clay Coton, Crick, Lilbourne or Yelvertoft.

The Northamptonshire Community Foundation exists to benefit disadvantaged communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference to their local communities. Through the Winwick Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £5,000 to support a range of charitable, educational, environmental and general community amenity projects to benefit residents in the parishes of Winwick, Cold Ashby, West Haddon and Guilsborough.

Each year Loughborough University sets aside £15,000 for its Community Donations Fund to provide financial support to community groups and organisations to support the social, educational, cultural and physical well- being of people living in Charnwood. In addition the Fund makes grants of up to £1,000 to community groups and organisations across postcodes surrounding the Olympic Park.

MV Empire Windrush arrived at the Port of Tilbury on 21 June 1948 and its passengers disembarked a day later. The ship carried 492 Caribbean migrants, many of them veterans of the Second World War. Since then, Windrush has come to symbolise the first movement of mass migration to the United Kingdom in the post-war era. 2018 marked the 70th anniversary of MV Empire Windrush’s arrival. The minister of faith has announced a National Windrush Day on 22nd June each year. Funding of between £2,500 and £25,000 is available for projects run by local authorities, charities or community groups which celebrate and commemorate the arrival of the MV Empire Windrush and the contribution of the Windrush Generation to British economic, social and cultural life. Projects should also seek to educate communities about this contribution and the history of the MV Empire Windrush.

The National Manuscripts Conservation Trust is the only UK grant-giver that focuses solely on the care and conservation of manuscripts in the UK. Grants of £2,000 to £10,000 are available for the cost of repair, binding and other preservation measures, including reprography. Grants may also cover the cost of conservation by commercial conservation studios or the salaries and related expenses of staff specially employed for the project and expendable materials required for the project.

Under this scheme, Biffa look to award grants to projects that provide or improve biodiversity, community spaces, cultural facilities, and places for outdoor recreation. The type of activities that could be funded could be to improve community buildings; site-based projects to protect and enhance a species or habitat; improving an open space such as a park, play area or woodland that needs transforming to benefit local people of all ages.  Between £10,000 and £75,000 is available for projects of less than £200,000. Ten percent of the award needs to be third party sourced.

The Foundation has diverse objectives, as well as providing financial assistance in cases of extreme need, hardship or distress, support is also provided for the advancement of education and enhancement of leisure and recreational facilities, particularly for young people. The Puri Foundation has made major donations to a wide range of schools in and around Nottingham and owns, on behalf of the community, the newly finished Indian Community Centre Association's premises in the City. Through the Puri Foundation, Purico Group has made numerous charitable donations to many organisations in India, Nepal and the United Kingdom over the years

Historic England is the public body that looks after England's historic environment, they champion historic places, helping people understand value and care for them. The Regional Capacity Building Programme offers funding for activities and projects which are local or regional in coverage and which promote the understanding, management and conservation of the historic environment. Under this programme, Historic England provides funding for activities and projects that help to reduce or avoid risk to the historic environment.

UnLtd is the leading provider of support to social entrepreneurs in the UK and supports individuals who have their social ventures firmly rooted in delivering positive social change. It operates a unique model by investing directly in individuals and offering a complete package of resources; from awards of funding to ongoing advice, networking and practical support. UnLtd resource community entrepreneurs to start-up; support those with more established social ventures to scale up; and are committed to developing an eco-system of support to make it easier for those who need help to find it. UnLtd offers a number of programmes with varying levels of funding and support. Please refer to the funder's website for details.

Derbyshire Community Foundation is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. It's aim is to provide funding that will directly address the needs of Derbyshire's most vulnerable people and communities. Support generally falls under the broad heading of social welfare and applications must demonstrate a strong case for support, clear aims and objectives, wherever possible the organisation or project is user led and the grant will make a real difference to people within their community. Grants available for core and revenue costs, new or continuing projects, one-off initiatives and capital costs and transport.

Community Foundations support community and voluntary sector activity through grants to local groups and organisations. There are 48 Community Foundations of different sizes within the UK. Although all Community Foundations operate according to common criteria, they vary in terms of size and nature of grants available. Some Community Foundations will fund both organisations and individuals whilst other foundations will only fund organisations. Each community foundation covers a specific geographic area and will not normally be able to support work outside its area.