External funding
In addition to community grants, we also support our local voluntary and community sector by signposting to other funding opportunities. See the latest funding news below.
For access to a database of funding opportunities, not-for-profit organisations can register with Herts Community's fundraising tool and search for appropriate funds, grants or awards.
Hertfordshire Community Foundation is an independent charity that provides a range of grants to support the county's community and voluntary groups.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) funding opportunities
Funding to support disadvantaged and vulnerable older people
Added: 7 July 2020
Deadline: 31 August 2020
Local and national charities can apply for grants of between £500 and £5,000 per year for up to three years for projects that support vulnerable and disadvantaged people over 50. The funding is being made available through the Masonic Charitable Foundation Later Life small grants programme.
Funding to help disadvantaged young people and children
Added: 7 July 2020
Deadline: 31 August 2020
Charities can apply for grants of between £500 and £5,000 per year for up to three years to help disadvantaged children and young people (up to the age of 25 years) overcome the barriers they face to achieve the best possible start in life. The funding is being made available through the Masonic Charitable Foundation’s Early Years Opportunities grant scheme.
Next Steps Grant
Added: 11 June 2020
Deadline: See website
The Children in Need Next Steps programme is designed to deliver support for children and young people affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Eligible organisations will be able to apply for between £5,000 and £80,000 for projects starting in September 2020.
Charity survival fund
Added: 11 June 2020
Deadline: See website
An unrestricted grant funding programme for charities across the UK looking after at-risk young people across the themes of abuse, addiction, homelessness and those who are supporting young child carers.
Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund
Added: 5 June 2020
Deadline: See website
The Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund (RRLF) is a new fund for social enterprises and charities that are improving people’s lives across the UK and who are experiencing disruption to their normal business model as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19). It has been established to make an existing Government scheme (the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme), more easily accessible to charities and social enterprises.
Coronavirus Community Support Fund
Added: 26 May 2020
Deadline: See website
The Government has committed £200 million for small and medium sized charities and social enterprises. Funding will help maintain and enhance services for vulnerable people affected by the current crisis, where organisations are experiencing income disruption and/or increased demand. This funding is being distributed by the National Lottery Community Fund, alongside its own funding.
National Survivor User Network COVID-19 fund
Added: 6 May 2020
Deadline: see website
NSUN has launched a new fund with grants up to £1,000 to support peer support, community action and mutual aid for mental health during COVID-19. This fund is for smaller and non-constituted groups that might not otherwise be eligible for support.
Sport England funding package
Added: 31 March 2020
Deadline: this fund is temporarily paused to new applications, check the website for updates
Sport England is making up to £195 million of funding available to the sport and physical activity sector to help clubs and organisations cope with the short and long term impact of the coronavirus outbreak. This funding is available even if your club or group hasn't had funding from Sport England before.
Coronavirus Mental Health Response Fund
Added: 17 April 2020
Deadline: this fund is temporarily paused to new applications, check the website for updates
A fund to help voluntary and community sector organisations based in England continue to provide mental health services, or provide additional support.
Members Locality Budget: Hertfordshire County Council
Added: 30 March 2020
Deadline: see website
Apply now to your councillor for a grant to support coronavirus efforts and, if they agree, you should receive funds within a week, normally quicker. This is open to any local organisation offering support to anyone affected by COVID-19.
Coronavirus Relief Fund for Hertfordshire: Hertfordshire Community Foundation (HCF)
Added: 30 March 2020
Deadline: rolling deadline while funds are available
Phase 2 grants are now available. In this second phase HCF will be providing larger grants of up to £10,000 to community organisations that have adapted their services to support people now and are looking to longer term need as a result of the pandemic. These grants to be spent within the next twelve months.
The National Lottery (TNL) Community Fund: updates and priorities
Added: 30 March 2020
Deadline: see website for updates
TNL is currently prioritising funding projects and organisations supporting communities through the COVID-19 pandemic. it is reviewing the situation on an on-going basis and will share any updates or developments on our website.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) online grants round-up
Added: 30 March 2020
Deadline: various - see website
A number of Community Foundations and other organisations have launched funding programmes to assist local organisations in responding to the challenges of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The list of organisations and the types of funding available will be updated as and when information becomes available.
Latest funding opportunities
Grants of up to £5,000 available for projects that help the homeless
Added: 16 June 2020
Deadline: 15 September 2020
Homeless charities can apply for capital grants of up to £5,000 for projects that aim to help homeless people return to the community and resume a normal life.
Magic Little Grants 2020
Added: 2 March 2020
Deadline: 31 October 2020
Small charities and community groups can apply for grants of up to £500 to support and inspire people to participate in sports or exercise. To be eligible, applicant organisations will need to have an annual income of less than £250,000 or be in their first year of operation. A total of 900 grants will be available.
Grants to cover running costs for small charities
Added: 14 March 2019
Deadline: Ongoing
The Marsh Christian Trust is offering grants of £300 to £1,500 to small charities to help them pay for running and core costs. The funding is available to registered charities (Community Interest Companies are excluded) working in the areas of literature, arts and heritage, social welfare, environmental causes and animal welfare, education and training, and healthcare.
Neighbourhood planning grants
Added: 3 June 2019
Deadline: Ongoing
Groups undertaking a neighbourhood plan or neighbourhood development order are eligible to apply for grants through the Neighbourhood Planning grant scheme. The scheme provides three types of grants: basic funding of up to £9,000 to undertake a neighbourhood plan; additional grant funding of up to £8,000 for those groups meeting specific criteria, and grants of up to £10,000 for groups that wish to evaluate the case for bringing forward affordable housing for sale by undertaking housing needs assessments and other relevant studies.
Funding for community spaces
Added: 19 June 2019
Deadline: Ongoing
The Co-op Foundation is working with the Government to develop a new £1.6 million initiative to help maximise the potential of spaces where people can connect and co-operate.
Kellogg's Breakfast Club Grants Programme
Added: 8 August 2019
Deadline: Ongoing
The Kellogg’s Breakfast Club Grants Programme offers grants of up to £1,000 to schools in the UK to set up breakfast clubs for those children in most need. A limited number of grants are available so priority will be given to schools that have either 35 per cent and above of children eligible for pupil premium funding and / or eligible for free school meals.
Funding for football facilities
Added: 8 August 2019
Deadline: Ongoing
The Premier League and the FA Facilities Fund is available to football clubs, schools, councils and local sports associations and is focused on supporting the development of new or refurbished local football facilities. Grants of between £10,000 and £500,000 are available for projects that:
- Improve facilities for football and other sport in local communities
- Sustain or increase participation among children and adults, regardless of background, age or ability
- Help children and adults to develop their physical, mental, social and moral capacities through regular participation in sport.
Asda Foundation funding for local community projects
Added: 15 October 2019
Deadline: Ongoing
Charities or good causes requiring funding for a significant project can approach their local Asda store to find out if they would be eligible for a grant. Projects invited to apply could benefit from grants that have previously ranged from £2,600 to £32,000. Projects supported will tackle the underlying problems in the local area and make a real long-term difference by transforming the community and improving the lives of the people who live there.
B&Q community reuse scheme
Added: 23 October 2019
Deadline: Ongoing
DIY store B&Q operates a community reuse scheme through all its branches across the UK. The scheme donates unsellable products and materials for reuse by local schools, other educational institutions and community groups, for the benefit of the local community and the environment. All items are donated on the understanding that they will be reused or disposed of responsibly if they are not used. B&Q also works with Community Repaint, a network of schemes that collects any surplus, reusable paint and redistributes it within their communities to individuals and families on low income, charities and community groups.
Funding to tackle loneliness
Added: 23 October 2019
Deadline: Ongoing
The Government has announced that a new £2 million fund is being launched to help organisations tackle loneliness. The funding aims to support frontline, grassroots organisations that bring people together and help them build social connections. These could include community cafés, street parties, coffee mornings or local walking groups. The investment will help small organisations promote themselves more widely, help fund the use of suitable venues and accessible transport, and bring established groups together to best serve local people at risk of loneliness.
Equipment grants for youth clubs
Added: 24 October 2019
Deadline: Ongoing
Variety, the children's charity, has grants of between £250 and £600 available to youth organisations that are affiliated to either Ambition, UK Youth or the National Association of Boys and Girls Clubs. The grants can be used to buy equipment to provide challenging activities that engage young people aged 8-18 and provide them with alternatives to becoming involved in anti-social behaviour. Applicants have to raise some of the funds and applications that have young people involved in the fund raising will be looked upon favourably.
Funding to support leisure activities for people with physical disabilities
Added: 14 November 2019
Deadline: Ongoing
Charities or not-for-profit organisations wishing to provide or organise leisure activities for people with physical disabilities can apply for a grant to help them to deliver their project, service or activity. The majority of grants awarded are for £5,000 or less. The funding is being provided through the Bruce Wake Charitable Trust. Applications can be submitted at any time.
Funding for projects that use the arts and media to address the concerns of children
Added: 13 January 2020
Deadline: Ongoing
Not-for-profit organisations in the UK that are working with children and young people using the arts and creative media can apply for grants of up to £50,000 through the Ragdoll Foundation's Open Grants Programme. Organisations can apply for both one-off, short-term projects as well as those lasting up to three years. Preference will be given to those projects that are committed to listening to children and allow the perceptions and feelings of children themselves to be better understood. The Foundation is mainly interested in applications that involve children during their early years, but appropriate projects for older children (up to 18 years) will also be considered. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Funding for projects that improve people’s lives
Added: 31 March 2020
Deadline: Ongoing
Grants of between £20,000 and £60,000 per year for up to three years are available to charitable organisations that help people at times of crisis in their lives. In particular, funding is available when other sources of support have failed, are inappropriate, or are simply not available. The funding is provided through the Henry Smith Charity Improving Lives Programme.
BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme
Added: 16 April 2020
Deadline: Ongoing
The BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme supports children and young people who are facing exceptionally difficult circumstances. The programme provides items that meet a child’s most basic needs such as a bed to sleep in, a cooker to provide a hot meal and other items or services critical to a child’s wellbeing. The funding is delivered by Family Fund Business Services.
