Latest funding

Grants for winter services

General funds

Funding News February for local and regional funds. Funding News is produced by East Sussex County Council and is aimed at charities and community sector organisations across Sussex and the South East. You can subscribe to Funding News for automatic monthly updates.

Awards for All Deadline on-going. Awards up to £20,000,  and you can get funding for up to 2 years.  For groups that build strong relationships in communities, improve places and spaces, help people reach their potential or support people facing increased challenges due to the cost-of-living crisis.

Brewers Foundation Deadline not stated. Sponsorship and donations of paint available to transform vital spaces. £50,000 pot available to split between projects over the UK. Registered charities only.

Brighton Soup  Deadline to apply to pitch: midnight Saturday 2 March. For anyone with a project or idea that benefits people in Brighton & Hove.

The Dodgson Foundation Deadline on-going. Projects particularly aimed at the over 55s who are living in deprivation anywhere in Sussex.

Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust  Deadline 12 May for medium grants (£10,001 to £20,000), no deadline for smaller grants. For registered charities only, for start-up, core or specific project costs.

Fonthill Foundation Small Community Grants Programme up to £3,000. Deadline on-going. For registered charities and ‘recognised’ voluntary/community groups (e.g. those that receive council funding) who run projects that promote education and increase the diversity of educational opportunities available.

Focus Foundation Deadline on-going. For charities or community groups with an annual income under £2 million, who need funding for a whole project which helps socially or economically underprivileged children or young people, or projects supporting mental health.

Foyle Foundation  Deadline: apply anytime. For registered charities with less than £150,000 annual income, to apply under the Small Grants Scheme. Apply for between £2,000 and £10,000 if you are working at a grass roots local community level delivering services to the young, vulnerable, elderly, disadvantaged or the general community. Projects must be completed by end 2025 (when the foundation will close their grants programmes).

Groundwork VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme Deadline for capital grants Thursday 29 February. Apply for an Independent Energy Assessment or to install energy efficiency measures identified in your Independent Energy Assessment. Must own or have 2 years left on the lease of your building.

Hedley Foundation Deadline: on or before Wednesday 13 MarchGrants are around £5,000. For small to mid-size registered charities who can demonstrate impact for young people, disabled people, elderly people, the terminally ill and otherwise disadvantaged people and their carers.

The Homity Trust Deadline Thursday 28 March (although they recommend applying before this). For grants of up to £1,000 from organisations helping those most affected by the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Making a Difference Locally (MADL) Find your local Nisa store and make contact to ask how they can help. Donations can be made to “local sports teams, hospices or one of the many charities operating in the UK”. If you are a food pantry, ask about a nomination for The Heart of the Community Awards giving you a £1,000 donation if selected by a panel of judges. Deadline not stated.

Postcode Society Trust  Open to applications from Friday 23 February 9.00am to Friday 1st March 12.00pm. Funding from £500 to £25,000 depending on your legal structure. Priority given to organisations within deprived communities and groups that are led by and for people from the following minority/marginalised groups: communities experiencing racial inequity / people with disabilities / LGBTQ+ communities.

Thomas Wall Trust Deadline: Monday 29 April. For registered charities with an annual income of between £25,000 and £500,000. Apply for grants of up to £5,000 for specific projects, that improve communication skills for disadvantaged adults and supports NEET people into employment. Beneficiaries must gain at least one accredited vocational qualification during delivery.

UnLtd – Awards for Social Entrepreneurs Deadline Sunday 31 March. For those who are the founder of the social venture that hasn’t started trading yet and is at the idea stage or that has been trading for under 1 year, apply for up to £8,000 ‘Starting up Award’. If you’ve been trading for over a year, apply for up to £18,000 ‘Scaling up Award’.

Veolia Environmental Trust  Deadline: opens Thursday 29 February and closes midday Thursday 11 April. For constituted not-for-profit organisations, grants of between £10,000 and £75,000 are available to create or improve buildings or outside spaces for the benefit of the community.


Why do I need fundraising?

Fundraising is an ongoing concern for most and can present multiple challenges. If you’re starting on your fundraising journey, your first steps will involve:

  • developing a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your project
  • being certain that your project is needed
  • knowing how much your project will cost
  • creating a clear plan as to how you’re going to raise those costs

There are lots of resources that you can use to help you with your planning. If you are a community group, we recommend the Resource Centre website as an excellent starting point.


Local funding searches

Brighton and Hove specific

Adur and Worthing specific


 

Help with budgets

For a clear and simple introduction to calculating the full costs of a project read the National Lottery guidance on Full Cost Recovery

For step-by-step guidance on working out your project costs read the NCVO guide to Project Budgeting

Frequently asked questions

Can you help me write my funding bid?

Our read a funding bid service gives constructive critique on funding bids that are 90% bid ready. Your bid will benefit from a fresh and neutral pair of eyes. It will be read by one of our staff members who understand funder expectations and the key elements of a strong funding bid. We’ll give you written feedback on your bid which will highlight its strengths, any glaring mistakes or omissions, and provide top level suggestions for change that would improve the chances of success.

Our read a funding bid service requires bids to be given to us with a minimum of 15 working days before the bid’s submission deadline, to allow us enough time to read and comment on your bid.

What other support can I get?

Our ‘Fundraising Series’ will help you get your head around the many aspects of fundraising from writing a case for support to forming relationships with donors.  See our events page for details.

We can help you develop large bids through our charged-for consultancy service. We can also put you in contact with other organisations you may want to partner with. Email us at info@communityworks.org.uk

Can I connect with other fundraisers?

There is a local group of fundraisers who meet regularly and share resources and support, and two national networks we would recommend (they are all currently Facebook Groups):

  • Sussex Fundraisers Group – private group with 300 members
  • Trust Fundraising Hub – private group with over 4000 members. For CEO’s of small charities or fundraisers or volunteers looking for support with grant fundraising
  • The Lone Raisers – private group with 875 members. For people who are the only fundraiser, or are the only person to have fundraising within their responsibilities, in their organisation
  • Fundraising Chat – private group with over 15,000 members. Specifically for fundraisers to talk to each other about fundraising issues, share views and best practice
I do not know how to thank you all for your endless support and encouragement to pursue the bid and your time reading and making suggestions to enable us to succeed.
Sue Standing, Friends of Heene Cemetery