Community groups, charities, sports clubs, cultural organisations, parish councils and local residents across Lancashire are being encouraged to bring their ideas to life through Crowdfund Lancashire, a community crowdfunding programme run by Lancashire County Council in partnership with Spacehive. 
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Backed by the Lancashire Culture & Sport Fund (LCSF), the programme helps local organisations and individuals raise funding for projects that improve access to culture, sport, health and wellbeing across Lancashire communities.

Up to £15,000 Available

Eligible not-for-profit organisations can receive up to £15,000 in match funding, with Lancashire County Council providing a pledge of up to 40% of a project's crowdfunding target. Parish and Town Councils can apply for up to £5,000, while individuals and businesses delivering community benefit projects can apply for up to £1,500. 
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Projects are hosted on the Spacehive platform, where local supporters can pledge towards ideas they want to see happen in their community. Successful projects must demonstrate community support and reach their crowdfunding target to secure pledged funding

What Projects Can Be Supported?​
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The fund welcomes a wide range of cultural and sporting initiatives, including:

• Arts, music, theatre and creative projects
• Heritage and local history activities
• Community festivals and events
• Sports participation programmes
• Walking, exercise and wellbeing activities
• Youth engagement projects
• Community-led activities that improve quality of life and bring people together

​Priority will be given to projects that improve access to culture and sport, provide free or low-cost opportunities, reach new audiences, and deliver lasting benefits for local communities.

Autumn 2026 Funding Round

The current Autumn 2026 funding round is now open and will close on 17 September 2026. Funding decisions are expected to be communicated in October, with crowdfunding campaigns required to finish by 31 January 2027.

givestar Adventure for Good Grant
If you have extraordinary fundraisers with ambitious plans, check out this grant programme from givestar.
We're proud to support givestar's Adventure for Good Grant, a programme designed to help ambitious fundraisers turn extraordinary charitable challenges into reality, powered by a £250,000 funding pot.

The grant is for people taking on incredible adventures to raise money for charity. It provides funding to help cover physical costs like kit, travel, food or entry fees, leaving the fundraiser free to focus on the challenge itself.

Find out more 

Who can apply?
The grant is open to individuals planning a significant adventure or challenge to raise money for charity.
Applications close on 31 August 2026, and all applicants will be notified of the outcome by 14 September 2026.

Find out more

Skills for Life and GrowthWEA (Workers Educational Association) and LCCA (Lancashire Combined County Authority) are pleased to launch a Community Grants open funding round for the period August 2026 through to July 2027. This will enable local VCFSE (voluntary, Community, Faith & Social Enterprise) organisations and Housing Associations across all 14 Lancashire boroughs to bid for funding to carry out projects in localities, to mobilise disadvantaged or excluded unemployed and inactive residents to enable their progress towards further education and inclusive employment.  
We are looking for new and innovative ways of engaging with residents, supporting them in further skills provision in line with Lancashire's Strategic Priorities (listed below). 
This could be any Skills for provision on a tailored learning, unaccredited delivery model that suits the resident’s needs.  
LCCA Strategic Priorities 

• Economically Inactive Residents 
• 19-24 Year Olds 
• Essential Skills - English 
• Essential Skills - Maths 
• Essential Skills - Digital 
• Redundancy Support 
• Connect to Work + Bootcamps 
• Supporting residents from the most deprived wards 

If this funding opportunity is of interest to your organisation, then please complete the short form below. If you are eligible, you will be emailed the application form and guidance document, so please be sure to use a valid email address. If you are not eligible this time, you can complete the short form here and we will keep your email on file for future funding rounds. 
All eligibility criteria must be met to apply for a LCCA Community Grant. If you are unable to meet the criteria, you will not be able to apply and any application you do make will be rejected. 
Due to limited funding and that all 14 Lancashire boroughs to be served, Project Applications must be between £10k - £40k.  (Please think carefully on the borough or boroughs you wish to apply to deliver in). 
If you have any questions or need further information, please contact us at: LCCACommunityGrants@wea.ac.uk 
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The application deadline is 5pm on Friday 28th August 2026.

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Bring Your Local Spaces to Life​

We’re so excited to announce the return of our Community Bloom Fund, and this time, we’re doing things a little differently to spread the love even further.

We’ve always been more than just a fuel provider – we’re part of the neighbourhoods we serve. The heart of a community lies in its shared spaces, so we’re growing our support to help even more projects take root. This year, we’re awarding £15,000 each to TWO lucky communities.
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Maybe your local park is looking a bit weary, your village square is crying out for some flower power, or a community hub needs a fresh look – we’re ready to pitch in. We want to help you turn those “wouldn’t it be nice” ideas into a reality for everyone to enjoy.

Once the window closes, we will select four finalists to head to a public vote where the UK community decides the outcome. The two winners will each receive a £15,000 grant to bring their vision to life. As we want every project to thrive, our two runners-up will also receive £1,500 to support their community efforts.
Applications close at 23:59pm on 6th July 2026. All shortlisted applicants will need to be available W/C 20th July 2026 for photoshoots.
See full terms and conditions here.

​Programme Specification and Application Process: Open Grants 
Programme
What is this document?
• This document outlines the 26/27 delivery of the North West Healing, Mental Health and 
Wellbeing grant for adults who are currently seeking asylum.
• This document provides guidance relating to the Open Grants Programme within the wider 
grant including the process by which applications can be made. 
• Please follow the application process outlined in Application questions and do not send any 
additional documents unless these have been requested.
• You can ask for support and advice if you are having trouble preparing your application and 
make any requests for adjustments to support you with this process to: 
amy.robinson@manchester.gov.uk

Funding is currently available for charities and projects that support older people to live well.  These are grants of £10,000 per year, for 3 years.
Please complete our eligibility checker and then read our guidance document before making an application.  The application form is available after completion of the eligibility checker.

We’re delighted to share that Grassroots Grants, delivered in partnership with Postcode Lottery, is currently open for applications for a third year. 


This funding is designed to support small, local organisations across England that are making a positive difference in their communities. 


The grant programme is made possible thanks to funding raised by players of the Postcode Lottery and is awarded through Postcode Local Trust, Postcode Places Trust, Postcode Neighbourhood Trust and Postcode Society Trust. 


If your turnover is less than £25,000 from your most recent accounts, you can apply for unrestricted funding of up to £2,000, meaning you have the flexibility to use it where it’s needed most within your organisation. ​

Who can apply?

 
(Please note only one application per organisation is permitted.)

• Small organisations in England with a turnover of less than £25,000
• Community groups and charities
• CICs that have been operating for more than 2 years and that are Schedule 1 (ltd by guarantee) or Schedule 2 (ltd by shares but is only permitted to pay dividends to specified asset locked bodies
• Groups delivering vital services and activities in their local communities
• Previous grantees, once your grant has been fully spent and you have sent us your end of grant report
• Previously unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to apply again

We particularly welcome applications from organisations that:

• Support marginalised or vulnerable communities
• Work in areas within the top 15% of the English Indices of Deprivation

Please note: We are unable to fund sports and physical activity-based projects through this programme, and cannot fund individuals, local authorities, schools, pre-schools or nurseries.

Grantee Spotlight
Friends of Grange Park
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Friends of Grange Park, a Blackpool-based, community-led organisation, was previously awarded £1,269 to support their vital work to reduce the impact of poverty.

An organisation dedicated to improving the lives of residents in Grange Park and surrounding areas, Friends of Grange Park works to reduce the impact of poverty, promote physical and mental well-being, and build a stronger, more connected community.


Grassroots Grants funding supported their ‘Staying Alive in 25’ project, which prioritised food support, mental health support, and cost-of-living advice for residents, aiming to equip them with tools and support to live healthier, happier lives.

Anastasia Walsh from Friends of Grange Park said:

“This type of funding is a lifeline for grassroots organisations like ours. It allows us to be responsive, creative, and led by the real needs of our community, not tied to rigid structures or top-down solutions.”

Team Springboard CIC
Team Springboard CIC’s open gardening sessions are a lifeline for many participants. We previously awarded Team Springboard CIC £2,000 to boost wellbeing and gardening skills through open gardening sessions.





Providing gardening sessions for participants of the Zen Community Garden who face mental health difficulties, long-term unemployment, and social isolation, these sessions help improve their prospects and boost wellbeing.


Through this funding, Team Springboard CIC was able to hire a qualified and experienced horticulturist to lead and support 18 participants in open gardening sessions, improving their horticulture knowledge and their mental health.

Lucy Lynch, Team Springboard CIC Administrator, said:



“The funding helped us continue to welcome people to our community garden to learn, get exercise in the sunshine, and feel connected to people with similar interests”.

Learn more about Grassroots Grants
Applications are open until 30 September 2026. Applicants will receive a decision within 10 weeks of applying, and successful organisations awarded up to £2,000 will have 12 months to spend the grant.
 
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Find out more and apply


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