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.

Grant Guidance for the Forest of Bowland Community Nature Fund
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Introduction
This new grant fund aims to support projects led by communities and focussing on nature.
Nature is in crisis, so making more space for nature in our communities, villages and open spaces is one great way in which we can all help.


​In the Forest of Bowland the key elements of nature we need to protect, look after, and increase are woodlands, trees, hedgerows and scrub; grasslands rich in species; rivers, streams and wetlands; and our Champion Species which include curlew, globeflower, juniper, bilberry bumblebee and more.

Grant funds are also available to support projects which enable people to connect with nature, either by improving physical access or by providing opportunity for people to learn more, enjoy and benefit from being close to nature.

Applications for grants will be open from 29th June until 3rd August 2026.

You can read more about nature recovery in Bowland here: https://www.forestofbowland.com/nature-recovery

To be eligible for funds, your project must:
1. Require funds in the region of £2500 to £5000, which need to be spent by 1st March 2027
2. Be located within, or demonstrate clear links to, the Forest of Bowland National Landscape (you can see our boundary on Google Maps)
3. Meet one or more of our priorities:
a. Improve the condition of nature
b. Provide new spaces for nature and/or our Champion Species
c. Increase peoples understanding of nature
d. Provide opportunity for people to connect with nature to benefit their physical or mental health and wellbeing


e. Improve access to nature
4. Support one or more of our management plan outcomes (see page 4 below)
5. NOT be a profit making or commercial project
6. Demonstrate clear public benefit and have the backing of communities that you want to support



7. Seek to be sustainable by utilising locally sourced or re-purposed materials, seeds and plants; work with local contractors wherever possible; utilise traditional skills; provide good value for money; minimise greenhouse gas emissions


8. Secure some form of match funding as either cash or volunteer time
9. Have the permission of the landowner if taking place on land the applicant does not own
10. Have plans that are financially realistic and achievable in the time given
What we can't fund
· Staffed organisations – please come and talk to us about other ways we (and other funds) can support nature recovery projects
· Political and religious activity, although political and religious groups may apply for funding for community activities
· Research
· Projects or activities that run contrary to county council policies or are unlawful
· Community buildings, play areas or maintenance of buildings and grounds (apart from for nature)


FUNDING AND APPLICATION DETAILS
We strongly advise that you speak to us before you apply so that we can offer you any advice and guidance or put you in touch with others who may be able to support or fund your project idea. We cannot help you to work up an idea into a project plan or make the application for you. Please contact Cathy.hopley@lancashire.gov.uk 07891 537835 or Daniel.holden@lancashire.gov.uk 01200 448000
Your project must have access to a bank account, and if you are a formal group we will need to see a copy of your constitution or terms of reference.
We welcome applications from voluntary, faith-based or community groups and 'not-for-profit' organisations and businesses.
Parish councils, schools and colleges and businesses may apply where the project can be accounted for separately from the main organisation activity and is of public benefit.
By 'public benefit' we mean fully accessible to the public and freely available.
By a 'project' we mean work or activity that will be in addition to the normal everyday work of the applicant organisation, which has specific aims and a schedule for completion.
We will not fund more than one project from the same organisation in a year.

We can fund capital costs for projects and a small amount of revenue costs:

· By 'capital' we mean equipment, materials, contractor costs

· 'Revenue' items include training, promotion, venue hire and transport costs
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· We cannot pay for staff costs


You are required to provide some match funds to the project, either as cash (this may be another grant) or in volunteer time. Volunteer time is valued at £50/day for unskilled labour, £150/day for skilled labour and £250/day for professional input. You will be asked to record all volunteer time.
'Gifts in kind' might be equipment, materials or services offered to your project for free, but with a cash value that you can evidence.
If you are relying on other cash 'match funds' you will need to provide evidence that this is secured before your project can start spending our grant
Our grant is paid 100% upfront. You will need to provide us with a full list of receipts and expenditure at the end of the project and to return any unspent grant.
You will also be required to complete a simple report at the end of your project together with evidence of expenditure (receipts)and of match funds (including volunteer time), and any images and/or publicity material. As the application form states, we may want to share any images and information about your project publicly and with our funders, so please make sure all required permissions are in place.
Please note all projects need to be completed by 1st March 2027

Safeguarding
If you or members of your group will be working with unsupervised children or vulnerable adults as part of your project, you should ensure that you undertake a risk assessment and check that you have considered the implications for child protection and safety.
You will need to develop a child protection policy and undertake enhanced Disclosure and Baring Service (DBS) checks for any staff or volunteers working unsupervised with children or vulnerable adults.
If you require any help in this area please contact us prior to sending in your application
Health and Safety
Please note that applicants receiving a grant from the Forest of Bowland Community Nature Fund must accept responsibility for the health and safety of their project, assessing risks to the public and participants, both during the project's development, delivery, and on its completion. Applicants should ensure that they have sufficient liability insurance to cover their project. Further, Lancashire County Council accepts no liability for the actions or omissions of any scheme to which it has provided funding under this Community Fund.



GRANT PROCESSES

Applications for grants will be open from 29th June until 3rd August 2026.

Applications will be dealt with on a first come first served basis.

Submitted applications will normally be acknowledged within 5 working days, and we will assess and make a decision about your application within about two weeks after receiving it.

Applicants may in some instances be asked to provide further information to allow a decision to be made. This may delay your application, so please contact us in advance of applying to check you have covered everything or you need some advice and guidance about your project.

Applicants will be informed as soon as possible about how much grant they have been offered. This will be followed up with a formal grant offer letter, which you will need to sign and return before starting the project.

​All grants will come with certain standard conditions. These will include:
· The grant will only be used to support the project specified in the application from.
· The offer of grant is accepted in writing within a certain period, and the project is completed and the grant claimed within a specified time.
· You will need to provide evidence that you have adequate insurance for your project and a safeguarding policy if required.
· The grant is offered and paid to you as a percentage of total project costs, so ALL project costs must be evidenced to us in your final report, including any volunteer time
· You must keep us informed of progress and any delays. You will be given an interim review date to clarify this, and at this point your grant may be reduced or withdrawn if we assess the project is unlikely to complete by the 1st March 2027.
· The Forest of Bowland National Landscape must be acknowledged in a manner to be agreed in all associated publicity, annual accounts, publications etc. as appropriate
· You will be asked to record project activity such as numbers of people involved, length of hedge planted or number of nest boxes installed.
If you have any further enquiries, please contact either Daniel.holden@lancashire.gov.uk or cathy.hopley@lancashire.gov.uk 07891 537835 or 01200 448000

Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner is encouraging local organisations to apply for grants of up to £5,000, with just two weeks remaining before the first round closes.
The funding, which utilises cash seized from criminals, is open to support projects that help prevent crime and make Lancashire safer, with a particular focus on diversionary activity over the summer holiday period, when anti-social behaviour typically increases.
Local organisations, charities, community groups, and Parish and Town Councils can all apply for grants to deliver initiatives that support safer communities.
Priority will be given to projects focused on youth diversion and preventing violence against women and girls (VAWG).

Clive Grunshaw, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, said:

“I’m pleased to be investing money taken from criminals back into the communities they’ve harmed, funding projects that actively support safer streets.
“With the summer holidays approaching, this is a vital opportunity to support diversionary activities that give young people positive opportunities and help prevent anti-social behaviour before it starts.
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“Prevention is at the heart of my Police and Crime Plan, and this funding empowers communities to take action on the issues that matter most to them. Working together, we can create a safer Lancashire for everyone.”

Funding is open on a rolling basis and will also be delivered in partnership with Community Safety Partnerships and local MPs.

The scheme builds on the success of last year’s Community Fund, which reinvested £1.12 million of money seized from criminals into Lancashire, supporting projects that engaged more than 66,000 people across the county.

Applications for the first round of funding, which will support projects over the summer period, close on 17 June.

Organisations can find out more and apply via the Commissioner’s website at https://www.lancashire-pcc.gov.uk/grant-funding/

Burnley Borough Council has opened applications for the Community Pride Small Grants Programme 2026/27.

The programme will support voluntary, community and faith organisations to deliver projects that strengthen community engagement, build resilience and independence, improve local neighbourhoods and increase community pride across Burnley.
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Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are available for projects that will be delivered by 31 March 2027.

We welcome applications from constituted community groups, charities, faith organisations, resident groups and not-for-profit Community Interest Companies that are based in, or deliver activities within, Burnley Borough.
Projects could include:
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• Community events and activities
• Environmental improvement projects
• Youth and intergenerational initiatives
• Volunteering programmes
• Community wellbeing activities
• Skills-sharing and learning opportunities
• Activities that bring residents/generations together and strengthen local communities
The application process has been designed to be simple and accessible, particularly for grassroots organisations.
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The deadline for applications is to Clare Jackson - Head of Policy and Engagement by:
Friday 19 June 2026 at 5.00pm

Application forms, guidance notes and supporting information can be found at Community Pride Small Grants Programme 2026/27 now open - burnley.gov.uk
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If you have any questions or would like support completing an application, please contact Naveed Ahmad (nahmad@burnley.gov.uk) or Clare Jackson (cjackson@burnley.gov.uk).

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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