Call for Applications: Warwick and Dominey Fund in United Kingdom

The Warwick and Dominey Fund supports community-focused organisations across Cambridgeshire with grants averaging £4,000 and a specialised decarbonisation fund offering up to £15,000. It aims to reduce inequality, strengthen education, improve wellbeing and help local groups adopt environmentally sustainable practices.

Overview

The Warwick and Dominey Fund provides reliable, twice-yearly grants to help not-for-profit organisations deliver projects that strengthen learning, reduce social inequality, and enhance community wellbeing. With a dedicated strand for environmental improvements, the fund also encourages organisations to adopt sustainable solutions such as solar panels and heat pumps.

Why It Matters

Many community groups lack stable funding to expand services or invest in long-term improvements. This fund bridges that gap by supporting:

• Educational opportunities

• Social inclusion and equality

• Environmental sustainability

• Community resilience and wellbeing
  Through targeted financial support, the fund enables organisations to address local needs while contributing to broader regional development.

Funding Available

Standard Grants

• Typical amount: Around £4,000

• Rounds: Two funding cycles per year

• Purpose: Community education, wellbeing, poverty reduction, support for vulnerable or disadvantaged residents

Decarbonisation Grants

• Maximum amount: Up to £15,000

• Focus: Projects that reduce carbon emissions or improve environmental performance

• Examples:

  • Solar panel installation

  • Heat pumps

  • Energy-efficiency upgrades

  • Community climate action initiatives

Who Is Eligible?

Eligibility focuses on community-led, not-for-profit organisations serving Cambridgeshire. Applicants with annual incomes above £5,000 must be legally registered.

Eligible Organisations

• Registered, exempt, and excepted charities

• Charitable incorporated organisations

• Religious organisations (non-religious projects benefiting the wider community)

• Parish and town councils

• Village halls and parochial church councils

• Community interest companies

• Social enterprises

• Companies limited by guarantee (operating for at least one year)

• Co-operatives and community benefit societies

• Schools

• Community sports clubs with suitable status or income levels

Key Requirements

• Must be not-for-profit

• Must serve Cambridgeshire communities

• Must demonstrate capacity to deliver meaningful outcomes

• Projects must show clear community benefit (education, wellbeing, equality, environment)

What Types of Projects Are Supported?

• Programmes improving access to education or training

• Initiatives supporting disadvantaged groups or reducing inequality

• Activities promoting mental health, social cohesion, or community wellbeing

• Practical pathways to decarbonisation, including renewable energy installation

• Community facility upgrades that improve accessibility or environmental performance

How to Apply

While application windows and forms depend on the fund’s administering body, the general process follows these steps:

1. Confirm Eligibility

Ensure your organisation meets not-for-profit criteria and serves communities in Cambridgeshire.

2. Identify the Grant Stream

Choose between:

• Standard Community Grant

• Decarbonisation Grant

3. Prepare Your Proposal

Include:

• Project summary

• Community need and expected impact

• Budget breakdown and funding request

• Evidence of organisational governance (registration if applicable)

• Timeline and delivery plan

4. Submit Application During a Funding Round

The fund runs two rounds per year, so timely submission is essential.

5. Await Assessment and Decision

Applications are reviewed for community benefit, feasibility, inclusivity, and long-term impact.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying with a project that benefits only a small, closed group

• Including religious content in a faith-based organisation’s project

• Submitting without required documents (e.g., governing document, financials)

• Requesting funding for activities outside Cambridgeshire

• Applying before the organisation has operated for at least one year (for certain legal structures)

FAQ

1. Can newly formed organisations apply?
Only if they have been operating for at least one year (applies to companies limited by guarantee, CICs, and similar structures).

2. Do religious organisations qualify?
Yes, as long as the project benefits the wider community and does not include religious instruction or worship.

3. Can schools apply for both education and decarbonisation projects?
Yes, provided the project serves the broader community or meets eligibility criteria.

4. What type of project has the best chance of being funded?
Projects with clear community benefit, measurable outcomes, and strong governance structures.

5. Can one organisation apply twice a year?
Applicants should refer to fund-specific rules, but most community grant rounds allow only one successful application per cycle.

6. Are ongoing running costs funded?
Typically, grants favour project-based costs rather than core operational expenses.

7. Is match funding required?
Not always, but demonstrating additional support can strengthen an application.

Conclusion

The Warwick and Dominey Fund plays a vital role in supporting organisations that improve education, reduce inequality, and strengthen community wellbeing across Cambridgeshire. With the added opportunity to secure decarbonisation grants, groups can simultaneously care for people and the planet. By backing practical, community-centred initiatives, the fund ensures long-lasting, positive impact across the region.