Deadline: 22-Sep-2025
The Community Grants fund supports voluntary and community groups delivering activities that reduce social or economic inequality for city residents with the greatest need.
Your activity must seek to achieve one or more of the following outcomes: improved social or economic equality, improved general health and wellbeing, an improved sense of belonging where diversity is valued, and a stronger voluntary sector in the city. You will be asked how you intend to meet this outcome(s) by selecting one of the following: helping people be more active, improving access to arts and culture, bringing communities together, reducing poverty, or providing employment and skills support.
To be eligible, groups must be independently set up for charitable, benevolent, or philanthropic purposes and not make private, commercial, or personal profit or gain. They must not be statutory organisations or politically aligned, and must have an appropriate legal structure with a governing document. At least three unrelated elected volunteers must oversee management, and organisations must comply with all legal responsibilities, hold adequate insurance, and demonstrate good employment practices where relevant. Applicants must also maintain proper financial records, operate a dual-controlled bank account, and have a reserves policy updated annually.
Applications must demonstrate financial need and relevance to beneficiaries, supported by required documents including recent bank statements, accounts, budgets, governing documents, insurance certificates, risk assessments, and policies covering complaints, data protection, environmental impact, equality and diversity, health and safety, safeguarding, and reserves.
The fund does not support individuals, for-profit organisations, statutory bodies, political or religious activities, activities that have already occurred, or those falling under the responsibility of other authorities such as education, health, or homelessness services. It also excludes costs not integral to the funded activity, fundraising initiatives, competitive or commercial activities, and projects outside Cambridge unless no suitable local alternative exists.
Groups based outside the UK, uniformed groups, and those failing to comply with monitoring requirements of previous grants are also ineligible. The funding aims to ensure resources are directed to activities that have a measurable community impact, meet genuine needs, and contribute to reducing inequality in the city.
For more information, visit Cambridge City Council.