Deadline: 25-Sep-2026
The Community Grants Programme provides funding to help community groups, sports clubs, charities, social enterprises, school fundraising groups, and faith-based groups deliver projects that benefit local communities. The programme supports facility improvements, eco-friendly projects, equipment purchases, running costs, community events, health and wellbeing initiatives, and start-up costs. Grant amounts range from up to £500 to up to £5,000, depending on the grant type and match funding requirement.
Overview
The Community Grants Programme supports local organisations that want to improve facilities, deliver activities, and strengthen community life.
The programme is designed to help eligible groups respond to local needs through practical projects, events, services, equipment, and community development activities.
It offers five different grant types so that organisations can apply for the funding stream that best matches their project.
Key Focus Areas
The programme supports a wide range of community-focused activities.
Key focus areas include:
- Eco-friendly projects
- Building works
- Equipment purchases
- Start-up costs
- Running costs
- Community events
- Health and wellbeing initiatives
- Facility improvements
- Community development activities
- Sports and recreation projects
- Local services and group activities
- Projects responding to climate change or cost of living pressures
Purpose of the Programme
The purpose of the Community Grants Programme is to support organisations that create positive benefits for local people.
The funding helps community groups and voluntary organisations improve the spaces, equipment, activities, and services they provide.
It also encourages projects that strengthen community participation, improve wellbeing, support local development, and respond to current challenges such as climate change and the cost of living.
Grant Types Available
The programme offers five grant types.
Each grant type supports a different kind of project or cost.
1. Capital Green Grants
Capital Green grants support environmentally friendly projects.
This grant type is suitable for organisations planning eco-friendly improvements or climate-conscious community projects.
Key details:
- Funding available: up to £5,000
- Match funding required: 20 percent
- Suitable for: green projects, environmental improvements, energy-saving works, and eco-friendly facility upgrades
2. Large Capital Grants
Large Capital grants support building work or equipment purchases.
This grant type is suitable for organisations that need funding for larger physical improvements or major equipment.
Key details:
- Funding available: up to £5,000
- Match funding required: 50 percent
- Suitable for: building works, facility upgrades, larger equipment purchases, and capital improvements
3. Small Capital Grants
Small Capital grants support smaller equipment purchases or start-up costs.
This grant type is useful for new or smaller organisations that need basic resources to begin or improve their work.
Key details:
- Funding available: up to £500
- Match funding required: no
- Suitable for: equipment purchases, start-up costs, and small capital needs
4. Revenue Grants
Revenue grants support running costs and community events.
This grant type is suitable for organisations that need help with regular activity costs or one-off community events.
Key details:
- Funding available: up to £500
- Match funding required: no
- Suitable for: running costs, community events, activity costs, and local group expenses
5. Everyone Active Grants
Everyone Active grants support health and wellbeing projects.
This grant type is suitable for projects that help people become healthier, more active, or more connected.
Key details:
- Funding available: up to £500
- Match funding required: no
- Suitable for: health projects, wellbeing activities, sports participation, physical activity, and community wellbeing initiatives
Match Funding Requirements
Some grant types require applicants to contribute part of the project cost.
Match funding rules include:
- Capital Green grants require 20 percent match funding.
- Large Capital grants require 50 percent match funding.
- Small Capital grants do not require match funding.
- Revenue grants do not require match funding.
- Everyone Active grants do not require match funding.
Applicants should clearly show any required match funding in their project budget.
Who is Eligible?
Applications are open to a range of community and voluntary organisations.
Eligible applicants may include:
- Constituted community groups
- Youth groups
- Sports clubs
- Registered charities
- Social enterprises
- Community Interest Companies
- School fundraising groups
- Church groups
- Faith groups
Some restrictions may apply depending on the organisation type and the nature of the project.
Application Limits
Organisations may apply for one grant at a time.
Funding is generally limited to one successful application every two years.
However, projects addressing special priorities may be considered more frequently.
Special priorities may include:
- Climate change
- Cost of living pressures
- Urgent community needs
- Projects with strong local benefit
What the Funding Can Support
The programme can support different types of community project costs.
Eligible project costs may include:
- Building improvements
- Equipment purchases
- Start-up costs
- Running costs
- Community events
- Sports activities
- Health and wellbeing projects
- Facility improvements
- Eco-friendly upgrades
- Community development activities
Projects should clearly show how they will benefit local people.
Required Supporting Documents
Applicants must provide key documents with their application.
Required documents include:
- Organisation constitution or governing rules
- Equality policy
- Recent bank statements for all accounts
- Most recent financial accounts
Depending on the project, additional documents may also be required.
These may include:
- Safeguarding policy
- Quotations for larger purchases
- Quotations for building works
- Permissions for building projects
- Evidence of match funding
- Project plans or activity details
Why It Matters
The Community Grants Programme matters because small grants can make a major difference to local organisations.
Community groups, charities, sports clubs, and social enterprises often need practical funding to improve facilities, purchase equipment, run activities, and respond to local challenges.
By offering several grant types, the programme helps different organisations access support based on their specific needs, whether they are planning a small event, buying equipment, improving a building, or delivering a wellbeing project.
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Application
Applicants should prepare a clear application that explains the project, community need, budget, expected benefits, and supporting documents.
Step 1: Choose the Right Grant Type
Applicants should select the grant type that best matches their project.
For example:
- Choose Capital Green for eco-friendly projects.
- Choose Large Capital for building work or larger equipment.
- Choose Small Capital for smaller equipment or start-up costs.
- Choose Revenue for running costs or events.
- Choose Everyone Active for health and wellbeing projects.
Step 2: Define the Community Need
The application should explain why the project is needed.
This may include:
- Lack of suitable facilities
- Need for new equipment
- Rising running costs
- Need for community events
- Health and wellbeing challenges
- Barriers to participation
- Environmental concerns
- Cost of living pressures
Step 3: Describe the Project Clearly
Applicants should explain what they plan to do.
The project description should include:
- What activity or improvement will take place
- Who will benefit
- Where the project will happen
- When it will take place
- Who will deliver it
- How the project supports the local community
Step 4: Prepare a Realistic Budget
Applicants should provide a clear budget showing how the grant will be used.
The budget should include:
- Total project cost
- Grant amount requested
- Match funding, if required
- Quotes for larger purchases or works
- Other funding sources, if applicable
Step 5: Gather Supporting Documents
Applicants should prepare all required documents before submitting.
This includes governing documents, financial records, bank statements, policies, quotes, and permissions where needed.
Step 6: Show Community Benefit
A strong application should clearly explain the expected benefits.
Benefits may include:
- Better community facilities
- Increased participation
- Improved wellbeing
- More inclusive activities
- Better access to sports or recreation
- Stronger community connections
- Environmental improvements
- Support for people affected by the cost of living
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid incomplete or unclear applications.
Common mistakes include:
- Applying for the wrong grant type
- Not providing required supporting documents
- Forgetting match funding requirements
- Submitting unclear budgets
- Not including quotations where required
- Failing to explain community benefit
- Applying for more than one grant at a time
- Applying too soon after a previous successful grant
- Not providing safeguarding documents where needed
- Starting building works without required permissions
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should be simple, complete, and clearly linked to community benefit.
Useful tips include:
- Choose the most suitable grant type.
- Explain the local need clearly.
- Keep the project realistic for the funding amount.
- Provide accurate costs and quotations.
- Include all required documents.
- Show how the project benefits local people.
- Explain how the organisation is well placed to deliver the project.
- Highlight links to climate change or cost of living priorities where relevant.
- Make sure policies and financial documents are up to date.
- Check match funding requirements before submission.
FAQ
1. What is the Community Grants Programme?
The Community Grants Programme provides funding to support community groups, sports clubs, charities, and other eligible organisations with projects that benefit local communities.
2. How much funding is available?
Funding ranges from up to £500 to up to £5,000, depending on the grant type.
3. What are the five grant types?
The five grant types are Capital Green grants, Large Capital grants, Small Capital grants, Revenue grants, and Everyone Active grants.
4. Is match funding required?
Match funding is required for Capital Green grants and Large Capital grants. Capital Green requires 20 percent match funding, while Large Capital requires 50 percent match funding. Small Capital, Revenue, and Everyone Active grants do not require match funding.
5. Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include constituted community groups, youth groups, sports clubs, registered charities, social enterprises, Community Interest Companies, school fundraising groups, and church or faith groups, subject to restrictions.
6. What documents are required?
Applicants must provide their constitution or governing rules, equality policy, recent bank statements for all accounts, and most recent financial accounts. Additional documents may be required depending on the project.
7. How often can organisations apply?
Organisations may apply for one grant at a time. Funding is generally limited to one successful application every two years, although projects addressing priorities such as climate change or the cost of living may be considered more frequently.
Conclusion
The Community Grants Programme provides flexible support for local organisations working to improve facilities, deliver activities, and strengthen community life.
With five grant types available, the programme can support eco-friendly projects, building works, equipment, running costs, community events, and health and wellbeing initiatives. Strong applications should select the right grant type, explain the community need, provide a clear budget, include all required documents, and show how the project will create meaningful local benefit.
For more information, visit Blaby District Council.