Call for Applications: Community Action Fund (United Kingdom)

The Community Action Fund provides core funding to UK not-for-profit organisations addressing local community needs, reducing social isolation, improving access to support, and creating opportunities for people to build knowledge and confidence. Eligible organisations in designated geographical focus areas can receive £20,000 per year for up to three years to help sustain their community services.

What Is the Community Action Fund?

The Community Action Fund provides core funding to not-for-profit organisations working to address challenges faced by local communities across selected areas of the UK.

The fund supports organisations that understand local needs and provide practical services that create positive and sustainable community impact.

Funding can help organisations continue their core work rather than supporting only a single short-term project.

Objectives of the Community Action Fund

The programme focuses on strengthening communities by supporting organisations that:

• Address direct local needs
• Provide food and practical support
• Reduce loneliness and social isolation
• Help people access community services
• Expand people’s social networks
• Build knowledge and confidence
• Create new opportunities for local residents
• Strengthen community resilience

The fund also gives particular attention to organisations operating in the North East of England, helping address historical gaps in funding opportunities in the region.

Funding Amount

Eligible organisations can receive:

£20,000 per year

Funding can continue for:

Up to three years

This means an organisation could potentially receive up to £60,000 over three years, subject to the fund’s conditions and continued eligibility.

The funding is provided as core funding, allowing organisations to use it to support their ongoing organisational and service-delivery needs.

What Does Core Funding Mean?

Core funding helps an organisation maintain the infrastructure and resources needed to continue its work.

It can help organisations manage financial requirements and sustain their community services rather than being restricted to one specific activity.

This is particularly useful for organisations providing ongoing support to local residents.

Who Is Eligible?

The Community Action Fund is intended for not-for-profit community organisations based in designated geographical focus areas.

Applicants must:

• Be a not-for-profit organisation
• Be based in an eligible geographical area
• Deliver a significant proportion of services in that area
• Have been delivering services for more than one year
• Have at least one set of annual accounts
• Have annual income between £25,000 and £1 million
• Have free reserves of less than six months’ running costs
• Have at least three unrelated trustees or directors
• Have an appropriate safeguarding policy
• Operate as an independent organisation

Geographical Eligibility

Geographical eligibility is a key requirement of the Community Action Fund.

Eligible locations are identified for each individual funding round.

These areas are generally:

• Located near Greggs outlets
• Areas experiencing social deprivation
• Specific communities identified by the fund

Organisations must be based in one of the locations listed for the relevant funding round and must provide a significant proportion of their services there.

Being located elsewhere in the UK does not automatically make an organisation eligible.

Priority Areas

The fund gives priority to organisations helping people:

• Access community services
• Build wider social networks
• Reduce isolation
• Develop knowledge
• Increase confidence
• Access new opportunities
• Overcome local challenges

Organisations working in the North East of England may also receive particular consideration because of the fund’s aim to address historical funding gaps in the region.

What Activities Can the Fund Support?

The Community Action Fund can support organisations delivering services such as:

• Food and practical support
• Community support services
• Social connection activities
• Services for isolated people
• Community networks
• Confidence-building programmes
• Information and support services
• Local opportunity programmes

The strongest applications are likely to demonstrate a clear understanding of the community they serve and explain how their ongoing work creates positive local impact.

How to Apply

Eligible organisations should prepare their application around their existing community work and local needs.

Step 1: Check Geographical Eligibility

First confirm that the organisation is:

• Based in an identified funding location
• Delivering significant services within that location

Step 2: Check Organisational Eligibility

Confirm that the organisation meets requirements relating to:

• Not-for-profit status
• Annual income
• Operating history
• Annual accounts
• Free reserves
• Trustees or directors
• Safeguarding
• Independence

Step 3: Explain the Local Need

Clearly describe:

• The community challenges being addressed
• Who is affected
• Why the organisation’s services are needed
• Evidence of local demand

Step 4: Explain the Organisation’s Impact

Show how existing services:

• Support local people
• Reduce isolation
• Improve access to services
• Build confidence and knowledge
• Create opportunities
• Strengthen community connections

Step 5: Demonstrate Organisational Sustainability

Explain how core funding will help the organisation:

• Continue delivering services
• Maintain organisational capacity
• Respond to local needs
• Strengthen financial sustainability

Important Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should pay particular attention to the following requirements:

• Annual income must be between £25,000 and £1 million
• The organisation must have at least one set of annual accounts
• Services must have been delivered for more than one year
• Free reserves must be below six months of running costs
• The board must have at least three unrelated trustees or directors
• A safeguarding policy must be in place
• The organisation must be independent
• The organisation must be based in and serve an eligible geographical area

Common Reasons an Organisation May Be Ineligible

Organisations may not qualify if they:

• Are based outside the designated funding area
• Do not deliver significant services in the eligible area
• Are for-profit organisations
• Have not been operating for more than one year
• Do not have annual accounts
• Have income below £25,000 or above £1 million
• Have excessive free reserves
• Do not have an appropriate safeguarding policy
• Do not operate independently

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants should:

• Focus on specific local community needs
• Provide clear evidence of demand
• Explain the people and communities they support
• Demonstrate measurable community impact
• Show how services reduce isolation and increase opportunities
• Explain why core funding is important to organisational sustainability
• Clearly demonstrate eligibility for the specific geographical funding round

Why This Fund Matters

The Community Action Fund is particularly valuable because it provides core funding rather than only project-specific funding.

This gives eligible community organisations greater flexibility to maintain essential services and respond to changing local needs.

The programme can help organisations continue supporting people experiencing isolation, financial hardship, limited access to services, or other community challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Community Action Fund?

The Community Action Fund provides core funding to UK not-for-profit community organisations addressing local needs, reducing isolation, widening networks, and creating opportunities for residents.

How much funding can an organisation receive?

Eligible organisations can receive £20,000 per year for up to three years, subject to the fund’s conditions.

Is the funding project funding or core funding?

The Community Action Fund provides core funding, helping organisations manage their ongoing financial and service-delivery needs.

What organisations can apply?

Not-for-profit community organisations based in and delivering services within the geographical focus areas identified for the relevant funding round can apply, provided they meet all other eligibility requirements.

What income range is required?

Applicants must have annual income between £25,000 and £1 million according to their latest accounts.

How long must an organisation have been operating?

Applicants must have been delivering services for more than one year and must have at least one set of annual accounts.

Does geographical location matter?

Yes. Geographical eligibility is essential. Organisations must be based in one of the specific locations identified for the relevant funding round and must deliver a significant proportion of their services there.

Conclusion

The Community Action Fund provides important core funding for not-for-profit organisations working directly with local communities across designated areas of the UK. With grants of £20,000 per year for up to three years, the programme can help organisations maintain essential services, reduce social isolation, strengthen community networks, and create opportunities for people to build confidence and skills. Organisations should carefully check the geographical and organisational eligibility requirements and clearly demonstrate the local need and community impact of their ongoing work.