Sources of possible grant funding
These are the latest grant availability bulletins received by Lydford Parish Council. There are a couple below which close within the next few weeks, so please pay attention to the deadlines.
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West Devon Borough Council announced the launch of 2 new community grant schemes. These grants will ensure valuable local groups and their facilities continue to flourish and thrive.
The Community Halls Capital Grant Fund Scheme is perfect for projects involving one-off costs, permanent items, refurbishments, or structural improvements. Whether your community hall needs a new roof, a kitchen update, new chairs, or other smaller equipment, this fund can support you. Apply for grants from £500 up to a £25,000.
www.westdevon.gov.uk/community-halls-grant
The Community Arts and Activities Fund is ideal to help support existing arts or activities or established groups wanting to start new initiatives. Grants are available from £500 up to £3,000.
www.westdevon.gov.uk/arts-activities-fund
Devon County Council: Locality Budgets 2025/26
Devon County Council’s Locality Budgets 2025/26 will soon be opening for applications for funding to support projects that benefit local communities in Devon. Each County Councillor in Devon has a Locality Budget allocation of £8,000 that they can use in this financial year (until March 2026).
Devon County Council Members can use their Locality Budget to support good causes in the area that they represent such as projects to address loneliness, increase access to healthy activities, help people experiencing food poverty or enhance public spaces.
Applications are accepted from constituted and not-for-private-profit voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector groups and organisations, town and parish councils, charities or businesses (that have an eligible sponsor), or a combination of such groups working together. Refer to the website for more details about who can apply and exclusions.
All projects should include some other financial contribution(s) and/or local support.
If you are interested in applying for a contribution from the Locality Budgets please approach your County Councillor in the first instance. You can find contact details for your County Councillor here: Your Councillors – Democracy in Devon
Focus of fund/fund aims:
Devon County Council Locality Budgets can be used to support community projects in Devon
Application deadline:
If you receive a grant, you must spend the money before 31 March 2026
Fund description:
https://www.devon.gov.uk/democracy/councillors-info/locality-budgets/
Bupa Foundation: Green Community Grants
Bupa Foundation’s Green Community Grants programme is set to re-open on 1 June 2025. The programme supports practical projects that help both people and planet health. The aim is to make a positive difference to local communities. The grants scheme is administered by Groundwork UK.
Details of this year’s round have not yet been published but the scheme has previously supported projects that improve or create new green spaces (particularly in cities), benefit and involve the local community and are located in disadvantaged areas.
It is expected that grants of up to £2,000 will be available for schools, registered charities, not-for-profit organisations, local authorities and social housing providers. Refer to the Groundwork UK website for more information when the programme opens on 1 June 2025.
Focus of fund/fund aims:
Small grants for projects to improve green spaces
Application deadline:
30 June 2025
Fund description:
Naturesave Trust: Nature Connection
Naturesave Trust is inviting applications for its Summer 2025 funding round. The theme this time is ‘Nature Connection’ and so the trust is looking for applications from charities, community groups and organisations that are working to connect communities to nature through:
- arts and cultural activities
- community gardening
- green gyms
- eco anxiety and mental health
- training a community with green skills
- conservation volunteering
- urban nature programmes
- social prescribing
- access to nature
- community wildlife surveys
- nature mindfulness
Charities, social enterprises and grassroots community organisations can apply for a grant of up to £5,000. Your organisation and/or project must have a website. The Trust favours smaller groups where the grant can make the most difference. Funding is not available for schools, individuals or government-funded organisations.
Focus of fund/fund aims:
The Naturesave Trust issues three funding calls each year, with a specific environmental focus each time: the Summer 2025 theme is nature connection.
Application deadline:
10 July 2025
Fund description:
https://naturesave.co.uk/naturesave-trust/trust-application-form/
Co-op Foundation: Future Communities Fund
Not-for-profit organisations can apply for an unrestricted grant for their work to help young people with experience of the youth justice system to re-build their lives and settle back into their communities in the UK.
The funding comes from the Co-op Foundation’s ‘Future Communities Fund’ which has a budget of £1.75 million for this round. Grants of up to £30,000 per year for five years (a maximum value of £150,000 over the five years) are available. It is anticipated that around 10 organisations will receive a grant.
If your not-for-profit organisation has an annual income of £250,000 or less and mainly focuses on supporting justice-experienced young people to re-engage with their community, you can apply for an unrestricted grant from the Future Communities Fund. The funding is for organisations that work exclusively in the UK.
Focus of fund/fund aims:
Unrestricted grants for not-for-profit organisations that provide support for justice-experienced young people aged 10-25 years old in the UK
Application deadline:
16 June 2025
Fund description:
https://www.coopfoundation.org.uk/how-we-fund/future-communities-fund/
