Rosa’s Annual Voices from the Frontline Reopens for UK Applications

Now in its ninth year, this fund is offering between 35 and 40 grants of up to £10,000 to women's and girls' organisations to support campaigning and influencing work that enables women and girls in the UK to use their voices to achieve change. The campaigns could be targeted at local communities, the general public, local or national government, media, service providers or businesses.

To be eligible, organisations need to:

• Have identified the issue they want to campaign on.

• Have an understanding of their intended audience.

• Be ready to start, or have started, their campaign.

• Secure resources to support their campaigning and influencing work.

The work funded should strengthen the organisation's skills and experience in campaigning, activism and/or advocacy and influence power holders in the UK.

Applications will be accepted from not-for-profit women's and girls' organisations in the UK that have been active for at least one year and can produce annual accounts for an entire year.

Rosa is committed to funding organisations across the UK as well as to funding a mixture of national and local campaigns.

Priority will be given to the following organisations, not listed in priority order, that are:

• Operating in the top 20% of the most disadvantaged areas in the UK based on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD).

• Based in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

• Led by and for Black and minoritised women and girls.

• Led by and for disabled women.

• Led by and for LGBTQ+ women and girls.

There is special interest in funding organisations which are led by and for the women they work with.

Applicants will be notified of decisions in March 2027 and will have up to 18 months to spend their grant.

Rosa will be hosting a 'How to Apply' webinar on 20 October (10:00 to 11:00) and 05 November (14:00 to 15:00). Registration is required and can be done on Rosa's website.

The deadline for applications is 16 November 2026. For more information, please visit Voices from the Frontline - Rosa

LGBT+ Get Active Grants Open for UK Grassroots Groups

The LGBT+ Get Active Fund has opened for applications from community-based LGBT+ sports and physical activity organisations and projects across the UK.

The Fund is a collaboration between the LGBT+ Fund and the London Marathon Foundation. It is managed with the support of a steering group with experience in LGBT+ sports and physical activity communities.

A total of £400,000 is available. In 2026, grants range from £5,000 to £25,000 per year for projects running for one or two years. Applicants can seek £5,000 to £25,000 for a one-year project, or £10,000 to £50,000 in total for two-year work.

Support is intended to increase resources for groups that are under-recognised by funding initiatives and to improve access to physical activity for LGBT+ communities. Physical activity is defined as activity that intentionally and explicitly supports increased movement and wellbeing, with examples including hiking, skateboarding, football, ballroom and vogue, gardening, frisbee, dance and circus skills.

Applicants must be UK-based, LGBT+ led non-profit groups or organisations led by and for LGBT+ people. They must regularly deliver sports or physical activities, with delivery in the past three years considered recent, and they must have been running for at least six months.

Priority will be given to grassroots organisations supporting underserved intersectional LGBT+ communities, including D/deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent LGBT+ people, LGBT+ women, LGBT+ people of faith, LGBT+ people of the global majority, older LGBT+ people and trans, non-binary and/or intersex people. Additional priority includes those operating in historically underfunded areas, in rural or remote locations, or where LGBT+ provision is limited.

Eligible costs include project delivery, training for participants, accessibility measures, core costs, collaborative work and coaching qualifications.

The deadline for applications is 4 November 2026. For more information, please visit Get Active Fund - LGBT+ Fund

Northern Ireland's Fibrus Community Fund Opens for Applications

Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is accepting applications to the Fibrus Community Fund.

The fund supports grassroots organisations seeking to address digital poverty by helping people who are vulnerable or digitally excluded to access digital technology, improve digital skills and stay connected. It has a particular focus on older people, people on low income and people with disabilities.

Grants of up to £1,500 are available. Awards can support projects and activities that improve access to devices and connectivity, or develop digital confidence. Examples of eligible costs include providing access to a range of digital devices such as laptops, tablets, iPads and smartphones through a community loan facility; delivering training workshops or courses that build the capacity of individuals to use digital services; and establishing community-use internet hubs and internet cafes to enhance social connection.

The fund will have one round of funding in 2026.

Applications are open to constituted community and voluntary organisations with an annual income below £50,000. Organisations must also be based within an eligible postcode area, with a full list of eligible postcodes available on the Community Foundation Northern Ireland website.

The deadline for applications is 16 October 2026. For more information please visit The Fibrus Community Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

£1.25 Million Available for Northern Ireland Cancer Services

Cancer charities across Northern Ireland can apply for grants to provide support for people affected by cancer and their families. The funding is provided by the Department of Health and Macmillan Cancer Support.

A total of £1.25 million is available for 2026/27, with two categories of grants offered:

• Small grants: Up to £40,000.

• Large grants: Between £40,001 and £150,000.

Funding can support a range of activities, including mental health support, rehabilitation and prehabilitation, practical assistance and services that help people maintain daily activities and social inclusion. Practical support can include transport to appointments and assistance during difficult appointments.

Applications can also cover information and advice about available services, screening, and health and social care processes. Education activities may focus on cancer symptoms, causes, lifestyle, screening and pre- or post-treatment support.

Projects that improve access to support for minority groups or people living in areas of deprivation are also eligible.

Applicants must be UK registered charities or not-for-profit organisations operating in Northern Ireland with a clear cancer-related purpose. The grant awarded cannot exceed 25% of the organisation's previous year's gross annual income or its expenditure on activities in Northern Ireland.

Eligible costs include salaries and employer costs for qualified practitioners or therapists, materials used in service delivery, professional supervision, development and training. Marketing, promotional, educational and awareness activities can also be supported.

The deadline for applications is 20 November 2026. For more information please visit Cancer Charities Grant Scheme 2026/27 | Department of Health

WCIT Charity Accepting Applications for Fourth 2026 Funding Round

The WCIT Charity is offering grants of up to £15,000 for registered charities with an annual income and unrestricted reserves of less than £1million across the UK to deliver innovative projects that use technology to support one or more of the following priorities:

• Education.

• Inclusion.

• Technology for charities.

• Public understanding of technology.

Funding is for the development, testing, or implementation of innovative technology-based solutions, rather than the purchase of standard operational tools or business-as-usual activities. Eligible projects include:

• An AI-powered tool to support people with disabilities.

• A Digital platform designed to improve educational outcomes.

• A charity pilot using data analytics to improve service delivery.

• Technology that improves digital accessibility and inclusion.

• A project that helps charities test innovative technologies.

Preference will be given to innovative projects involving areas such as AI, data and analytics, robotics, digital skills, and accessibility technologies, and projects that have the potential for lasting impact, wider adoption, and demonstrate value for money and social impact.

The deadline for applications is 3 November 2026 or when 50 applications are received. For more information, please visit Home - WCIT Charity

UK-wide Fund Opens to Support Disabled People into Work

The Department for Work and Pensions has opened the first round of the Pathways to Work Innovation Fund, offering grants for new approaches to help disabled people and those with long-term health conditions move towards, enter, stay and progress in work.

The initiative is part of Pathways to Work, a government programme bringing together personalised employment, health and skills support. It aims to develop evidence about what works and for whom, with projects expected to produce learning that could inform future services.

Up to £60 million is available over two years. The first round provides up to £10 million. A further £50 million is expected to be available through a second round in early 2027. There is no minimum or maximum grant amount, although projects must be delivered within 12 months. Support is available until the end of March 2028.

UK-based organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors can apply. Eligible applicants include charities, voluntary organisations, social enterprises, Community Interest Companies, businesses, academic and research bodies, local authorities and mayoral strategic authorities. Partnerships and consortia can also submit applications.

Individuals may participate in a partnership but cannot apply independently. One organisation must act as lead applicant for a partnership and manage any grant awarded.

Funding can be used to develop, test, deliver, monitor and evaluate innovative proposals. Eligible activity includes developing technology, equipment or artificial intelligence solutions, testing interventions, piloting products and services and carrying out user research or co-design.

Other eligible costs include staff, volunteer and participant expenses directly related to delivery, specialist support, partnership activity and monitoring and evaluation. Projects may also develop employer support, improve coordination across employment, health and skills services or apply an existing approach in a substantially different context or with a new target group.

The Round 1 deadline for applications is 26 October 2026. For more information, please visit Pathways to Work Innovation Fund - GOV.UK

Blooming Genius Grants Support Neurodivergent Children Across the UK

Genius Within C.I.C. has established Blooming Genius as part of its social-impact work supporting neurodivergent children and young people. The initiative aims to support grassroots organisations and communities working to improve access to information and support around neurodiversity.

Grants are available to UK grassroots organisations delivering activities for neurodivergent children under 18 and their families. The funding aims to help neurodivergent young people thrive in life and education, with a particular focus on communities that may have limited access to information and support around neurodiversity.

There is no fixed maximum award. Previous grants have ranged from a few hundred pounds to around £2,000.

Funding can support a broad range of activities that benefit neurodivergent children and their families. Examples of previously supported initiatives include music sessions, an anti-bullying book and an inclusive boxing club. Grants have also paid for communication aids for non-speaking autistic children.

Applications are accepted twice each year, with awards made in June and December. Applications are capped at 200 per application window. Once that limit is reached, further applications will not be processed.

The next deadline for applications is 24 October 2026. For more information, please visit Blooming Genius - Genius Within C.I.C.

£500,000 Support While Waiting Grant Scheme opens for Northern Ireland Charities

Registered charities in Northern Ireland can apply for grants to support people waiting for Health and Social Care (HSC) inpatient, daycase or outpatient treatment. The Support While Waiting Grant Scheme is provided by the Department of Health.

The scheme aims to help individuals maintain or improve their physical, mental and social wellbeing while waiting for treatment. Supported activities may include practical assistance, mental health support and help with managing their own health.

A total of £500,000 is available, with grants ranging from £5,000 to £30,000.

Eligible applicants must be registered charities operating in Northern Ireland and have relevant experience delivering health, wellbeing or social support services.

Projects must directly support people currently on HSC waiting lists and provide free, accessible and person-centred support. They should complement existing HSC services, reduce barriers to participation and take account of participants' diverse needs. Projects must also have appropriate safeguarding arrangements and contribute to reducing health inequalities.

Funding can cover costs directly linked to project delivery, including volunteer expenses, sessional practitioner costs, a proportion of staff salaries, materials, resources, venue hire and targeted marketing or educational activity. Reasonable overheads of up to 10% may also be included.

The deadline for applications is 6 November 2026. For more information, please visit Support While Waiting Grant Scheme 2026/27 | Department of Health

Core Funding Opens for Northern Ireland Community Relations Organisations

An annual support programme for organisations promoting community relations across Northern Ireland is open for applications.

Administered by the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council (NICRC), the Core Funding Scheme provides support for organisations considered to be of strategic importance in promoting community relations across Northern Ireland. The programme has an annual budget of approximately £1.2 million, with approximately £600,000 expected to be available for new applications in 2027/28. Awards generally range from £25,000 to £85,000 per year, with an average award of £45,000. The support is intended to contribute towards salary and organisational running costs.

Eligible applicants are not-for-profit organisations considered strategically important in promoting community relations work across Northern Ireland.

Proposed work must have a clear good relations purpose, address an identified good relations need and directly address sectarianism. Applicants must also demonstrate how their work will contribute towards one or more of the Together: Building a United Community strategic priorities.

The deadline for applications is 12 November 2026. For more information, please visit Core Funding Scheme | Community Relations Council

Funding for Smaller UK Charities Providing Health and Care Services

The Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust is accepting applications through its Ann Rylands Small Donations Programme, which supports smaller charities working to improve health and care provision.

Unrestricted grants of up to £5,000 are available. They may support core costs or a specific project, but cannot be used for research. Applicants are asked not to request a particular amount. Trustees will decide awards according to available resources and the suitability of the proposed work. Typical grants are between £2,000 and £3,000.

The funding is for::

• Improved quality of life for older people through health and care

• Improved quality of life for people with disabilities through health and care

• Improved quality of life for people with serious illness/chronic conditions through health and care

• Improved health and care for people needing palliative and end-of-life care

• Practical and emotional support to improve the health and care for people facing challenges with mental health

Applications may be submitted by charities registered for at least three years with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.

Priority is given to charities whose main activities are health-related. Applicants should demonstrate that they can deliver effective services to their beneficiaries and provide evidence that their work is needed, high quality and represents value for money.

Preference may be given to medium-sized charities with annual income between £100,000 and £2 million. Organisations should be independent and not receive a substantial proportion of their income through government or local authority contracts.

Applications can be submitted whenever the online system is open and will be considered as soon as possible, depending on the volume received.

Applications are currently open with no deadline. For more information please visit Ann Rylands Small Donations -Sir Jules Thorn Trust

Theatres Trust Accepting Applications for Round 12 of the Small Grants Fund

Grants of up to £7,500 are available for not-for-profit theatres across the UK to deliver small essential works to improve a theatre's resilience, sustainability or accessibility, or to improve the diversity of audiences.

The Theatre Trust, supported by the Lindury Trust, will support small capital improvements and repairs, such as:

• Improvements and repairs to building fabric.

• Purchase of key plant and machinery.

• Purchase of capital items that improve physical access and the audience/participant experience.

• Purchase of equipment to improve digital access.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Have a bona fide UK charitable or not-for-profit legal structure and be able to provide audited accounts for at least two years.

• Own or manage theatres with titles or signed leases of five years on buildings in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. 

• Be open and running a year-round, public programme of live performance, of no less than 30 performances a year of theatre, dance, comedy, or musicals.

• Have the property owner's permission to do the required work.

Priority will be given to improvements to buildings that protect theatre use and remove barriers to participation and attendance, and to projects where total project costs are less than £250,000 or where the grant is the sole external funder and/or is achievable within the total fund awarded.

The deadline for applications is 25 January 2027. For more information, please visit Small Grants Programme supported by The Linbury Trust

Community energy funding opportunity

Great British Energy (GBE) has launched a new £20 million Community Fund to support community owned clean energy projects in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

GBE Community Fund | Great British Energy  - the fund will help eligible community organisations test, develop and build community owned clean energy assets, with projects required to demonstrate community ownership and local retention of project benefits.

Funding is available across three stages of project development:

·      Stage 1 – Feasibility: up to £40,000
·      Stage 2 – Development: up to £100,000
·      Stage 3 – Capital: up to £3 million, capped at 50% of total project costs.

The current application window closes on 12-Nov-26 at 11:55pm. Further information is available on GBE Community Fund | Great British Energy

Connect Fund to offer up to £500k for Northern Ireland and GB voluntary and community groups

Applications for next round of grant scheme open at the start of November. Connect Fund is now in its third year and has already awarded £1.05m to 46 projects.

Belfast performing arts group welcomes new opportunities thanks to funding.

A fund described by a Belfast community group as offering a “lifeline to deepen relationships” will soon reopen for applications with a total of £500,000 on offer, as the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) prepares to launch the third round of its Connect Fund grant programme.

The Connect Fund strengthens collaboration between community and voluntary groups across the east and west of the UK, and has so far awarded over £1m to 46 projects across Northern Ireland and Great Britain. It funds projects that tackle shared challenges across the UK, bringing community and voluntary groups together to build long-lasting UK-wide partnerships. 

Minister for Northern Ireland Sarah Owen visited Belfast performance art group and Connect Fund recipient Bbeyond, to see the positive impact of the funding on the ground. The group has formed the NI-GB Performance Art Network in partnership with TactileBosch in Wales, the Belfast School of Art, and the University for the Creative Arts in Canterbury. The project will help Northern Ireland performance artists engage with the wider UK creative landscape, developing leadership skills and cultural understanding. 

Minister Owen said:

“Bbeyond’s exciting plans to support Northern Ireland performance artists highlight the Connect Fund’s creativity and diversity.

“While strengthening relationships between community and voluntary groups in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, the Connect Fund has supported a variety of innovative schemes.

“I encourage local groups with proposals to build East-West relationships to apply for the next funding opportunity when it opens in November.”

Bbeyond Programme Manager Bronagh Lawson said: 

“Personal and organisational connections outside of Northern Ireland are vital for the arts.

“The Connect Fund has been a lifeline to deepen relationships, forge new connections and bring real opportunities to our members. 

“East-West understanding has started to open up, and when artists get together you can be sure the result will be well beyond your original predicted outcome!”

Over the last two years, Connect Fund grants have enriched community and voluntary organisations, enabling them to stage theatre production tours and musical performances, host cross-Nation summits and leadership forums, and launch youth programmes.

Successful applicants have strengthened East-West connections by developing civic relationships; supporting the development of links based around culture, sports and people; building leadership capability; and facilitating constructive dialogue on opportunities and challenges facing UK communities. 

Previous successful applications and their partner organisations were located across the UK.

Round 3 of the Connect Fund will open for applications at  https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/  from 00.01 on November 2 2026 until 17:00 on December 18 2026.

Each applicant can bid for between £300 and £50,000 to deliver their project, and return applicants are welcome to apply, with project delivery running from April 1 2027 to March 31 2028. 

Alec Dickson Trust

We support young people who, through volunteering or community service, aim to enhance the lives of others, particularly those most marginalised by society.

We’re looking for projects that identify a specific need, and propose to carry out activities that will clearly help to address this need. We’re particularly interested in projects that will. have a deep and meaningful effect on those it reaches, as well as projects that are as long lasting and sustainable as possible.

Ultimately we’re looking for youth volunteering projects that help to improve communities.

The fund closes on 4th October 2026 at 5pm.

Further information available here

Henry Smith Foundation: Domestic Abuse Counselling Fund

Through this fund, we want to help sustain access to specialist domestic abuse counselling. We will provide five-year grants to organisations that have a deep understanding of domestic abuse and the needs of victim-survivors, enabling them to continue providing counselling that helps people recover and rebuild their lives.

Expressions of Interest open today, 23 September 2026.  The deadline to submit your EOI is Wednesday 21 October at 5pm.

Further information available here

Kelly Family Charitable Trust

The Trust favour charities whose activities involve all or most family members where possible, in initiatives that support and encourage the family to work as a cohesive unit in tackling problems that face one or more of its members. The objective is to reinforce the benefit and support that family members as a unit can give to each other.

The three areas of activity that the charity wishes to support are:

• Interventions that support families and help them in ways that prevent the fracture of the family unit, eg practical family support, relationship counselling, mediation

• Families where sexual abuse, physical abuse, domestic violence, alcohol abuse and drug abuse threaten the integrity of the family unit

• Prisoners and in particular their families, during and after the period of imprisonment

Applications must be submitted by 1st March

Further information available here

Funding Futures: Exciting new funding opportunity for young social entrepreneurs

Know someone aged 16-30 who wants to help create a fairer future?

UnLtd's Funding Futures Programme offers up to £18,000 of funding for young social entrepreneurs tackling financial exclusion and fighting poverty in their communities.

Whether they're at ideas stage or already making impact, we're looking for founders who want to create opportunities for those who would otherwise be left behind. This might mean:

• Helping people from marginalised communities gain new skills so they can find better jobs.

• Finding new ways to support people struggling with debt.

• Improving digital literacy for vulnerable people and those facing language barriers, helping them protect themselves from fraud and financial exploitation.

• Helping school leavers in deprived areas find pathways into meaningful work.

... but that's just a start. We want to hear from anyone aged 16-30 with practical, sustainable plans to boost financial resilience in marginalised communities and build a fairer future.

Award winners will benefit from personalised support, peer learning, expert advice and practical workshops and residentials to help them grow their social enterprise, reach more people and build lasting impact.

Applications open from October 1. Apply via the UnLtd website.

Sign up to one of our information sessions on Tuesday 13th October or Tuesday 3rd November

Funds open for applications

The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland are pleased to announce the following funds are opened for applications:

• Carn Hill Community Benefit Fund

• Cloonty Community Benefit Fund  

• Dunmore Community Benefit Fund

• Dunbeg Community Benefit Fund

• Corby Knowe Community Benefit Fund

• Monnaboy Community Benefit Fund

• Corlacky Community Benefit Fund
  
  You can find details of these, along with all other Community Foundation funds currently open for application, at the link below:
  
  https://communityfoundationni.org/achieving-impact/available-grants/.   

The Foyle Foundation Fund

Purpose of the Fund:

The Foyle Foundation was formed to implement the will of the late Christina Foyle. She was the daughter of William Foyle who, with his brother, founded the former family-owned bookshop Foyles in Charing Cross Road, London.

The Foundation completed its grant giving programme at the end of 2025, marking 25 years of giving to the fields of the arts, learning, community small grants, state school libraries and health.

The Foyle Foundation has appointed the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland to deliver a final small grants fund on its behalf for community organisations in Northern Ireland.

The fund aims to support ‘projects which generate income or cost savings, contributing to financial sustainability’.

Eligibility:

We recognise that this fund has a broad aim, and we have kept it as such to maximise flexibility for applicants and to enable you to shape proposals to your specific organisational priorities & opportunities.

However, to keep the process manageable we have agreed the following eligibility criterion for potential applicants.

We will not consider applications from sports clubs, CICs, Parent Teacher Associations or organisations with an annual income (in your most recent annual accounts) of more than £300,000.

In addition, you should be able to spend your grant within 12 months of award i.e. by end December 2027.

Priorities:

We will prioritise applications which clearly demonstrate how the funding requested will support income generation and/or generate future cost savings, and which make the strongest return on investment cases.

We will prioritise applications which most clearly demonstrate how the funding requested will support future financial sustainability.

In the event of oversubscription, we will prioritise strong applications from organisations with an annual income of less than £150,000.

By way of example your proposal could focus on:

• The development of fee earning services;

• Generating income through renting out space within your premises;

• Reducing your running costs through energy efficiency improvements or other measures;

• The development of a social enterprise business plan/activities.

Amount of funding available:

You can apply for up to £5,000.

We anticipate making approximately 40 awards.

Closing date - 16th November 2026

For more information please visit The Foyle Foundation Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

Corlacky Community Benefit Fund

The fund’s aim is to provide financial support towards the development of locally beneficial community-based projects and initiatives within a 7km radius of Corlacky Wind Farm.

Applications are invited from charities and community organisations based within a 7km radius of the Corlacky Wind Farm site. 

Applicants can apply for financial support for any one or more of the following purposes:

• The advancement of education; and/or

• The advancement of environmental protection or improvement; and/or

• Projects for environmental and/or biodiversity benefit; and/or

• Improving the health of residents; and/or

• Promoting care & support of vulnerable people; and/or

• Promoting recreational or sporting activities; and/or The advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science;

• and/or Improving or maintaining community buildings or facilities; and/or Social and local community development; and/or

• The promotion of culture and knowledge; and/or

• Support for young people and sports; and/or

• Promoting ERG’s culture and sustainability of renewable energies; and/or

• Supporting social development leveraging on ERG’s business activities; and/or

• Supporting the “call of ideas” for the innovation in the nearby areas; and/or

• Education in relation to sustainability, the development of renewables, and the fight against climate change.

Priority will be given to:

• Education programmes for the next generation on the topics of Sustainability and Renewable Energy

• Collaborative projects

• Projects that aim to improve the health of residents, particularly mental health

• Projects that promote care & support of vulnerable people, particularly relating to the cost of living/fuel poverty

Amount of funding available: Grants up to £3,000

Closing date for applications: 8th October 2026

For more information please visit Corlacky Community Benefit Fund  - Community Foundation Northern Ireland