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External funding

Funding for voluntary and community organisations

The council appreciates the contribution of the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) to our borough.

We know that these organisations are facing a growing demand for their services which can put a strain on their resources.

We created an external funding page to list all the current funding opportunities.

The page includes information on available grants, eligibility criteria and the application process.

If you have any questions or need support, please feel free to email the Grants Team at vcs@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

Current external funding

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Youth Music - Trailblazer Fund

The Youth Music Trailblazer fund offers grants of £2,000 to £30,000 to organisations in England to run projects for children and young people (25 or under) to make, learn and earn in music. The project should trial work for the first time, test a new way of working, or disrupt the status quo.

Eligibility

Charities and constituted Community organisations in England. Projects must meet one of the following themes:

  • Early years
  • Disabled, d/Deaf and neurodivergent young people
  • Youth justice system
  • Young people facing barriers
  • Young adults
  • Organisations and the workforce.

Funding amount

Grants of £2,000 to £30,000

Closing date

30 August 2024

More information

For more information please visit the Youth music website.

The Victoria Wood Foundation

Established in memory of the celebrated comedian Victoria Wood, the Victoria Wood Foundation fosters Arts initiatives throughout the United Kingdom. Their funding prioritises arts projects in London and the North of England.  

Eligibility

Arts organisations and groups are invited to submit funding applications for consideration by the Foundation's trustees, who convene twice annually in July and December. To ensure timely review, applications should be received at least two weeks before the relevant meeting date. 

Funding amount

Grants of up to £5,000.

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

For more information please visit the Victoria Wood Foundation website or get in touch with them. 

John Ellerman Foundation

The John Ellerman Foundation gives money to UK charities that make between £100,000 and £10m. Funding is available to charities that focus on the arts, environment, and social action. The grants it gives are usually between £10,000 and £50,000 each year, for up to three years.

The foundation's goal is to make people, society, and the natural world better by giving money.

Eligibility

UK Registered Charities.

Funding amount

Between £10,000 and £50,000 per year, for up to three years.

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

For more information please visit the John Ellerman Foundation or contact them.

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The Newby Trust - Education Grants

The Newby Trust funds local, regional or national charities registered and operating in the UK within the broad categories of education, health and social welfare. Through the Education programme, the Trust provides grants to enable people to benefit from educational opportunities and to support excellence.

Eligibility

The Trust is more likely to fund smaller or medium-sized charities with an annual income of less than £1,000,000.

Funding amount

Grants of between £2,000 and £10,000 are available

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

Please visit the Newby Trust or contact the newby trust team.

Blue Spark Foundation

The BlueSpark Foundation offers grants for kids' education and development. It funds activities like education, sports, and culture and aims to:

  • improve the educational opportunities for young people
  • enhance their self-confidence, teamwork skills, and future employability.

Eligibility

Beneficiaries - schools, community groups, clubs, societies, and non-profit organizations working with children and young people.

Location - Primarily within the UK, though specific eligibility might differ depending on individual grants.

Project focus - Activities that benefit young people like

  • educational programs and workshops
  • cultural events and activities
  • sports and physical activities
  • personal development initiatives.

Funding amount

Grants between £2,000 to £5,000.

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

Please visit the Blue Spark Foundation or email contact@bluesparkfoundation.org.uk

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Material Focus - Electricals Recycling Fund (UK)

Material Focus awards funding for projects that make it easier for UK householders to reuse and recycle their electrical goods. Through the Electricals Recycling Fund, grants of up to £100,000 are available for projects seeking to grow or develop existing household waste and recycling collection services for small household electricals, and grants of up to £50,000 for projects that seek to innovate new collection methods.

Eligibility

Any UK registered organisations including local authorities, waste collection authority areas, contractors, reuse organisations, not-for-profits, community sector organisations, producer compliance schemes, retailers and startups.

Funding amount

Grants of up to £100,000 are available for projects seeking to grow or develop existing household waste and recycling collection services for small household electricals.

Grants of up to £50,000 are available for projects that seek to innovate new collection methods.

Successful projects can spend funding on:

  • the purchase of new bins/collection points (‘bring banks’)
  • the adaptation of waste collection vehicles to include cages for kerbside WEEE
  • vehicle rental
  • installation of bins
  • communication and marketing materials
  • staffing costs to cover the time spent planning and delivering the project

Closing date

Applications can be submitted at any time.

More information

Please visit the Material Focus website or contact Material Focus.

Groundwork KeolisAmey Docklands Community Grant Funding

The KeolisAmey Docklands Community Grant Funding is a recent initiative. It's funded by KeolisAmey Docklands, the DLR operator.

The grant programme is designed to give back to the communities that use the DLR by providing grant funding for a range of community projects

Eligibility

The programme is offering grant funding to the following organisations:

  • Educational Establishments i.e. schools, playgroups/nurseries/pre-schools
  • Parent Teacher Associations
  • Religious Organisations
  • Registered Charities
  • Individuals/Informal/un-constituted groups (though they will need to partner with a constituted group to deliver their project
  • Company Limited by Guarantee
  • Not for Profit Community Interest Company (CIC)
  • Social Enterprise
  • Constituted Community Organisation
  • Friends of Group
  • Tenants and Residents Association

Funding amount

KeolisAmey Docklands Grants offers grants of between £1,000 to £10,000 for eligible organisations within a three-mile radius of any DLR station.

A total of £10,000 will be available each month, for 10 months from February to November 2024. There is a total of £100,000 available for the full period.

Closing date

4 November 2024. There will be 10 deadlines within this period, after which applications received will be assessed and awarded.

More information

Please visit the Keolis Amey Docklands Community Grant Funding or email ambassadors@keolisameydlr.co.uk

City Bridge Trust –  Making London a Greener City For All

Funding is available for local projects that take an equitable approach to mitigating and/​or adapting to climate change. Applications are encouraged both from organisations that already actively focus on climate and nature and those that have not previously seen environmental action as a priority.

Eligibility

Organisations that are eligible to apply:

  • Charities established and registered in the UK
  • Registered charitable incorporated organisations
  • Charitable company
  • Registered charitable industrial and provident society (IPS) or charitable community benefit society (BenCom)
  • CIC (community interest company) limited by guarantee
  • Constituted voluntary organisations can apply for the Small Grants programme, but not our other funding programmes.

Funding amount

Up to £10,000

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

Please visit the City Bridge Foundation or email funding@citybridgefoundation.org.uk

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The CLA Charitable Trust

The CLA Charitable Trust funds charities and not-for-profit organisations in England and Wales to support projects that help disabled or disadvantaged people access the benefits of nature and the countryside.

Through their funding programme, the Trust awards grants of up to £5,000 to support projects that improve the physical and mental health and wellbeing of people who are disabled or disadvantaged by helping them to visit and participate in recreational and educational opportunities in the countryside.

Applications are particularly welcomed for projects for children and young people who are disadvantaged financially, physically, mentally, or from areas of deprivation. The funding will support projects, capital works and running costs.

Eligibility

Registered charities, CICs, and other not-for-profit organisations in England and Wales that have not received a grant from the CLA Charitable Trust in the previous three years.

This includes schools exclusively for children with additional needs.

Organisations with a turnover of less than £1.5million. Larger organisations may still apply but are less likely to be successful.

Funding amount

Grants of up to £5,000 are available. Occasionally, multi-year funding may be awarded at the discretion of the trustees.

Closing date

Applications can be submitted at any time.

More information

Please visit the CLA website or apply for CLA funding.

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The National Lottery Awards for All England

The funding supports new activities, ongoing ones, or organisational adaptations.

Projects must do at least one of these things:

  • bring people together to build strong relationships in and across communities.
  • improve the places and spaces that matter to communities.
  • help more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage
  • support people, communities and organisations facing more demands and challenges because of the cost-of-living crisis.

Eligibility

Applications are accepted from:

  • constituted voluntary or community organisation
  • constituted group or club
  • registered charity
  • Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
  • Not-For-Profit company
  • Community Interest Company (CIC)
  • school (if your project benefits and involves the communities around the school)
  • statutory body (including local authorities, town, parish and community council)
  • community benefit society

Funding amount

£300 to £20,000 for up to two years.

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

Please visit the National Lottery Awards for All England website or email general.enquiries@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

The National Lottery UK Fund

The fund is for organisations wanting to help communities connect better. Organisations  are encouraged to apply for funding for projects that:

  • strengthen relationships between people whose experiences of life have not been the same. For example, relationships between people of different ethnic backgrounds, generations, occupations, or geographies
  • create connections between online and offline worlds
  • help make sure people from all backgrounds can shape the future of their communities.

Eligibility

Applications are accepted from:

  • constituted voluntary or community organisation
  • constituted group or club
  • registered charity
  • Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
  • Not-For-Profit company
  • Community Interest Company (CIC)
  • school (if your project benefits and involves the communities around the school)
  • statutory body (including local authorities, town, parish, and community council)
  • community benefit society

Funding amount

This UK-wide funding offers £500,000 to £5 million for projects tackling national issues over 2-10 years.

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

Please visit the The UK Fund website or email general.enquiries@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

The National Lottery Reaching Communities England

This funding supports projects and groups improving their community. The National Lottery defines community as people in the same area or with similar interests or experiences.

Projects or organisations applying for funding must do at least one of these things:

  • bring people together to build strong relationships in and across communities
  • improve the places and spaces that matter to communities
  • help more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage.

This fund is flexible and can respond to your community’s needs, therefore the following funding options are available:

  • for the long or short term
  • for a specific activity, or for broader costs to help your organisation or community
  • for one organisation or to bring organisations together
  • to support people, communities, and organisations most affected by the cost-of-living crisis
  • to help organisations address the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on how they work, now and in the future.

Eligibility

Applications are accepted from:

  • constituted voluntary or community organisation
  • constituted group or club
  • registered charity
  • Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
  • Not-For-Profit company
  • Community Interest Company (CIC)
  • school (if your project benefits and involves the communities around the school)
  • statutory body (including local authorities, town, parish, and community council)
  • community benefit society

Funding amount

£20,001 or more, for up to five years.

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

Please visit the Reaching Communities England website or email general.enquiries@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk.

The National Lottery Partnerships

This funding is for organisations working together in partnership to help their community. The National Lottery defines community as people in one area or with similar interests or experiences.

Eligibility

Applications are accepted from:

  • constituted voluntary or community organisation
  • constituted group or club
  • registered charity
  • Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
  • Not-For-Profit company
  • Community Interest Company (CIC)
  • school (if your project benefits and involves the communities around the school)
  • statutory body (including local authorities, town, parish, and community council)
  • community benefit society

Funding amount

£20,001 or more, for up to five years.

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

Please visit the National Lottery Partnerships Fund website or email general.enquiries@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

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City Bridge Trust – Children and Young People

Funding is available for projects and organisations working in three priority areas:

  • support for vulnerable parents and carers of preschool children (aged 0–5)
  • support for children and young people engaged in child criminal exploitation
  • work that addresses the needs of disadvantaged young women and girls.

There is an upper age limit of 25 for beneficiaries.

Eligibility

Applications are welcome from organisations:

  • led or guided by people with lived experience of these issues
  • with local, community or specialist insight and knowledge
  • setting out to build the resilience of project beneficiaries
  • building the evidence of effective interventions
  • whose approach has been (and continues to be) co-produced with young people.

Funding amount

Funding has no set limits. Revenue funding can't exceed 50 per cent of your income in one year.

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

Please visit the City Bridge Trust website and funding@citybridgefoundation.org.uk

The Ironmongers Grants to Charities

The Ironmongers’ Company supports projects aiding disadvantaged youth. These projects help children and young people achieve their full potential.

The company wants projects that give clear educational benefits to a specific group of children or young people.

They will only consider equipment if it is explained how it will support this activity. The types of projects supported include special educational needs, or which foster social, emotional or life skills.

Projects trying new approaches get priority. Share results with wider audience.

Eligibility

Grants are only given to registered charities.

Funding amount

Grants range from a few hundred pounds up to around £10,000. The average grant awarded is £4,000.

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

Please visit the Ironmonger Grants to Charities website or email charities@ironmongers.org.

Tesco Stronger Starts

Priority will be given to projects that provide food and support to young people. The types of projects Tesco Community Grants aims to fund are:

  • breakfast clubs, holiday clubs, food banks, and Meals on Wheels
  • equipment or non-statutory services for nurseries, schools, such as forest schools, library books, equipment for Brownie, Guide or Scout groups, such as camping equipment, and badges. 
  • play areas
  • counselling and support services for young people
  • services or equipment to support children and young people’s health
  • equipment/ kit for a youth sports team.

Eligibility

Registered charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Funding amount

Upto £1,500

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

Please visit the Tesco stronger starts website.

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The Hodge Foundation

The Hodge Foundation awards grants to UK registered charities (or exempt charities) to further their objectives in the UK or overseas (via UK charities). The focus area of the fund:

  • Supporting vulnerable or disadvantaged people to improve their lives
  • Causes and groups: Elderly, homeless, disabled, individuals with special needs, and those with mental health issues
  • Funding rounds: Awarded throughout the year, suggesting multiple rounds with allocated budgets
  • Project stage: Priority given to projects already up and running or in advanced planning stages, demonstrating clear need and impact
  • Collaboration: Collaboration between charities is encouraged to maximize impact
  • Sustainability: Projects should demonstrate financial and operational sustainability.

Eligibility

Registered UK charity: Must be a registered UK charity or exempt charity. Overseas projects: considered if implemented by UK registered charities.

Funding amount

Grant size: typically, between £5,000 and £25,000.

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

Please visit the Hodge Foundation website or email contact@hodgefoundation.org.uk