Grants and External Funding

Registered charities can now apply for funding to improve the quality of life of sick children in hospitals or hospices throughout the UK.

The deadline for applications is 11 February 2022. 

Funding for not-for-profit groups delivering creative and cultural activities which commemorate the Platinum Jubilee in England.

Applications will open on 4 January 2022 with deadlines published on local Community Foundation websites across the UK.

Funding is being provided to help Black, Asian and 'Global Majority' artists across the UK to overcome barriers that would otherwise prevent them from performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The deadline for applications is 17 January 2022 (10:00 GMT).

This competition offers a chance for small UK firms, with Starling Bank business accounts, to win cash grants to boost their operations.

The deadline for applications is 14 January 2022 (23:59 GMT).

Arts and cultural organisations in England will soon be able to apply to join the National Portfolio and contribute to creative and cultural provision across the country.

Full guidelines will be available on the Arts Council England website in January 2022.

A new round of funding has been launched to support the provision of arts, culture, and heritage education, training, and career development across the United Kingdom.

The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 28 February 2022 (midnight).

Funding for not-for-profit organisations, private owners of heritage and partnerships for projects connecting people and communities to UK heritage.

The next deadline for applications exceeding £250,000 is noon on 24 February 2022.

Funding for not-for-profit groups to provide, maintain or improve public amenities within a 10-mile radius of eligible FCC Environment waste facilities in England.

Round 1 opens on 15 December 2021 and closes on 2 March 2022 (5pm).

Funding to support the core costs of running Ofcom-licensed community radio stations in the UK that are currently broadcasting.

The deadline for applications is 7 January 2022 (5pm).

Funding for UK community organisations to establish a new Community Fridge to minimise food waste.

The deadline to apply is midnight on 1 February 2022.

Funding is available for organisations across all sectors undertaking projects that use digital technology to develop new services or improve access and delivery of adult vocational learning in the UK.

There will be two VocTech Seed calls in 2022. The first call opens on 12 January 2022. The deadline will be 9 February 2022 (17:00 GMT).

Revenue funding to help support the increased demand for suicide prevention services in England as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The deadline for applications is 6 January 2022 (17:00).

A package of support, including an unrestricted grant, for 20 registered charities based in Wales, the Midlands or North of England who are working in the fields of youth, welfare or community.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on 7 January 2022.

Charities are being invited to apply for support packages worth more than £22,000. 

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 7 January 2022.

The Kickstart Scheme is a £2 billion fund designed to create high quality six-month work placements for those aged 16 to 24 who are on Universal Credit and are deemed to be at risk of long term unemployment.

The scheme closes to applications on 17 December 2021. Young people employed through the scheme must start their jobs on or before 31 March 2022.

Support is available for small UK firms to help them tackle tradeshows with confidence, maximise their returns, and ensure the UK has quality businesses representing the country internationally.

Applications are now invited from businesses wishing to exhibit at overseas tradeshows. Applications must be made at least six weeks before the start of the event.

Funding for voluntary and community organisations in England to develop creative and cultural activities as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations taking place in June 2022.

Guidance notes will be available on the UK Community Foundation website in early December.

Funding for not-for-profit groups across England and Wales supporting young people to better understand the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships.

The first deadline for large grants is 18 February 2022 while applications for small grants can be submitted anytime.

The Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage: Emergency Resource Support is for organisations that are in severe need. The funding call has been reopened to further support the sector over winter.

This funding call will be open until 11 January 2022.

Funding for small, specialist organisations led by and for Black and minoritised women and girls in the UK so that they are in a stronger position to survive, thrive and grow into the future.

The deadline for applications is 10 January 2022 (17:00).

To mark Her Majesty the Queen’s 70th (Platinum) Jubilee, The National Lottery Community Fund will make funding available to 70 projects across the UK.

Opens to applications on Wednesday 17 November 2021 and closes at 5pm on Wednesday 15 December, unless 700 applications are received sooner.

The Culture Recovery Fund: Emergency Resource Support programme has been established to provide emergency funding for culturally significant organisations in England. Those which were financially sustainable before coronavirus (COVID-19) but are now at imminent risk of failure, having exhausted all other options for increasing their resilience, are being supported.

This is a rolling programme and applications can be submitted between 29 November 2021 and 28 January 2022 (12:00 GMT) with decisions communicated within six weeks, where possible. 

Individual artists, community and cultural organisations can now apply to the National Lottery Project Grants programme under its refreshed guidance.

Applications can be made at any time.

A new Community Climate Grant fund of £100,000, backed by the National Lottery, is being launched by Cumbria Action for Sustainability this month to help local community groups fight climate change.

Funding is available to organisations operating in and supporting the UK's food and farming sector for projects and activities designed to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

First stage applications will open on 22 November 2021 and close at noon on 10 December 2021.

UK registered businesses and research organisations can apply for funding for the development of a Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD) skills hub in the UK.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 15 December 2021 (11:00 GMT).

The Lake District Foundation, a local sustainability and conservation charity wants to support local groups to help meet COP26 and have extended the deadline date for funding.

The new deadline date is 26 November 2021.

Organisations seeking investment for nature projects to tackle climate change, create and restore habitats, or improve water quality are being urged to apply for the second and final round of this programme.

The deadline for applications for the second and final round is 3 February 2022.

Not-for-profit groups still have time to apply for funding for small-scale community projects in the UK to take action on climate change.

The deadline for applications is 18 November 2021 (5pm).

Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are available for charities and not-for-profit organisations to support charitable projects in communities across Great Britain and the isle of Ireland.

Letters of Enquiry for 2021 will be accepted from 8 November to 21 November (23:00).

Businesses that are building homes for sale or rent, or preparing land for homes, can continue to access loans to cover development or infrastructure costs as the scheme is extended by two years.

Support can be accessed at any time.

A new funding initiative is being launched to help small and medium-sized UK businesses reduce their carbon emissions and invest in green projects. HSBC UK has announced a new £500 million Green SME Fund to help businesses transition in a low carbon economy.

The Fund will launch in January 2022, at which point the full eligibility criteria will be made available.

Funding to UK registered charities whose work takes place in the UK and whose work supports those in society who face the greatest challenges and whose opportunities are the most limited.

Round 1 will open on 1 February 2022 and close on 28 February 2022.

Capital funding is available for academies, sixth-form colleges and voluntary aided (VA) schools in England to transform facilities, improve school buildings and create more good school places.

Applications must be submitted by the deadline of 16 December 2021.

Applications open for funding to host an Armed Forces Day event in June 2022 to show support for the UK’s servicemen and women, past and present.

Applications will be accepted from 1 November 2021 until 1 March 2022.

On 22 November 2021, the National Lottery Project Grants programme will reopen with refreshed eligibility criteria and a new application process, to better align with the delivery of Arts Council England's 2020 to 2030 strategy, Let's Create.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Ocado Foundation for Good is offering grants of up to £10,000 to charities, charitable companies, and local authorities to support skills and education development and promote sustainability in communities across the UK.

The deadline for applications is 31 December 2021.

UK registered businesses, collaborating with partner organisations, can apply for a share of up to £20 million for research and development projects for innovations in digital technologies to reduce environmental impact within manufacturing processes.

The deadline for applications is 26 January 2022 (11:00 GMT).

A government-backed loan scheme providing additional finance to COVID-hit businesses has been extended by six months.The Recovery Loan Scheme supports access to finance for UK businesses as they grow and recover from the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Applications can be made at any time until the scheme closes on 30 June 2022.

Funding available to local authorities or not-for-profit environmental organisations in England to develop strategic partnerships and projects which will help to deliver the England Trees Action Plan.

Expressions of interest will be accepted from 3 November 2021 until the deadline of 16 November 2021 (12 noon).

Grants are available to support environmental improvement and community engagement across Greater London neighbourhoods. The deadline to apply is 15 December 2021 (12 noon).

Grants are available to registered charities promoting healthy lifestyle choices in children and young people. The deadline is 12 November 2021 (11.59pm). It is expected that winning charities will be contacted by 1 December 2021.

Investment funding and support services are available to UK entrepreneur-led ecommerce businesses to boost their growth and development.  Support may be accessed at any time.

Grants are available to support partnerships between UK and international organisations to deliver arts projects which address contemporary social themes.  Applications will be accepted until 4 November 2021.

Launching soon, a new government innovation fund aims to make clean heat systems smaller, easier to install and cheaper to run.  

Schools and community groups in the UK have until 1 November to submit their application for funding to increase youth engagement with nature.  The deadline for applications is 1 November 2021.

Grants are available to public, private and third sectors organisations in England and Wales to support performance improvements to existing district or communal heating projects.  The deadline for applications is 31 October 2021 (23:59 BST).

Loans are available to support UK charities and social enterprises who have been impacted by coronavirus/COVID-19 and need funds to help them to survive, recover and grow.  The deadline for applications is 21 November 2021 (midnight).

Grants are available for individuals and organisations in the UK for research and other projects that enhance the understanding and knowledge of castles.  The deadline for applications is 1 December 2021.

Blended loan and grant investments are available to creative and culture businesses who deliver social impact to disadvantaged communities, and are operating in the 11 northern Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas - including Cumbria.  Applications may be made at any time.