Grants and External Funding

Grants are available to help UK heritage sector organisations or partnerships to establish new digital volunteering opportunities across the sector. Opportunities should focus on digital activities and/or activities that can be carried out at distance.  Application deadline: 16/08/2021

Grants are available to improve sustainability and longevity of not-for-profit groups working in the field of mental health in England.  The deadline for applications is 13 August (midday).

Grants are available for UK businesses operating in the high value fashion and textile industries to support innovative R&D projects.  The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 30 September 2021 (17:00 BST).

Funding available to organisations in England and Wales to support interventions which focus on preventing violence against women and girls in public spaces at night.  Bids must be submitted by the deadline of 1 September 2021 (23:59).

Grants are available to grassroots music venues and promoters in England to present live music programming, and for activities that put them in a better position to deliver their work in the long term.  Applications may be made at any time.

Small grants are available to not-for-profit organisations in the UK for community events and gatherings that enable people of different generations to get together through good food. The deadline for applications is 8 September 2021 (5pm).

Grants are being offered to Gen Z creatives from across Europe and the UK who are working with sneakers and/or youth culture.  Applications must be submitted by 8 August 2021.

Grants for cultural and heritage organisations in England that have already received support from the Culture Recovery Fund and are still in need.  The fund will open to applications on 16 August 2021, with a deadline for applications of 29 October 2021 (12pm).

Grants are available for farming and rural communities for projects from across the UK which are working to create resilient rural communities.   From 9 August to 15 September, PCF will be holding PCF grant application surgeries every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (14:00 to 15:00). All appointment will be 15 minutes long and need to be booked by sending an email to [email protected].   The deadline for applications is midday on 17 September 2021. 

Grants are available to not-for-profit organisations using participation in the arts and comedy to promote positive mental wellbeing in the United Kingdom.  

The deadline for applications is 15 September 2021 (11am).  Zoom Q&A sessions will be held on 11 August, 19 August and 25 August. Full details can be found on the Comic Relief website.

A new Carlisle funding scheme has been launched to help communities come back together post lockdown and to stimulate economic activity in the district.  The window for applications is open between Monday 26 July and Monday 9 August 2021.

Funding and a programme of specialist support are available for small to medium-sized UK heritage organisations to help turn a new business idea into reality.  The Round 2 deadline for applications is 23 July 2021.

Grants are available to non-profit organisations across the UK to establish a new Community Fridge to minimise food waste.  The deadline for applications is 16 August 2021 (9am).

A direct co-investment fund aimed at growth stage innovative, R&D-intensive UK companies seeking relatively large investments. The scheme is open for applications on a rolling basis.

Grants are available for groups and organisations in the UK to provide a mechanism for quick responses to unexpected crises and opportunities with potentially significant environmental outcomes.  Applications are accepted on an on-going basis and are reviewed by a small advisory group of funders.

UK registered organisations can apply for funding for innovative skills, talent, and training projects.  

Competition dates:

• Open: Monday 9 August 2021
• Competition closing date: Wednesday 15 September 2021 (11:00 BST).

Grants are available to enable football clubs and organisations in England to restart or deliver new disability football activities following the period of COVID-19 restrictions.  Applications may be made at any time while funding remains available.

The second round of a UK-wide fund for recycling initiatives is open for applications.  The deadline for applications is 24 August 2021 (16:00 BST).

Funding for UK registered charities for projects that support education, training, research, biodiversity, climate change, arts, culture, as well as supporting the most vulnerable people and groups in society.  The deadline for applications is 6 August 2021 (1pm).

Funding is to be made available to enable the delivery of more football pitches and facilities in UK communities. Further details of the funding rollout will be made available in 2022.

Grants to local authorities in England which would otherwise be faced with an undue financial burden as a result of providing relief in response to large-scale emergencies and carrying out immediate work.  Application deadline: None specified

Grants are available for individuals, businesses, small charities and community groups for hedgerow restoration, maintenance and planting projects across the Lake District.  The second application window will be open from 1 August (9am) to 31 August 2021 (5pm).

Entrepreneurs are being supported to commercialise new technologies, with equity funding and supplementary support. Applications for the 2022 Accelerator are now open. The deadline is 6 October 2021.

The UK Government's £150 million Community Ownership Fund is accepting applications.  Funding is available to charities and community groups in the UK to support them in taking ownership of local assets such as pubs, theatres and parks. The Round One deadline for applications is 13 August 2021.

Funding is available for tree nurseries from Great Britain that supply trees to Scotland.  One application round will normally be run each year with a closing date of 31 January for the submission of applications. However, an additional application round is being run in 2021 for projects in England and Wales (only), with up to £750,000 of funding available for projects that can be completed by 31 March 2022. The closing date for submission of applications for this round is 31 August 2021.

Grant funding is available for projects developing novel technology and processes that reduce the cost of deploying carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) technology from UK industry.  Those intending to apply must confirm via email to [email protected] by 31 July 2021 (17:00 BST).  Full applications must be submitted by 29 August 2021 (23:59 BST).

Grants for voluntary sector and other non-profit organisations to deliver projects aiming to address inequalities and poor sexual and/or reproductive health and HIV outcomes in England.  A webinar will be held on 23 July 2021 (13:00 – 14:00). This event will provide an overview of the application process and the opportunity to ask questions. The event will be recorded. Groups should register their interest by emailing [email protected].  The deadline for applications is 17:00pm on 13 August 2021.

The Further Education Professional Development Grants Pilot (FEPDG) has extended its application deadline to the 26 July 2021.

An equity fund has been created to invest in growth capital for early stage businesses or management buyouts for mid-sized firms across the UK.

Grants are available to local voluntary and community groups, schools, and parish councils for projects that support the Cumbria Police and Crime Plan and make a difference to their local communities.  To be eligible, projects must meet the following objectives:

• Provide early intervention and prevention schemes to reduce incidents of offending and reoffending.
• Help to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour in the local community.
• Provide support to victims of crime to cope and recover.
• Create opportunities for children and young people to get involved in extra-curricular activities.
• Improve support for vulnerable people to help them feel safer.
• Bring together parts of the community that find it difficult to talk or to access each other.

The deadline to apply is 10 September 2021 (5pm).

Grants to help sport and activity groups, clubs and organisations respond to the immediate challenges of returning to play in a coronavirus-safe way.  Application deadline: None specified

Grants are available for charitable, not-for-profit organisations whose work benefits communities in Cumbria, Dumfriesshire, Lancaster, Preston and Haltwhistle.  The funding can be used for different purposes:

• Strategic grants are intended to improve or maintain the capacity of organisations promoting the financial health and wellbeing of people. Funding can be used to provide an opportunity to scale up promising innovations and/or improve existing initiatives.
• Community Grants are aimed at community organisations that are working to improve the life skills, education, employability and enterprise of disadvantaged people or support vulnerable, older people. These are likely to be one-off grants.

Application deadline:  20/08/2021

Grants are available to community groups and organisations for environmental and community projects that are within a 10-mile radius of either Hespin Wood or Flusco Pike landfill sites (in parts of Eden, Carlisle and Allerdale).  The funding is only for projects falling under the following categories:

• OBJECT D - To promote, undertake, fund and assist the provision, maintenance or improvement of public parks or other public amenities, provided that it is for the protection of the environment, and the maintenance, repair or restoration of buildings or other structures open to the public.
  • Examples: Village halls, children’s play equipment, village greens, museums, country parks, community gardens, woodland improvements, cycle paths, public rights of way footpaths and nature reserves
• OBJECT Da - To promote, undertake, fund and assist the protection of the environment by the conservation or promotion of biological diversity through:
  • (a) the provision, conservation, restoration or enhancement of a natural habitat; or
  • (b) the maintenance or recovery of a species in its natural habitat, on land or in water
• OBJECT E - Places of religious worship, or of historic or architectural interest, provided it is for the protection of the environment. Object E grants are limited to a maximum of £5,000 request.

The next application deadlines are:

• 14 September 2021
• 11 January 2022

Financial awards and expert help are available to operators of eBay businesses to support the growth and development of their business.  The deadline for entries is 2 August 2021 (23:59 BST).

A UK Government tax credit initiative to encourage firms to invest in productivity-enhancing plant and machinery assets that will help them grow and to make investments. Support can be accessed at any time.

An invitation-only programme for UK businesses that will fund innovative projects that can speed up the development of a sustainable energy transition.  Application is by invitation-only.  Contact ENGIE for further information and to discuss eligibility for invitation.

A competition for individuals aged 18-25 from the UK or Ireland to create a piece of film content on a subject of their choice.  Applications must be submitted by email by the deadline of 13 August 2021.

Grants are available for England’s cultural organisations, across all sectors, that were previously solvent but now find themselves financially at-risk because of the impacts of coronavirus restrictions.  The application portal will open for full applications on 15 July 2021 and close on 14 October 2021.

Funding is available to support the drive for innovative new products within the UK gardening industry.  The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday 20 August 2021.

Funding for larger UK charities working to support vulnerable people and communities impacted by COVID-19, and to alleviate the associated social and economic hardship caused by the crisis.  Applications will be accepted from 12 July 2021 to 6 August 2021 (6pm).

Charities across the UK can apply now for a chance to win a grant of £10,000 and the possibility of an additional grant of £50,000 or £100,000.  Applications will be accepted from 12 July to 6 August 2021.

Grants will be provided to support England’s farmers and land managers with preparations for the Agricultural Transition period which is taking place from 2021-27.   Applications will open in August 2021. The indicative dates are 18 August 2021, through to 1 March 2022.

Designers from across the world will be invited to present their prototypes to an interior design business, with an opportunity to receive industry support.  The deadline for applications to the 2022 Pure Talents Contest is 15 September 2021.

Environmental groups, local authorities, charities, public bodies and landowners in England can access funding to develop sites where peat can be restored.  Applications for the first round of the Discovery Grant are now being invited. The deadline to apply is 1 September 2021.

Grants for smaller charities and other not-for-profit entities undertaking legal action activities to address racial injustice in the criminal justice system (CJS) within the UK.  The deadline to arrange the call is noon on 3 September 2021.

New government funding and support has been launched, targeted at pupils starting primary and secondary school in England, to take part in focused English and maths catch-up sessions.  The programme will be rolled out from Autumn term 2021.

Grants available for cultural and heritage organisations in England who are at imminent risk of failure to ensure they have sufficient funds as they transition out of lockdown and resume business activity.  The deadline for Expressions of Interest (EOI) is 30 September 2021 (12pm).

Grants are available for small, local voluntary and community groups and organisations and schools to help improve community shared spaces and run activities that focus on sustainable living in the UK.  Application deadline: 14/07/2021

The funding is intended for a range of not-for-profit organisations that can meet at least two of the following criteria:

• Build on the relationships created during the COVID-19 pandemic to increase community activity and the number of people taking part.
• Encourage people to work together, creating opportunities for communities to live in a sustainable and healthy way.
• Raise awareness amongst the public of the importance of connected households, neighbourhoods and resilient communities.
• Develop a new idea, activity or way to come together that has emerged in response to the pandemic.
• Revive or redesign community and common spaces to encourage shared community activities.

Projects from schools or an organisation working in a school need to strengthen the community outside of the school too. It should benefit and involve more than just teachers, pupils and parents of pupils.

Grants are available to help Pro Club Community Organisations of EFL League One and Two, National League and Women's Super League clubs to engage fans ahead of the 2021/22 season.  The deadline for applications is 11 July 2021.

Capital grants for public, private and third sector organisations in England to support the development of low and zero carbon heat networks.  The deadline is 12 August 2021 (12.00 BST).