Grants and External Funding

Funding to involve a wider range of people in heritage and promote public engagement with collections.

Museums (accredited and non-accredited), archives, historic libraries and community organisations which hold collections across the UK now have until 24 April 2023 to apply for up to £250,000 in Lottery funding to help build resilience in the heritage sector.

The deadline for applications to the Dynamic Collections has been extended from 31 March 2023 to 24 April 2023.

Grant funding is available to organisations and businesses in England to deliver species recovery projects.

The Species Recovery Programme Capital Grant Scheme is being launched by Natural England. The scheme will run over two financial years (2023/24 and 2024/25).

Applications will open on 3 April 2023 for a period of six weeks.

UK registered organisations can apply grants for small-scale demonstrations of novel vehicle-to-everything (V2X) energy technology providing storage and flexible services.

Administered by Innovate UK (IUK), this competition will invest in innovative vehicle-to-everything (V2X) energy small scale demonstration projects, addressing barriers to enabling energy flexibility from bi-directional electric vehicle (EV) charging.

The deadline for applications is 10 May 2023 (11:00 BST).

An annual award is being made to a professional female photographer towards completing a documentary photo essay.

The Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award will support a professional female photographer to complete a documentary photo essay which addresses an important social, environmental, economic or cultural issue; whether local or global.

The deadline for applications is 19 May 2023 (17:00 BST).

The Football Foundation's Energy Support Programme is accepting applications from community football organisations in England to help them lower their energy usage.

The Premier League, The FA and the UK Government's Football Foundation has announced a package of support to help grassroots football clubs and organisations in England with rising energy costs.

The deadline for submission of Expressions of Interest is 13 April 2023.

Funding to help BN(O) status holders and their eligible family members settle into their new communities in the UK.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is offering grants for organisations working to enable BN(O) status holders and their family members to contribute to life in the UK both economically and socially, and ensure they feel safe and welcome in doing so.

The deadline to apply is midnight on 31 March 2023.

Funding to promote effective use of law and human rights-based approaches in civil society.

The Baring Foundation has announced another round of its Tackling Racial Injustice in the Criminal Justice System (CJS) stream, which sits within the Strengthening Civil Society programme.

The deadline to arrange an eligibility phone-call is 13 April 2023.

UK registered businesses can apply for grant funding alongside private investment from selected investor partners.

Innovate UK (IUK) has selected a pool of investor partners to invest in innovative, technology-led businesses that align with IUK programmes.

The deadline for applications is 10 May 2023 (11:00 BST).

Funding to tackle structural and systemic challenges at the national level.

The fund offers grants of £30,000 to £150,000 for up to three years to registered charities, Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) and Community Interest Companies (CICs) with an annual turnover of at least £25,000 based in either England or Wales.

The deadline to apply is 5pm on 19 May 2023.

UK-based organisations can apply for funding to support the development of open network solutions.

The Open Networks Ecosystem Competition is offering funding in the next phase of the UK Open Networks Research and Development Fund. Funding is available to develop a range of software and hardware products that will enable enhanced development and adoption of open and interoperable technology.

The deadline for applications is 23 May 2023 (23:59 BST).

Funding for not-for-profit organisations in England or Northern Ireland to significantly improve a built or natural environment which is of regional or national significance.

Biffa Award is currently accepting Expressions of Interest to its 2023 Partnership Grants Scheme.

The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 1 June 2023 (noon).

Funding for not-for-profit community-led projects that improve the lives of those living in rural communities in the UK.

The Prince’s Countryside Fund is currently accepting applications from constituted, not-for-profit organisations with an income of less than £500,000 for projects that will create a long-term difference in rural communities across the UK.

The deadline for applications is midday on 11 April 2023.

A fund which aims to increase and diversify stock for tree planting in England has reopened to applications.

The Tree Production Innovation Fund (TPIF) is designed to encourage the development and adoption of new technologies and ways of working that will enhance the quantity, quality and diversity of stock available for tree planting in England.

The deadline for applications to be submitted is 9 May 2023 (23:55 BST).

Funding to sustain and improve access to early social welfare and family legal support and advice in England and Wales.

The Access to Justice Foundation is working with Ministry of Justice to offer a new fund aimed at organisations offering free legal support and advice in England and Wales.

The deadline to apply is 4pm on 5 May 2023.

New funding is available for forestry businesses, conservation organisations, and local authorities in England to increase the area of woodland in active management.

The Woods into Management (WiM) Forestry Innovation Funds aim to restore England’s vulnerable woodland habitats, help woodlands adapt to a changing climate, and recover from the impacts of pests and diseases.

The deadline for applications to be submitted is 15 May 2023 (23:55 BST).

Funding for projects and organisations making a positive difference to the lives of service personnel and their families.

Initial details of the Trust’s grants programme for the coming year are now available to allow groups to start planning their applications. The schedule features several existing schemes which have been refreshed to reflect ongoing economic challenges and the level of need in Armed Forces communities.

More details will be published in due course.

Limited-time funding for special events happening in the UK in 2023.

Groups have two weeks left to apply to the National Lottery Awards for All programme if they are seeking funding to celebrate the Coronation (5 to 8 May 2023) or Eurovision (9 to 13 May 2023) in England.

The deadline for Coronation or Eurovision funding is 24 March 2023 (midnight).

Grants available to non-national Accredited museums to undertake vital infrastructure and urgent maintenance backlogs which are beyond the scope of day-to-day maintenance budgets.

Arts Council England (ACE), supported by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), is providing this open-access capital fund targeted at non-national Accredited museums and local authorities based in England to apply for funding to undertake vital infrastructure and urgent maintenance backlogs which are beyond the scope of day-to-day maintenance budgets.  

Expressions of interest must be submitted by the deadline of 21 April 2024 (midday).

Funding to help prevent or reduce the risk of heart disease in the UK.

Funding is for new projects that work with communities to prevent heart disease, particularly for vulnerable and isolated groups of individuals who are at an increased risk of developing heart problems in the future.

Groups should visit the Heart Research UK website to check the application window in their area.

Funding available for local authority partnerships in England and Wales to test specialist neighbourhood teams to support children, young people and their families who are vulnerable to violence or criminal exploitation outside the home.

The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) is an independent charitable trust run by Impetus, in partnership with the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) and Social Investment Business (SIB). It aims to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice.

Applications must be submitted by the deadline of 16 May 2023 (5pm).

Funding for larger, complex conservation projects for UK places of worship.

National churches Trust has launched its new Large Grants programme (formerly known as Cornerstone Grants) to support structural repairs and maintenance issues costing more than £100,000 or the installation of kitchen and accessible toilets costing over £30,000.

First stage applications are accepted until 30 March 2023.

Registered UK-based charities can apply for funding to support new and innovative projects that benefit blind and partially sighted people in the priority areas of education, employment, engagement, collaboration, and sustainability.

The Thomas Pocklington Trust is offering grants of up to £10,000 for registered charities across the United Kingdom to deliver a broad range of projects and activities that achieve positive outcomes for blind and partially sighted people. 

The deadline for expressions of interest is 31 March 2023. 

Funding for community-driven projects which address climate change while tackling energy challenges across the UK.

As part of its wider commitment to supporting climate action, National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) is delivering a new grant scheme which focuses on community energy projects across the UK.

Stage 1 applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Funding and support package for not-for-profit organisations in the UK to participate in the Climate Accelerator programme which helps them learn how to run an effective and impactful climate not-for-profit.

Subak finds, funds and scales not-for-profit organisations that are tackling climate change through a data-driven approach.

The deadline for applications is 17 March 2023.

Funding for projects which aim to create lasting change for trans communities in prison and healthcare settings in England.

Groups have just under three weeks to apply for the TRANSforming Futures Fund, provided by the National Lottery.

The deadline to apply is 20 March 2023. Decisions are expected within 12 weeks.

Funding for project development and maintenance work in places of worship.

Cherish is a new three-year programme which will support places of worship in Scotland, Wales and the North-West of England (Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria).

Applications for grant funding are set to open in May 2023.

Christian charities, churches, cathedrals, and denominational bodies across the United Kingdom and Ireland can apply for funding to support capital works that preserve, conserve, and enhance Christian church and charity buildings.

Benefact Trust is offering grants for Christian charities and buildings to support capital works to protect and enhance Christian church and charity buildings, ensuring their continued use and viability, and the safeguarding of their heritage.

Applications can be submitted at any time. 

Funding to support new and existing community businesses in England that are at all stages of a community share issue.

The Community Shares Booster Fund is provided by Power to Change and Architectural Heritage Fund and delivered in partnership with Coops UK, Locality, Plunkett Foundation and Co-operative and Community Finance.

Expressions of Interest can be made at any time.

UK registered organisations can apply for funding for initiatives to address shortages across the semiconductor industry for innovative skills, talent, and training projects.

The aim of this Innovate UK (IUK) competition is to create and deliver course content and materials that will support skills, talent and training across semiconductor manufacturing and supply chains. The purpose is to build awareness of the semiconductor industry and fill key gaps in the UK's workforce talent and training capabilities.

The deadline for applications is 29 March 2023 (11:00 BST).

UK registered organisations can apply for funding for feasibility studies into ways to improve and scale-up semiconductor design and manufacture within the UK.

The aim of this Innovate UK (IUK) competition is to enable UK businesses in the semiconductor supply chain to develop their manufacturing capability. This will be achieved by building resilience for the key area of enabling technologies.

The deadline for applications is 29 March 2023 (11:00 BST).

Funding for smaller charities and good causes in the north of England or the east of England to make a difference to their community for the benefit of people and planet.

Funded by the players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the Postcode Trusts offer grants of between £500 and £25,000 to not-for-profit organisations with an income of less than £1 million in the most recent financial year.

The first round opens for applications at 10am on 3 April 2023 for a minimum of 24 hours.

Funding for individuals and organisations running physics-based events and activities in the UK and Ireland that improve people’s relationship with physics in their family or community groups.

The Institute of Physics (IOP) provides grants for physics engagement projects that align with IOP’s Limit Less campaign. The framework for the 2023 grant scheme is informed by the learning accrued over the last couple of years with respect to equality, diversity and inclusion, the digital divide, and personal wellbeing.

The deadline for applications has been changed from the previously reported 27 February to 24 March 2023 (5pm).

UK registered micro, small and medium enterprises can apply for funding to increase and facilitate their engagement with the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre.

Through this competition, Innovate UK (IUK) will support research and development for the scale-up of battery technologies within the UK, conducted by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It will support SMEs to access the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) and demonstrate technologies at suitable scales to customers.

The deadline for applications is 4 April 2023 (11:00 BST).

Funding available to local authorities in England to support the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

The Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund supports local authorities in England to plan and deliver chargepoint infrastructure for residents without off-street parking.

Completed forms must be emailed to the LEVI support body by the deadline of 10 March 2023 (11:55pm).

Funding for not-for-profit organisations based in the UK who provide advocacy support to those wishing to access the Windrush Compensation Scheme.

The Windrush Justice Programme is managed by Action for Race Equality, with funding from six major charitable foundations.

The deadline for applications is 31 March 2023 (5pm).

Charities and organisations across Northwest England can apply for funding to deliver projects and activities that ensure vulnerable individuals and communities are supported in the event of a power cut.

Through the Partnership Fund, a total of £1.75 million is available for organisations to help identify and support households that may need extra support during a power cut, such as those with medical dependencies, children under the age of five, or those of pensionable age. 

The deadline for applications is 31 March 2023. 

Organisations and individuals can still apply for funding to host an event in June in recognition of the UK’s servicemen and women.

Since 2009, Armed Forces Day has been marked annually throughout the UK with events large and small. The Ministry of Defence provides funding each year to support groups and individuals to commemorate the occasion.

The deadline for applications is 31 March 2023.

UK small and micro businesses can access grants for projects in the field of affordable, adoptable and investable innovations in transformative technologies.

The aim of this Innovate UK (IUK) competition is to provide a package of targeted support to enable ambitious UK micro and small businesses in transformative technologies to reach their potential.

The deadline for applications is 29 March 2023 (23:00 BST).

Capital grants for village halls in rural areas across England to enhance, upgrade, extend, improve, and construct halls so that, as a result, new activities can take place bringing communities together

The second round of the Government's £3 million Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund has opened a two-week window for applications.

Stage One applications will be accepted from 20 February 2023 to 3 March 2023 (23:59).

Funding to help communities across the UK take ownership of assets at risk of closure.

The £150 million Community Ownership Fund aims to support charities and community groups across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to take ownership of assets which are at risk of being lost to the community. It will run for four years (until 2024/25) with three bidding windows per year.

The deadline for expressions of interest to the third window of Round two is 24 March 2023 with the deadline for full applications on 14 April 2023.

Grants available to enable small to medium sized museums to care for their collections more effectively and efficiently and to meet the standards required for Accreditation.

AIM (the Association for Independent Museums) has renewed funding for the Audit, Collections Care and Remedial Conservation grant schemes for a further three years.

The deadlines for applications are 31 March and 30 September.

Grants are available to organisations to help raise the standards of underperforming schools in England.

The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) grant funding tests the impact of high-potential projects aiming to raise the attainment and wider outcomes of 3 – 18 year-olds, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The deadline for applications is 23 March 2023.

Grants available to local authorities in the UK to tackle chewing gum staining.

The Chewing Gum Task Force Grant Scheme is open to councils across the UK who wish to clean the gum off the pavements in their local areas and invest in long-term behaviour change to prevent gum from being dropped in the first place. 

The deadline for applications is 24 March 2023 (5pm).

Funding to improve the accessibility of available waterways and canoeing facilities and protect the natural environment.

The Canoe Foundation raises money; informs and educates; and allocates funds, in line with its main purpose to “support all to enjoy and benefit from the experience of paddling on our water in a sustainable manner”.

The fund is open until 11 April 2023 (23.59).

Funding for not-for-profit organisations to deliver community-led programmes that help to recognise and support Nuclear Test Veterans and their families.

Provided by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, the £200,000 Nuclear Test Veteran Community Fund is offering grants of up to £70,000, with an option to apply for a grant of up to £100,000.

Applications will be accepted from 15 February 2023 to 10 March 2023 (23:59).

Smaller charities and community groups across Great Britain can apply for one-off £500 grants from 1 March until 31 October 2023.

LocalGiving has announced that it will launch its annual Magic Little Grants scheme for the sixth year in a row with more money than last year.

Applications will be accepted from 1 March to 31 October 2023.

This programme provides an opportunity for innovators to change the world with ‘big ideas’ in the general field of information and communications technologies.

The Nokia Bell Labs Prize is a competition for innovators from around the globe. It seeks to recognise innovations that solve the key challenges facing humanity and provides selected innovators the opportunity to collaborate with Nokia Bell Labs researchers to help realise their vision.

The deadline for applications is 21 April 2023.

Funding for small, local registered charities in the UK to support summer playschemes for children (aged 5-16 years) from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Woodward Charitable Trust is currently accepting applications to its annual funding round from UK registered charities, community interest companies, charitable incorporated organisations or exempt charities with an annual turnover of less than £100,000.

Applications are now open with a deadline of 6 April 2023 (noon).

Voluntary and community organisations across the United Kingdom can apply for funding for projects and activities that promote the long-term preservation and development of endangered heritage crafts.

Heritage Crafts Association is offering grants of between £500 and £2,000 to support crafts that are currently listed as endangered or critically endangered on the Red List of Endangered Crafts and provide opportunities for makers and trainees who wish to develop or share their skills in the crafts that have been identified as being most at risk.

The deadline for applications is 3 March 2023.

Unrestricted funding for groups with a track record of supporting those experiencing complex issues.

Organisations have almost three weeks left to apply for the Lloyd’s Bank Foundation’s Specialist Programme, which is open to registered charities and Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) in England and Wales with an annual income of £25,000 to £500,000.

The deadline to apply is 3 March 2023 at 5pm.