Grants for Community Groups UK: What You Can Apply For

You don't need to be a big charity to get a grant. Residents' associations, friends-of groups, lunch clubs, community gardens and local clubs win grants every week, often from funders set up for exactly that kind of group. This guide covers who funds community groups, what you need in place, and where to start.

Updated 9 October 2026. Every grant linked below was checked as open on that date.

What counts as a community group?

Funders use the term loosely. You are probably in scope if you are:

a residents' or tenants' association
a friends-of group for a park, library or school
a local club or society, from a walking group to a lunch club
a community garden, food or arts project run by volunteers
a small charity or CIC working in one area

Most of these are unincorporated associations: a group of people working together under a set of rules, without being a company or a registered charity. That is fine for many grants. If your group isn't a registered charity, our guide to grants for charities won't all apply, but plenty of funders will still consider you.

Who funds community groups?

The National Lottery Community Fund is the first stop for many groups. Awards for All England gives £300 to £20,000 for projects of up to two years that bring people together and improve communities. Decisions take around 16 weeks.

Councils often run small grant schemes, sometimes called community chests. Two examples open now:

South Cambridgeshire Community Chest Grants give up to £2,000 in a financial year, and can cover 100% of project costs.
Reading's Small Grants Fund offers up to £7,500 to local voluntary groups with an income under £100,000. It closes on 13 November 2026.

Community foundations pool money from local donors and give it out as small, place-based grants. They usually know their area well, and the forms tend to be shorter than national ones.

Companies run community funds too, often tied to where they trade. Arnold Clark's Cost-of-Living Support fund, for example, is open to groups within 50 miles of one of its branches.

You can see every grant open to charities and community groups on GrantMatch.

How big are community grants?

Micro grants, up to about £1,000, for one event, piece of equipment or small project. The forms are short.
Small grants, £1,000 to £10,000, for a programme or a year of activity.
Larger grants, £10,000 and up, usually for groups with a track record and accounts.

Don't overlook the small pots. They often take an evening to apply for.

What you need before you apply

Most funders ask community groups for the same basics:

A governing document. For most small groups this is a constitution: a short document setting out your purpose, who runs the group and how decisions are made.
A bank account in the group's name, usually with at least two unrelated people needed to sign or approve payments.
A committee, rather than one person in charge. Many funders want at least two members who aren't related.
Simple financial records, or a budget if you're new.
Policies for the work you do, especially safeguarding if you work with children or vulnerable adults.

If you don't have these yet, our guide on how small groups win a first grant walks through getting set up.

Finding the right grant

Start local. Check your council, community foundation and local council for voluntary service (CVS) first. There's less competition and the forms are simpler.

Match the fund to your group. Filter by your type of group and the people you serve, rather than reading every fund from the top. Some funds are only for registered charities. Others welcome unincorporated groups.

Read the eligibility rules twice. Most rejected applications fail on eligibility, not on the idea. Check the type of group, the area, the amount and the deadline before you start.

Keep your documents in one folder. Your constitution, bank details, accounts or budget and two or three short stories about your impact will cover most forms.

Show what difference you make

Funders want to see that your work changes something. Start collecting evidence now: how many people come, what changes for them, and one or two real examples. You don't need a formal evaluation. A simple record of who you work with and what happens as a result puts you ahead of most applicants.

Grants for particular kinds of group

These guides go deeper:

Questions people ask

Can an unincorporated group get a grant? Yes, from many funders, as long as you have a constitution, a committee and a group bank account. Some funds are open only to registered charities, so check first.

Do we need to register as a charity? Not to get most small grants. In England and Wales, a charity usually has to register with the Charity Commission once its income goes over £5,000 a year.

How long does it take to hear back? Anything from a few weeks for a council micro grant to around 16 weeks for Awards for All.

Want to see grants that fit your group? Create a free GrantMatch account, tell us where you are and what you do, and we'll show you what's open. Every listing stays free to read.

We check every deadline on the funder's own website before publishing. Funders do change dates, so always confirm on their site before you apply.