Worcestershire Community Foundation Grants

Strengthening Worcestershire Fund 2026 (Round 3)

Worcestershire Community Foundation

The Strengthening Worcestershire Fund helps charities and community groups support people in Worcestershire who are still feeling the effects of the cost of living. Round 3 is run by Worcestershire Community Foundation in partnership with Worcestershire County Council, with up to £115,000 to share across the county. You can apply for projects in six themes: reducing poverty and financial hardship; building individual and community resilience; improving health, wellbeing and independence; tackling social isolation; improving access to support and services; and supporting unpaid carers. Ideas include food banks, community fridges, energy advice, debt advice, dementia cafes, befriending groups, digital inclusion and community transport. Projects can help any age group, and the foundation particularly welcomes projects where deprivation is greatest. Most grants are £2,000 to £5,000. A small number of particularly strong or innovative projects with wider impacts can apply for up to £7,500, but your bid must be proportionate to your organisation's income. Applications close at 5.00 pm on 29 October 2026. Funded projects must run between 1 March 2027 and 29 February 2028, and you can ask for no more than 12 months' funding. Plan your budget carefully. Overheads and core costs cannot be more than 15% of total project costs, and capital equipment no more than 25%. At least 5% of your costs must come from in kind support, volunteering or your own match funding. Bids for capital items alone, such as a minibus, will not be funded. If your organisation received a grant from this fund in 2025, you cannot apply this round. Groups funded in 2024 may reapply. Official source: https://www.worcscf.org.uk/grants/strengthening-worcestershire-fund-2026/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 28 October 2026.