Grants in East Midlands

Green Community Grants Programme

Action Together offers Green Community Grants to organisations in North West England. The funding supports sustainable activities, including recycling. Your organisation's main aims must fit the fund's green themes.

Host Women in STEM scholars in the 2027–28 academic year

British Council

Funding for UK institutions to host Women in STEM scholars in 2027–28. The grant provides £200,000 per cohort of five scholars, equivalent to £40,000 per scholar.

Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund Round 5 Discovery C7

Innovate UK

This grant funds collaborative Discovery Phase projects in the energy sector. To lead a project, you must be an Ofgem licensed electricity or gas distribution network, a transmission operator, or the National Energy System Operator (NESO). You cannot apply alone; all projects must involve a collaboration. This is Round 5 of the Strategic Innovation Fund, run by Innovate UK on behalf of Ofgem.

ChurchCare

ChurchCare

ChurchCare is the Church of England's Cathedral and Church Buildings Division. It provides funding for conservation work on historic church interiors and churchyard structures. The grants are specifically for Anglican churches across England. ChurchCare works with various grant-giving bodies to fund these projects. All conservation work must meet high standards. The funding helps preserve England's historic church buildings. Specific funding amounts are not published. Applications appear to be accepted on a rolling basis.

Strategic Legal Fund

The Strategic Legal Fund supports legal work that helps asylum seekers, refugees and migrants across the UK. This fund goes beyond individual cases to change laws, practices and procedures. It aims to tackle injustices and promote migrant rights more broadly. The fund is available for migrant groups in North West England. No specific funding amounts are mentioned. Applications appear to be accepted on a rolling basis with no set deadline.

Pathways to Work Innovation Fund

Department for Work and Pensions

DWP supports new or significantly different approaches to employment for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions across the UK. Funding can cover costs directly linked to developing, testing and delivering the innovation. Existing business-as-usual costs and simply continuing an unchanged service are excluded. There is no fixed minimum or maximum request; the programme has up to £60 million over two years. Projects must finish within 12 months of the grant agreement, with funding available until March 2028.

CfI: Innovation in play to improve child outcomes

UKRI

UKRI is offering a share of £3 million to develop practical solutions around play for children and young people. Projects should reignite the importance of play and increase access to high quality, real world play experiences. You can apply for between £200,000 and £500,000. The deadline to apply is 28 October 2026.

Reveal and Respond programme

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust

Reveal and Respond funds tailored mental health and wellbeing support for underrepresented armed forces communities. Strand 1 offers £20,000 to £40,000 for two-year pilot projects; Strand 2 offers £150,000 to £300,000 for tested approaches developed over two to three years. Applications close at noon UK time on 28 October 2026.

National Churches Trust - Large Grants

National Churches Trust

Grants up to £50,000 for major repairs or kitchens and accessible toilets in Christian places of worship. New stage-one applications close on 3 November 2026.

WCIT Charity - Technology Project Grants

WCIT Charity

Up to £15,000 for UK charities using technology to improve lives, inclusion, education or charitable services. Applications close on 3 November 2026, or earlier once 50 applications are received.

CfI: Battery innovation for dual use & defence Phase 1

Innovate UK, UKRI, BIST

This grant offers a share of £2 million to develop battery technology for defence and dual-use applications. Dual use means technology that works for both military and civilian purposes. You can apply for between £20,000 and £50,000. The funding supports industrial research to strengthen supply chains and bring critical capabilities back to the UK. The deadline to apply is 4 November 2026.

Family Focus programme

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust

Family Focus offers £100,000 to £200,000 over two to three years for armed forces families with care needs. Projects must follow either the in-service support pathway or the pathway for families leaving service or within two years of leaving. Applications close at noon UK time on 4 November 2026.

Purchase Mid-Range Equipment for Biomedical Research: MRC Equip

Medical Research Council (MRC)

Apply by 4pm UK time on 5 November 2026 for mid-range capital equipment supporting biomedical research within the MRC remit. The MRC contribution must be more than £200,000 and can be up to £1 million, covering up to 100% of eligible full economic costs. Equipment may cost more if other contributions cover the excess. The £14 million figure is the shared programme budget. Awards last seven months, with a 1 June 2027 start and procurement and spending completed by 31 December 2027.

Social Investment Gateway Programme

This free 12-month programme helps charities, social enterprises, and community organisations get ready for social investment. Social investment means borrowing money or taking on investors to grow your organisation, rather than applying for a grant. The programme is run by Action Together and is based in North West England. It is designed for organisations that want to strengthen their trading activity and aim to seek social investment within the next three years.

Leeds Building Society Foundation - Small Grants

Leeds Building Society Foundation

Small grants up to £2,500 for UK charities helping people access a safe and secure home. The current application window closes on 11 November 2026.

MDI Programme Innovation and Scale-up Hub

Innovate UK

Innovate UK is offering up to £4 million for a Manufacturing Digitalisation Innovation and Scale-up Hub. The hub will improve how grant-funded manufacturing digitalisation activity is targeted, delivered, and turned into commercial results. UK registered organisations can apply. The deadline to apply is 18 October 2026.

UK Obesity Research Institute: Full Application

Medical Research Council (MRC)

Apply by 4pm UK time on 19 November 2026 to establish a director-led UK institute researching the biological mechanisms of obesity and related disease. UKRI expects one award, with funding up to £72 million for an initial seven years. The £90 million figure is the full economic cost ceiling, not the cash grant. Funding normally covers 80% of full economic costs, with specified exceptions at 100%, within the published contribution limit. Funding is subject to full business-case approval.

UK-Germany Bilateral Collaborative R&D: Round 5

Innovate UK

Innovate UK is offering up to £2.4 million for UK SMEs to develop innovative projects with German partners. You can apply for between £100,000 and £350,000. You must work with at least one German SME applying through Germany's ZIM programme. The deadline to apply is 1 December 2026.

Battery Innovation: Concept Development Rd 3

Innovate UK Business Connect

UK businesses can apply for a share of up to £25 million. The funding supports innovation in battery materials for electric vehicles and electrification. This is Round 3 of the Battery Innovation Programme. The deadline to apply is 2 December 2026.

Battery Innovation: Feasibility Studies Rd 3

Innovate UK

Innovate UK is funding feasibility studies in battery innovation. You must lead a collaborative project as a UK registered business. Your consortium must include at least one UK registered SME claiming grant funding. A feasibility study is an early-stage investigation into whether an idea is technically and commercially viable.

Gambling harms research grants

Arts and Humanities Research Council

UKRI is accepting research proposals on gambling-related harm. Projects can have a full economic cost of up to £2 million. UKRI normally funds 80%, with some eligible costs funded at 100%. The £18 million figure is the programme budget.

International Tree Foundation - UK Community Tree Planting Programme

This programme funds community tree planting projects in North West England. It supports groups that plant and care for native tree species. Your project must involve the local community in tree planting and ongoing care. The funding is run by Action Together on behalf of the International Tree Foundation.

Together For Service Families open programme

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust

Grants of £5,000 to £75,000 support projects lasting one to three years that reduce the impact of service-related separation or relocation on serving families. Charities and CICs registered for less than three years are limited to £50,000. Applications close at noon UK time on 16 December 2026.