Community grants in the South East
As of 22 October 2026, GrantMatch lists 44 live grants for community groups in the South East from 35 funders. 11 close in the next 30 days, the first on 25 October 2026, 24 are open all year with no fixed deadline, and 32 were added this week. Each entry links to the official source.
Listings last checked 22 October 2026. Guide checked 21 October 2026.
The South East runs from Kent and Sussex across Surrey, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. It is a wealthy region overall, but funders here focus hard on pockets of need, and much of the local money is held by county community foundations and county councils.
This page lists live grants tagged to the South East that are open to charities, CICs or community groups. UK-wide community grants are listed underneath.
Find the grants your organisation can win
Tell us about your organisation once and GrantMatch shows the grants you are most likely to win, checks your eligibility and emails you when new funding for community groups in the South East opens. Free to start, no card needed.
Create free accountClosing in the next 30 days (11)
Berkshire Community Foundation Surviving Winter Funding Round 2026
Berkshire Community Foundation
Berkshire Community Foundation offers up to £2,500 to help small charities and groups pay their energy bills and stay open this winter. Your income must be under £250,000, and groups supporting children, older people and disabled people come first. The money is for energy costs only. Applications close on 29 October 2026. Official source: https://www.berkshirecf.org/surviving-winter-funding-round/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 22 October 2026.
Step Change Fund (Oxfordshire Community Foundation)
Oxfordshire Community Foundation
Oxfordshire Community Foundation's Step Change Fund gives £10,000 to £50,000 to help established local charities make a big change in how they work, such as growing capacity or becoming more sustainable. Each grant comes with a volunteer project manager who helps you plan and deliver the change. You need an annual income between £100,000 and £1 million, at least three years of operation and most of your beneficiaries in Oxfordshire. The next closing date is midday on 30 October 2026. Official source: https://oxfordshire.org/ocf_grants/step-change-2/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 22 October 2026.
Hendy Foundation Grants (October 2026 round)
Hendy Foundation
The Hendy Foundation funds local charities across the south of England where Hendy Group dealerships operate, from Devon to Kent. Your organisation needs an income under £1 million and must serve people in Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey or Kent. The funder does not publish a grant size. This round closes at 5:30pm on 30 October 2026. Official source: https://www.hendyfoundation.org/grant-request/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 22 October 2026.
SWEF Grants for Young Entrepreneurs (Hampshire and Isle of Wight)
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation (SWEF)
Young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 30 in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight can get £500 to £2,000 to start or grow a new business. Your business should be under two and a half years old, and priority goes to people facing financial barriers. The current round closes on 31 October 2026. Official source: https://hiwcf.org.uk/swef-enterprise-grants-for-individuals/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 22 October 2026.
Childwick Trust Grants
The Childwick Trust
Grants for charities in the South East of England within the Trust funding areas; read the who we fund pages before applying. Decisions take about 12 weeks. Amount: Not stated. Current funding round closes at midnight on 31 October 2026. Who can apply: Charities in the South East, with priority for annual income under £5 million (hospices excepted). A two-year gap is required between successful applications. How to apply: Read the who we fund and who we do not fund sections, then use Apply now on the How to apply page before the round closes. Official source: https://childwicktrust.org/how-to-apply. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.
Legal Advice Sustainability Scheme
London Legal Support Trust
The London Legal Support Trust’s Legal Advice Sustainability Scheme gives £75,000 of unrestricted funding over five years, plus tailored consultancy, to small free legal advice organisations. This round is for organisations based in and mainly serving Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire (including the Isle of Wight) or Surrey. Free specialist legal advice must be your main purpose, with income between £50,000 and £1 million and at least a year of delivery. You need a quality mark or professional regulation, or to be working towards one. Charities, CIOs and CICs limited by guarantee can apply. The deadline is Sunday 1 November 2026, with decisions by mid-December. Open support sessions are listed on the page. Official source: https://londonlegalsupporttrust.org.uk/our-grants/sector-support/centres-of-excellence/legal-advice-sustainability-scheme-lass-applications/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 17 October 2026.
West Sussex Waste Prevention Community Grant Fund 2027
West Sussex County Council
West Sussex County Council and Biffa offer up to £5,000 for community projects that cut household waste and promote reuse and repair. Repair cafés, reuse hubs and food waste projects all fit, and work on batteries and vapes is especially welcome. Projects run from February 2027. Applications close at 11:55pm on 3 November 2026. Official source: https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/land-waste-and-housing/waste-and-recycling/recycling-and-waste-prevention/recycling-news/waste-prevention-community-grant-fund/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 22 October 2026.
Heart of Bucks Connected Communities Fund
Heart of Bucks Community Foundation
A £180,000 two-year fund for work that helps Buckinghamshire residents build lasting social connections and tackles isolation, such as welcoming people into activities, first-step support, better referral routes and transport or access barriers. Amount: Up to about £90,000 a year in total across no more than three grants, for two years. Expressions of interest close midday on 11 November 2026. Who can apply: Charitable, voluntary and community organisations working in Buckinghamshire. No more than three grants a year are expected. How to apply: Read the fund page and Heart of Bucks application resources, then apply online through the link on the fund page. Call 01296 330134 for help. Official source: https://heartofbucks.org/connected-communities/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.
And 3 more in all open grants below.
Added this week (32)
Berkshire Community Foundation Surviving Winter Funding Round 2026
Berkshire Community Foundation
Berkshire Community Foundation offers up to £2,500 to help small charities and groups pay their energy bills and stay open this winter. Your income must be under £250,000, and groups supporting children, older people and disabled people come first. The money is for energy costs only. Applications close on 29 October 2026. Official source: https://www.berkshirecf.org/surviving-winter-funding-round/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 22 October 2026.
Step Change Fund (Oxfordshire Community Foundation)
Oxfordshire Community Foundation
Oxfordshire Community Foundation's Step Change Fund gives £10,000 to £50,000 to help established local charities make a big change in how they work, such as growing capacity or becoming more sustainable. Each grant comes with a volunteer project manager who helps you plan and deliver the change. You need an annual income between £100,000 and £1 million, at least three years of operation and most of your beneficiaries in Oxfordshire. The next closing date is midday on 30 October 2026. Official source: https://oxfordshire.org/ocf_grants/step-change-2/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 22 October 2026.
Hendy Foundation Grants (October 2026 round)
Hendy Foundation
The Hendy Foundation funds local charities across the south of England where Hendy Group dealerships operate, from Devon to Kent. Your organisation needs an income under £1 million and must serve people in Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey or Kent. The funder does not publish a grant size. This round closes at 5:30pm on 30 October 2026. Official source: https://www.hendyfoundation.org/grant-request/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 22 October 2026.
SWEF Grants for Young Entrepreneurs (Hampshire and Isle of Wight)
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation (SWEF)
Young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 30 in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight can get £500 to £2,000 to start or grow a new business. Your business should be under two and a half years old, and priority goes to people facing financial barriers. The current round closes on 31 October 2026. Official source: https://hiwcf.org.uk/swef-enterprise-grants-for-individuals/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 22 October 2026.
Childwick Trust Grants
The Childwick Trust
Grants for charities in the South East of England within the Trust funding areas; read the who we fund pages before applying. Decisions take about 12 weeks. Amount: Not stated. Current funding round closes at midnight on 31 October 2026. Who can apply: Charities in the South East, with priority for annual income under £5 million (hospices excepted). A two-year gap is required between successful applications. How to apply: Read the who we fund and who we do not fund sections, then use Apply now on the How to apply page before the round closes. Official source: https://childwicktrust.org/how-to-apply. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.
Legal Advice Sustainability Scheme
London Legal Support Trust
The London Legal Support Trust’s Legal Advice Sustainability Scheme gives £75,000 of unrestricted funding over five years, plus tailored consultancy, to small free legal advice organisations. This round is for organisations based in and mainly serving Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire (including the Isle of Wight) or Surrey. Free specialist legal advice must be your main purpose, with income between £50,000 and £1 million and at least a year of delivery. You need a quality mark or professional regulation, or to be working towards one. Charities, CIOs and CICs limited by guarantee can apply. The deadline is Sunday 1 November 2026, with decisions by mid-December. Open support sessions are listed on the page. Official source: https://londonlegalsupporttrust.org.uk/our-grants/sector-support/centres-of-excellence/legal-advice-sustainability-scheme-lass-applications/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 17 October 2026.
Guide
Checked 21 October 2026 against the official sources linked.
County community foundations
Most counties have a community foundation. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation says its aim is to support smaller charities and community groups, Kent Community Foundation funds groups across Kent and Medway, and Oxfordshire Community Foundation invests around £2 million a year in local charities. MK Community Foundation has funded Milton Keynes groups for more than 38 years.
Source: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation, Kent Community Foundation, Oxfordshire Community Foundation, MK Community Foundation
Show the local need
Because averages in the region are high, a strong application points to the specific need it meets: a deprived ward, isolated older people, a lack of services in a rural area. Local data from your council or the community foundation can help you make the case.
County and district councils
County councils such as Surrey run community grant schemes tied to their priorities, and district and town councils often have small grants of their own. Their deadlines tend to follow the council year, so check in spring for new rounds.
Seed and small grants
Several funders here offer seed or starter grants of a few hundred pounds for new groups. They are a good first step if you have not had a grant before, and they help you build the track record that larger funders look for.
Who funds this
35 different funders in total. Where a maximum award is stated, the middle value is £5,000.
By grant size
| Largest award | Open grants |
|---|---|
| Up to £2,000 | 8 |
| £2,001 to £10,000 | 17 |
| £10,001 to £100,000 | 5 |
| Over £100,000 | 0 |
| Amount varies or not stated | 14 |
All open grants (44)
No deadline listed
Check the funder's current application window before you apply.
Funding for Organisations – Charities and Community Groups
Kent Community Foundation
Kent Community Foundation gives grants to support local people, charities and community groups in Kent and Medway. This listing covers its funding for organisations, which is aimed at charities and community groups. The Foundation funds work under five priority areas: mental health and wellbeing; children, young people and families; crisis and basic needs; connected communities; and the environment. Through these areas it funds hundreds of charities and community groups across the county. Its vision is a Kent and Medway where every community has the opportunity to thrive. Help is on hand if you are new to applying. The Foundation says hundreds of small charities and community groups secure funding with its support every year. You can read its application guidance, browse the FAQs and use a short eligibility checker to see whether your organisation qualifies. The Grants Team can guide you through the process by email at hello@kentcf.org.uk or by phone on 01303 814 500. The Foundation also has other routes. Professionals working with people in financial hardship can nominate individuals and families for a grant. There is also a social lending programme, with unsecured loans of £10,000 to £100,000 and up to 30% as a grant. These are separate from funding for organisations. One practical point: this page works as a starting point rather than a full set of guidelines. Use the eligibility checker and the guidance before you begin, so you can be sure your work fits one of the priority areas and your organisation qualifies. Official source: https://kentcf.org.uk/funding/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
Duke of Devonshire's Charitable Trust Grants
The Duke of Devonshire's Charitable Trust
Single-year grants for charitable causes local or relevant to the Chatsworth, Bolton Abbey and Devonshire Group estates, mainly Derbyshire, plus areas near Bolton Abbey in North Yorkshire and Eastbourne in Sussex. Amount: Typically £250 to £10,000. Rolling: applications welcome; trustees expected to meet in autumn 2026. Who can apply: UK registered charities, CIOs and CICs (or exempt bodies such as churches and schools). Not within 12 months of an unsuccessful bid or 2 years of a grant. Show good fundraising progress. How to apply: Complete the application form on the DDCT website and email it with your accounts to ddct@chatsworth.org, or post it to Chatsworth, Bakewell, DE45 1PP. Official source: https://ddct.org.uk/guidelines/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.
Kent County Council Combined Members Grant 2026/27
Kent County Council
Every Kent county councillor has £3,600 a year to give to local community projects through the Combined Members Grant. Events, equipment, training, sports and community safety projects all fit. Talk to your county councillor before you apply. Grants are given throughout the financial year until the money runs out. Official source: https://www.kent.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/community-grants-and-funding/our-current-funding-opportunities/combined-members-grant. Last checked by GrantMatch on 22 October 2026.
Thames Water River Health and Community Fund Microgrant
Thames Water
Thames Water gives community groups and charities up to £5,000 for small water-themed projects, such as ponds, rainwater harvesting or accessible toilets. You must be in the Thames Water supply area. Start with a short expression of interest. The fund runs until 2030; the form shows current deadlines. Official source: https://www.thameswater.co.uk/about-us/community/community-funding. Last checked by GrantMatch on 22 October 2026.
MK Community Foundation Sapling Grants
Milton Keynes Community Foundation
Grants to develop and strengthen community projects and emerging organisations in Milton Keynes so they can grow, increase their impact and create lasting local benefit. Amount: £750 to £5,000. Rolling: apply by the last Friday of each month; about four-week decision. Who can apply: Constituted not-for-profit organisations supporting people in Milton Keynes: unincorporated associations, registered charities, CIOs, sports clubs, and faith groups running community-focused activity. How to apply: Read the application guidelines and grants policy, then apply through the MK Community Foundation application portal. You will upload your constitution, latest accounts, a bank statement and safeguarding policy. Official source: https://www.mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk/apply-for-a-grant/sapling-grants/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.
Thames Water Engage the River Grant
Thames Water
Thames Water gives up to £50,000 for projects that get people involved with their local river. River sports, citizen science, river events and school STEM projects all fit. You must be in the Thames Water area. Start with an expression of interest; the fund runs until 2030. Official source: https://www.thameswater.co.uk/about-us/community/community-funding. Last checked by GrantMatch on 22 October 2026.
More grants
Get alerts when new grants open
Tell us about your organisation once and GrantMatch shows the grants you are most likely to win, checks your eligibility and emails you when new funding for community groups in the South East opens. Free to start, no card needed.
Create free accountLegal Advice Sustainability Scheme
London Legal Support Trust
The London Legal Support Trust’s Legal Advice Sustainability Scheme gives £75,000 of unrestricted funding over five years, plus tailored consultancy, to small free legal advice organisations. This round is for organisations based in and mainly serving Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire (including the Isle of Wight) or Surrey. Free specialist legal advice must be your main purpose, with income between £50,000 and £1 million and at least a year of delivery. You need a quality mark or professional regulation, or to be working towards one. Charities, CIOs and CICs limited by guarantee can apply. The deadline is Sunday 1 November 2026, with decisions by mid-December. Open support sessions are listed on the page. Official source: https://londonlegalsupporttrust.org.uk/our-grants/sector-support/centres-of-excellence/legal-advice-sustainability-scheme-lass-applications/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 17 October 2026.
UK-wide community grants also open here
These are open to groups anywhere in the UK. Check each one for its full rules.
Sylvia Waddilove Foundation UK
Sylvia Waddilove Foundation UK
Grants usually of £1,000 to £5,000, mainly for capital costs, across areas including the arts, disability, hospices, historic buildings and education. UK charities can apply; income limits vary by funding area (for example under £500,000 for most arts and £3 million for building preservation). Apply through the online form before 12 noon on 30 October 2026 (the autumn round may close early if busy). Official source: https://pwwsolicitors.co.uk/charity-grants/waddilove-foundation-uk/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.
Ford Britain Trust Small Grants
Ford Britain Trust
Small grants of up to £250 for capital items and projects that benefit communities, young people, education and disabled people. Areas near Ford sites get priority. Registered charities, state schools, PTAs and not-for-profit groups in the UK can apply. Large grants (up to £3,000) are paused until a new form is published. Apply online by 31 October 2026 for review in November. Official source: https://www.ford.co.uk/experience-ford/news/ford-britain-trust. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.
LGBT+ Fund Get Active Fund
The LGBT+ Fund (Consortium)
Grants of £5,000 to £25,000 a year, for one or two years, for LGBT+ sport and physical activity groups across the UK. UK organisations and groups working in LGBT+ sport and physical activity can apply, with priority for grassroots groups. Apply on the LGBT+ Fund website before 12 noon on 4 November 2026. Official source: https://lgbtfund.org.uk/live-funds/get-active-fund/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.
British Science Week Community Grant Scheme
British Science Association
Grants for community groups to run science activity for British Science Week 2027. Pilot Grants are £2,500, and Incubator Grants of £5,000 to £8,000 fund projects co-designed by community organisations and researchers. Community organisations and groups across the UK can apply, especially those working with audiences under-represented in science. Apply online through the British Science Week website before 5pm on 4 November 2026. Decisions by 14 December 2026. Official source: https://www.britishscienceweek.org/grants/community-grant-scheme/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.
British Science Week Curiosity Grant for Schools
British Science Association
A £600 cash grant paid to a school to run science activity for British Science Week 2027. UK schools can apply. No more than £100 can go on refreshments. Apply online from the British Science Week site by 5pm on 4 November 2026. Official source: https://www.britishscienceweek.org/grants/new-school-funding-2027/curiosity-grant/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.
Social Investment Gateway Programme
School for Social Entrepreneurs
The Social Investment Gateway Programme is a free 12-month support programme run by the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE). It helps charities, social enterprises and community organisations strengthen their trading and move closer to being ready for social investment within the next three years. The programme will support 75 leaders across four cohorts. Cohort 2 runs from 1 March 2027 to 1 February 2028, and applications are now open. Face-to-face sessions take place in London and Manchester at the start, middle and end of the programme. You can choose between two types of grant. A Match Trading Grant of up to £18,000 is designed to challenge your trading, and you can only draw it down as your trading grows. It is paid over 12 months in five instalments. A repayable grant of up to £24,000 is also available, with an average of around £22,000. SSE is piloting repayable grants, and 10 are on offer across both rounds. SSE will share the risk with you and wants to learn with you how repayable grants might help organisations get into social investment. The programme suits organisations that have a trading model and plans to grow over the next year. You might want support with market development, pricing and sales, financial strategy, systems, governance, demonstrating impact or managing risk. The deadline is noon on Friday 6 November 2026. One practical point: you should usually have an annual income above £100,000, counting all income and not just trading income. Groups below that level with a strong trading model are encouraged to contact SSE. Official source: https://www.actiontogether.org.uk/social-investment-gateway-programme. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
Leeds Building Society Foundation - Small Grants
Leeds Building Society Foundation
The Leeds Building Society Foundation Small Grants help UK charities that support people in need of a safe and secure home. The Foundation funds work in the housing and homelessness sector. You can apply for up to £2,500. The grants are flexible, so you can ask for core, project or capital costs. The average grant period is between six months and a year. The scheme suits UK-registered charities with a turnover of under £500,000. You can be based anywhere in the UK. Your application must meet at least one of the funding priorities: financial stress, security and refuge, or quality and suitability of housing. You can also apply under the theme of health and wellbeing support for people experiencing homelessness. This must be part of wraparound support, and your application must also meet at least one of the other priorities. The Foundation welcomes applications that take a Housing First and/or relationship-based approach. It would like to see evidence of strength-based practice, trauma-informed care and psychologically informed environments. The current application window opened on 8 September 2026 and closes on 11 November 2026. The Foundation's meeting for this window is on 4 December 2026. One practical point: the Foundation highly recommends reading its grant giving guide before you apply. The guide explains what is funded, who is eligible and how the process works. Official source: https://www.leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk/your-society/about-us/foundation/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
DPS Social Commitment Programme: Scale
School for Social Entrepreneurs
A nine-month learning programme plus a grant of up to £10,000 for established social enterprises and charities that help people get and keep secure housing. UK organisations tackling housing insecurity, usually with annual income over £100,000 and a model ready to grow, can apply. Register interest and apply on the SSE website by 12pm on 16 November 2026. Official source: https://www.the-sse.org/programme/the-dps-social-commitment-programme-scale/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.
See every grant for community groups (69 in total)
Questions
What community grants are open in the South East?
Today GrantMatch lists 44 live grants tagged to the South East that are open to charities, CICs or community groups, from 35 funders. 25 offer up to £10,000, 24 have no fixed deadline and 11 close in the next 30 days.
Which counties are in the South East?
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey. London is a separate region with its own page.
Who are the main funders?
Funding here comes from community foundations, councils and others. Today the largest funders on this page are Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation, Milton Keynes Community Foundation, Berkshire Community Foundation.
Can a new group get a grant?
Yes. Several funders in the region offer small seed grants for new or very small groups. You will usually still need a simple constitution and a bank account in the group name.
How do you check these grants?
We collect grants from official funder pages, GOV.UK, councils and community foundations, and remove them when they close. Each grant page links to its source and shows when we last checked it. Always confirm the details with the funder before you apply.
Start your free GrantMatch account
Tell us about your organisation once and GrantMatch shows the grants you are most likely to win, checks your eligibility and emails you when new funding for community groups in the South East opens. Free to start, no card needed.
Create free accountRelated pages
Sources and how we check
We collect grants from official funder pages and remove them when they close. Each grant page links to its source and shows when we last checked it. Always confirm the details with the funder before you apply. Guide sources: