Funding for communities

This section provides information for the voluntary and community sector (VCS) on obtaining funding for activities and projects.

County Council grants

District Council grants

South Cambridgeshire District Council

East Cambridgeshire District Council

Community Facilities Grant
Community Fund
Community Land Trusts
Section 106 Funding
VCAEC
Voluntary & Community Organisation Toolkits

Cambridge City Council

Huntingdonshire District Council

works with umbrella organisations like Hunts Forum and Cambridgeshire ACRE to provide information and organise events directed at the VCS
works in partnership with local voluntary and community groups to apply for funding

Fenland District Council

Changing Views Grants
Glassmoor Local Environment Fund
Ransonmoor Community Fund
Whitemill Environment Fund

Local Support Organisations

Cambridge Council for Voluntary Service
Cambridgeshire ACRE
Support Cambridgeshire
Support Cambridgeshire 4 Communities (Grant Finder Portal)

Local Charitable Organisations

Charitable Foundations and Trusts

Charities, trusts, foundations and private/business sponsorship are all sources of potential financial assistance. You can find a few listed below. Research on the web or by subscription to one of the numerous funding directories and digests are the best ways of keeping up to date with opportunities.

National Government/European Funding

Community Ownership and Management of Assets Programme
European Union
Neighbourhood Planning Grants

Big Lottery Fund is matching funds from the European Social Fund (ESF) for projects across England to tackle poverty and promote social inclusion in the The National Lottery Community Fund ESF is part of the European Structural and Investment Fund programme.

Funding for Young People and Families

See also the Funding for Communities section above.

Funding for Culture, Arts and Music

The Council aims to support access to cultural opportunities in the county and involves several initiatives:

developing work in partnership with Arts Council England, East, the District and City Councils, professional and voluntary arts’ organisations
general advice on the provision, management and development of arts’ facilities, projects and schemes
advice and support to locally-based groups and organisations wishing to apply for funding from other sources

Charitable Foundations and Trusts

Charities, trusts, foundations and private/business sponsorship are all sources of potential financial assistance. You can find a few listed below. Research on the web or by subscription to one of the numerous funding directories and digests are the best ways of keeping up to date with opportunities.

Arts

Children and Youth

Crafts

International

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

Museums and Heritage

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is the largest dedicated grant funder of the UK's heritage. It is offering grants of £3,000 to £10,000 to not-for-profit organisations and partnerships for heritage projects through Start-up Grants. Applications can be submitted at any time and will be assessed within eight weeks. The HLF’s Townscape Heritage Initiative is open for application. Grants of between £100,000 and £2 million are available to support schemes that regenerate the historic environment in towns and cities.

Music

Arts Support Websites and What’s On?

Advice, Information and Contacts

Artists in Education

The Council's Code of Practice for artists working in schools is designed to help ensure that all those involved in an artist's residency, short project or even a one-off visit have agreed how the project will operate. Forward planning and putting child safety first helps to make sure the experience is positive for all concerned.

If you are working with young people and/or vulnerable adults you will need to undergo a DBS Check.