FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

To be successful, applicants will need to indicate how the activity/group can become self-sustainable or be able to attract funding from other sources for the longer term and have received less than £50,000 from other sources in the past 12 months.

The areas of special interest are:

• Young people’s improved mental health;
• Arts as a tool to achieve social change;
• Improved quality of life for carers and for older peopl
• Better opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers.

You can apply for funding for a range of projects including:

• building improvements
• playground equipment
• vehicle purchases
• recreation facilities
• IT equipment
• sports equipment
• events costs
• energy efficient measures

The Foundation is particularly interested in supporting organisations that focus their work on:

Young people within the criminal justice system or those at risk of offending

Looked after children or care leavers

Those with significant mental health concerns or complex needs

Young people who have been traumatised by challenging family backgrounds, neglect, violence or abuse

Those that have fallen through the gaps in care and/or education

Those already affected by, or vulnerable to, exploitation

Whose experiences could seriously impact their transition into adulthood

The Trustees meet three times a year in in Feb, May and Sep. Arts, Churches, Community, Medical, Miscellaneous and Youth. They will consider core funding, project-based initiatives, refurbishment of premises and also equipment. Average grant size is around £2,000 – £3,000.

The Trustees meet three times a year - January, May and September.

• Provide a focus for skills development and confidence building
• Have a strong training and/or educational theme
• Provide specialised sporting equipment or facilities required to open opportunities
• Have a high degree of involvement from beneficiaries and those with lived experience
• Have a plan for sustainability and seek to deliver a lasting legacy

Applications welcome for initiatives in the Southeast that:

• Work with or benefit disabled, chronically or terminally ill children and provide support for their parents and carers
• Support children and young people who face mental ill health
• Help to engage children or young people at risk of crime, truancy or addiction
• Support young people at risk of homelessness or provide new opportunities for homeless young people
• Have a high degree of involvement from beneficiaries and those with lived experience

• Have a plan for sustainability and seek to deliver a lasting legacy

Organisations are required to supply 50% of matched funding from other sources.

If you have any queries about the application process, contact Chelmsford CVS by emailing [email protected] or by calling 01245 351888. Applicants will be informed of the decision on the award of their grant in July 2025.

Preference is given to specific items of furniture and equipment (excluding office items) which the Charity can fund in their entirety.

Typical community projects supported include revenue grants for volunteering schemes and capital grants for the restoration of village halls and community centres and for facilities to support community life, and for youth projects to support and inspire young people to achieve their potential including small local groups as well as larger national youth development charities.

Grants are available for up to £10,000 for capital spend or direct project delivery.

The Morrisons Foundation prioritises applications from small charities, those with an income of less than £1m, but applications from larger charities are welcome.

In order to support communities, we fund partnerships which aim to:

• build strong relationships in and across communities

• improve the places and spaces that matter to communities

• help more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage.

We will prioritise work which is committed to anti-racism and to applying an intersectional lens to inequity. We define anti-racism as ‘the active work to identify and oppose racism, which includes changing systems, structures, policies and practices, as well as attitudes to create a more equitable society.

In order to support communities, we fund projects and organisations which aim to:

• build strong relationships in and across communities

• improve the places and spaces that matter to communities

• help more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage.

We’ll enable children and young people to thrive by:

creating opportunities for children and young people from all backgrounds to enjoy community experiences

helping children and young people shape the decisions that affect them and their communities

providing children and young people access to safe spaces to play, participate, socialise and get support.

We’ll enable people to live healthier lives by:

helping reduce health inequalities

increasing opportunities for community participation to shape better health services

taking a preventative approach to health.

We want to fund projects that:

• strengthen relationships between people whose experiences of life have not been the same. For example, relationships between people of different ethnic backgrounds, generations, occupations or geographies.
• create connections between online and offline worlds.
• help make sure people from all backgrounds can shape the future of their communities.

Funding request not to exceed £100,000 in total over this period, for core costs, salaries, running or project costs.

A grant programme of up to £30,000 will be opening later in the year.

The funding teams have different geographical and thematic focus depending on your area, and they urge you to read the guidance documents and understand the criteria before applying.

With over 150 funds ranging in value and type of funding available to organisations based in Essex, the Essex Community Foundation could support your funding needs.

For more information or to discuss your idea(s) with them you contact them by:

Calling 01245 355947

E-mailing [email protected]

Funding rounds open every 3 months.

Non-profit organisations, including schools, registered charities, community interest companies, and community groups, are invited to apply for funding up to £15,000, with most grants awarded being under £10,000.

Covering a wide range of costs and items, including the purchase of new or improved equipment, refurbishment or upgrading of facilities, development of new capabilities and leadership skills, and covering delivery costs for projects that encourage community engagement in physical activity.