Below is a list of funds and organisations that may be able to provide financial assistance for your voluntary, community or charitable organisation.
Financial assistance
Community Chest Fund funding (up to £1,000) core or project funding for established voluntary, charitable organisations and community groups.
House of Industry for voluntary, community and charitable organisations which help to alleviate need, hardship or distress of residents of the Bedford Borough Council area. Grants will normally only be awarded for capital items or one-off emergency revenue funding.
Rural Grants Scheme invites applications for funding from rural organisations or rural Parish Councils and can be submitted at any time, although they are normally considered by the Rural Affairs Committee three times a year, in April, September and January, subject to funds being available. Applications must be submitted by the relevant Parish Council.
Awards for All (England) a quick and simple way to get small National Lottery grants of between £300 and £10,000.
The Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation is a grant maker supporting local community groups and charities.
Reaching Communities flexible National Lottery funding over £10,000 for up to five years to organisations in England who want to take action on the issues that matter to people and communities.
Charity Bank can provide charity loan funding from £50,000 up to £1 million. They invest in organisations that have a social purpose including community groups, registered charities and social enterprises.
CVS Funding Information CVS has a page dedicated to Funding Advice. The page features a number of useful workshops for those seeking funding, lists of local, regional and national funders and much more.
Applications to the Co-op Community Fund are accepted from community, voluntary and self-help groups. Grants from £100 to £2,000 are available for anything from equipment to event costs.
The Dulverton Trust is an independent grant-making charity and company limited by guarantee. The Trust currently supports a wide range of activities in the categories of Youth Opportunities; General Welfare; Conservation and Preservation.
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation funds the charitable work of organisations with the ideas and ability to achieve positive change. Grants are available towards a wide range of work within the arts, education and learning, the environment and social change.
Foundation East provides loans of up to £50,000 to enterprises based in Eastern England, who have been unable to obtain funding from traditional sources. Foundation East is also a delivery partner for the 'Start Up Loans for Young People' initiative, offering young entrepreneurs a loan, together with free business mentoring.
Funding Central is free website for charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises. The site provides access to thousands of funding opportunities and much more.
Harpur Trust supports the community by giving grants to local projects in the Borough of Bedford. Visit the website to see if your project is within their area of benefit and apply for one of its grants.
The Flexible Support Grant fund awards funding to local 'partnerships' who are seeking grants to finance innovative projects that will help to get people back into work.
Panacea Society provide grants for projects run by community groups based in, or working for, the benefit of people in the town of Bedford.
Santander Foundation provides one-off grants to organisations with charitable status for their work in the UK. There are two grants programmes, both focus on benefiting disadvantaged people and have no deadlines.
Team BEDS and LUTON is a County Sports Partnership (CSP) committed to working to increase participation in sport and physical activity across the sporting landscape.
Sport England provides grant funding opportunities for sports clubs, voluntary/community groups, schools, colleges and others for projects that fall within one or more of their key strategic aims for development of their approved sports throughout England.
Tudor Trust supports voluntary and community groups working in the UK. It helps smaller, community-led groups which support people who are at the margins of society.
Wixamtree Trust makes grants to charitable bodies at the discretion of the Trustees. They focus most of their support on organisations based in Bedfordshire or projects that benefit the people of that county. A small number of national charities with a focus on family social welfare issues are also supported.
Help with your funding application
The Voluntary Works Consortium can provide advice and guidance on how to find funding opportunities for your group. They offer support in developing the governance of your organisation and can also help with linking potential volunteers with vacancies in your organisation.
Visit help with your funding application for more information.
