What we want to fund
We want to fund organisations that can support community leaders who are making change in and for their communities.
We want to fund work that:
enables community leaders to shape the future of their communities
involves community leaders across communities and organisations - including those from under-represented groups and those with lived experience
helps community leaders make an impact on wider systems (known as systems change)
shares what they learn with the sector and other projects we fund
What we mean by community leaders
Someone who mobilises people, ideas or resources to create positive change for their community. They often do this using their first-hand experience of a social issue.
They are grassroots leaders, rather than formally appointed leaders of institutions.
They’re also known as:
change makers
informal leaders
hidden leaders
activists
organisers
leaders with lived experiences
Community leaders do not always identify themselves as leaders.
What we mean by communities
Communities can be communities of:
place - like people living in the same area
interest - like people connected by a shared identity, experience or issue
solidarity – like people coming together across different issues or communities to support each other and take collective action
We want to fund projects that:
Enable community leaders to shape the future of their communities
Community leaders are making change happen in tough conditions. This can include poverty, low trust in public services and long-standing inequity.
Many leaders feel isolated and do not have the infrastructure or support they need.
We need you to work with community leaders to co-design support that will help them.
This work could include:
connecting leaders across communities - so they can share skills, knowledge and experience
helping them build strong teams and organisations
providing access to practical training
offering wellbeing support to help leaders sustain their work
building collective power so communities can create lasting change
When thinking about how to bring community leaders together
You must consider:
access needs – for venue accessibility, there is some helpful advice on the Scope website
different backgrounds and cultural needs
time constraints
equitable access – for example, covering costs for things like time, travel and childcare
Involve community leaders across communities and organisations
We want to involve a wide range of community leaders in our work.
This includes:
leaders from under-represented groups, such as people from ethnically minoritised communities
leaders with lived experience
informal leaders (also known as hidden leaders) and people with lived experience
people who are not well represented in decision-making spaces
As an equity-based funder, we will prioritise investment in:
places experiencing poverty and disadvantage
people and communities facing discrimination
groups that have historically had less access to funding and support (due to things like structural racism)
Help community leaders make an impact on wider systems
Bringing community leaders together creates a stronger, shared voice for change.
By connecting leaders across communities in England, we can:
build collective power
share knowledge and experience
strengthen local action
increase impact at a national level
We want to fund work that leads to transformational change. The kind that lasts, not just short-term support.
Share what you learn
We want to understand how you will tell the story of your project to inspire others.
We expect you to:
share what you learn across the sector and with the other projects we fund
raise the profile of community leaders and amplify their work
Your work can change over time
We understand your work may evolve. We’re comfortable with uncertainty and will be flexible as your plans develop.
We want to support you to respond to changing or emerging needs of leaders in the community.
Other things you must do
Working with adults at risk, children and young people
You need to have a policy in place that explains how they’ll be safe. If you get funding you’ll need to follow our safeguarding expectations.
The NCVO website has resources and advice on safeguarding.
Consider your impact on the environment
We want to fund work that supports our commitment to environmental sustainability.