What you can spend the money on
We fund a variety of costs to help your project succeed. These must be directly related to your project and can include:
- running costs for your project
- project activity costs
- equipment
- one off events
- staff costs
- training and facilitator costs
- transport
- utilities
- volunteer expenses
- small land or refurbishment projects
We encourage you to think about any costs that help your organisation and community cope with the cost-of-living crisis.
Political activity and campaigning
We fund some political activities, but only if they:
- are not party-political
- support your organisation's cause and benefit the public
We will not fund projects where political activities are the main purpose.
If you're applying for land, building or refurbishment costs
If you do not own the land or building, you must:
- have a lease of five years or more, or a letter confirming you’ll be granted one
- have written permission from the owner or landlord to do the work
Also you should check if you need planning permission.
What we cannot fund
We cannot fund:
- costs you’ve already paid for
- alcohol
- contingency costs, loans, endowments or interest
- someone else to write your application for you
- profit-making or fundraising activities
- VAT you can reclaim
- religious activities (we can fund religious organisations if the project benefits the wider community and does not include religious content)
- statutory services or activities
- overseas travel
- pre-school provision funded by government
- pre pre-school provision that receives statutory funding
- projects that take place outside the UK
- activities that make a private profit
- giving cash directly to individuals
- projects that focus on engaging people in sports, arts or heritage based activities or for sports, arts or heritage equipment and facilities
If you are not sure if something can be funded, contact us.