The projects we fund

The types of project and partnerships we want to fund

We fund partnerships because organisations working together can often make bigger changes in communities than they could on their own.

We want to fund partnerships where everyone can use their own experience and perspectives to work toward shared goals.

You can apply for funding to deliver new or existing activity or to support your organisations to change and adapt to new and future challenges.

We can fund projects or organisations that’ll do at least one of these things:

• Bring people together 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 want to be flexible and respond to your community’s needs. So we’ll offer funding:

• For the long or short term
• For a specific activity, or for broader costs to help your organisation or community
• To support people, communities and organisations most affected by the cost-of-living crisis
• To help organisations address the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on how they work, now and in the future

The types of partnership we can fund are:

• Cross-sector partnerships
• Local organisations working together in their area
• Local and national organisations working together around a particular theme

People-led, strengths-based and connected

People understand what’s needed in their communities better than anyone. We want to support projects that:

• Involve people and communities from the start
• Build on people’s strengths
• Are connected in their community

Involving people and communities from the start

By putting communities first, we support people and communities to prosper and thrive. We want your funding proposal to demonstrate this clearly.

It’s important to us that you involve your community in the design, development and delivery of the activities that you’re planning. You might want to think about:

• If you have spoken to the people in your community
• If the people in your community have told you what they need and what's important to them
• If you have listened to them and used what they've said to create your project
• What you can do to find out what’s important to people in your community – for example, surveys, meetings, telephone calls, conversations with helper agencies and engaging with stakeholders
• Who's involved in delivering your project. Encourage people who benefit from your project to get more involved in running your organisation and making decisions, e.g., becoming trustees or volunteers

Building on people's strengths

We’d like to support people and communities to build on the knowledge, skills and experience they already have, to make the changes they want. You might want to think about:

• What’s already working in your community
• How your project will add to these positive things that are already working
• How your project will make the most of any resources that are already helping your community
• What skills, knowledge and experiences people in your community have to contribute to the project
• How the project can make sure it uses these

Connected in your community

We want to know that you’ve a good understanding of other activities and services in your community. We’d like to know how you’ll complement these so you can add value to what’s already there. You might want to think about:

• If you have spoken to other groups in the area that are doing something similar to your project
• How groups in your area can all help each other

If your project works with children, young people or vulnerable adults

You need to have a policy in place that explains how they’ll be safe. And so will any partners that are involved in that work. If you get funding, you’ll need to follow our policy on safeguarding children and adults at risk.

The NCVO website has child safeguarding advice and information services.

Equalities, diversity and inclusion

We want to know your organisation’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion. We expect your organisation and the activities we fund to be open and accessible, to promote equalities and challenge discrimination.

We would like to understand your approach to equalities, from accessibility to participation and decision making. So we might ask to see your organisation’s equalities policy as part of our assessment.

You can read more about our equality principles.

Check your partners also have relevant policies in place

You should check that your partners have the relevant safeguarding, equality and environmental policies and procedures in place.