How to apply
We moved to a new application form on Tuesday 13 August 2019
You can still apply to us by email or post. But we expect to move to a new online application form in late October 2019.
Applying by email or post
- Save the application form (PDF 950KB) to your computer and open it with the latest version of Adobe Reader. Don't use Preview or any other application.
- The easiest way to fill in the form is by typing into the file itself - you don't need to print it off, unless you prefer to send it by post.
- Email or post the completed application form to us. You’ll get details on how to do that in the application form.
It might take a bit longer than usual to get a decision from us
From now until the end of 2019 we'll also be changing some of our internal systems to improve the experience of applying for and using our grants. While we do this we expect it may take us longer than usual to process applications. It could take up to 18 weeks for us to tell you our decision, with a further two weeks to pay your grant if you're successful.
If it's difficult or impossible for you to complete an application form
You can contact us if you have any communication support needs. We’re happy to talk about alternative ways for you to tell us about your idea.
What information you need to apply
We ask for the contact details, home addresses and dates of birth of two different people from your organisation. Both contacts need different email addresses.
One person should be someone we can talk to if we have any questions about your project. The other should be a senior member of your organisation. Both need to live in the UK.
These two people can’t be:
- related by blood
- married to each other
- in a long-term relationship with each other
- living together at the same address.
We ask for the legal name of your organisation - and its address. And what type of organisation it is
Make sure these are up to date and match up with any information or identity documents we ask for (when you get to the application part).
We ask for information about your organisation’s accounts
We want to know the date your accounts wrap up each year and how much income you have.
If you don’t have yearly accounts because you’re a new organisation (less than 15 months old) that’s okay. We can still look at your application.
We ask for a bank statement from the last 3 months
It should show:
- your organisation's legal name
- address the statements are sent to
- your bank's name
- the account code and sort number
- date the statement was issued.
Here’s a handy picture of the kind of bank statement we’re looking for
We ask you for information about what sort of project you’d like to do
And how your project will help and involve your community.
We also ask you to read and agree to our terms and conditions
You can have a look at the terms and conditions here
If you’re not sure about the sort of things we ask for when you apply
We are prioritising groups that have not had funding from this programme in the last two years.
What happens after you apply?
- You send us your application – we'll get back to you with a decision in around 15 weeks. During these 15 weeks we look at your idea and do our security checks. You can find out more about the checks we do. We might give you a call within those 15 weeks, to talk a little more about your idea, or ask for more information.
- If your application is successful – we'll send you an email with the good news! And we’ll put the funding in your bank account within 14 days.
- You can start spending the funding on your project – you should spend the funding the way you said you would in your application (unless we’ve agreed to something different first). We might check in from time to time – to see how things are going. Find out more about managing your funding
- Share your story – you can tell your local community, share your good news on social media, or get in touch with local newspapers. There’s some information about how to publicise your grant. We’ll make a press announcement and share your story too.