How Queer Croydon used grassroots knowledge to help secure funding
08 June 2026
In this Q&A, grant holders Queer Croydon offer their top tips for applying for funding and making the most of your local knowledge.
For Queer Croydon, being a small, grassroots organisation is key to their success.
They received £18,650 from Awards for All England. The project creates a safe, supportive space for LGBTQ+ people to connect and belong, with workshops, support groups and wellness activities.
How did you prepare before starting your application?
The very first step was listening. We had to understand what people wanted and needed from us, so we could address the issues they were facing.
Our approach is “for community, by community.” We put the lived experiences and needs of local LGBTQ+ people at the centre of everything.
We created space for people to be honest about what was missing in their lives locally by:
speaking to our members
holding conversations
running surveys
A huge amount of our project came from those conversations.
What challenges did you face with your application?
One of the biggest challenges was confidence.
We’re a smaller grassroots organisation. You question whether you are “big enough”, experienced enough, or deserving enough. A lot of that was internal doubt and self-sabotage.
Once we moved past that, we realised the most important thing was to speak honestly.
Rather than trying to sound formal or impressive, we focused on being direct, honest, and specific about why this project mattered.
What’s your top tip for others applying?
Be direct. Explain clearly:
what you want to do
why it is needed
who it is for
and why your organisation is the right group to deliver it
You do not need to overcomplicate things or try to sound bigger than you are.
Powerful applications come from organisations that genuinely understand their communities and can explain the difference funding would make.
Any tips for other small LGBTQ+ community groups?
Do not underestimate the value of grassroots knowledge and lived experience
Small LGBTQ+ organisations are often trusted by communities because they are built by the same people they support.
It’s important to listen
Some of the strongest parts of our project came from letting people tell us what they needed.
Document everything
Feedback, reflections, attendance, conversations, moments of connection. It all becomes important when you need to show impact and growth.
What difference has your project made?
One of the biggest impacts has been reducing isolation.
We see LGBTQ+ people attend spaces they would never have imagined themselves entering. Particularly trans people, neurodivergent people, and those struggling with loneliness or confidence.
For some people, it is the first time they have ever walked into a local LGBTQ+ community space.
People have built friendships, support networks and confidence. They have a stronger sense of belonging within Croydon.
What does the future look like for Queer Croydon?
The funding came at an incredibly important moment for us. It helped shape the organisation as grassroots support for local LGBTQ+ people.
We are incredibly proud of what the project has become so far. This is only the beginning of what Queer Croydon and our community can build in the years ahead.