Funding & Training Focus - 26 November

Cold days, warm opportunities

The frost has well and truly arrived, and Renfrewshire is doing its best impression of a snow globe. While we all dig out the woolly layers again, this week’s funding round-up brings a mix of support for groups working with families, young people, and some of our most vulnerable neighbours.

From grants to fix up community buildings, to support for horticulture, heritage, early years development, digital learning, and even technology-driven vocational projects, there’s a lot to explore. So warm your hands round a cuppa and have a read though this week’s newsletter.

As always, if you’d like to chat through any of the opportunities, I’m just an email away: mwollberg@engagerenfrewshire.com

 

Funding

• Animals
• Children and Families
• Community
• Digital Innovation
• Environment, Nature and Climate Change
• Health
• Help for the Homeless
• Heritage
• Miscellaneous
• Sport
• Young People
• Women and Girls

Events/Training

Funding available for rent in advance, deposits, ID and removal costs - Information Session 

Funding to Support Animal Welfare Charities
The Animal Defence Trust, a UK-based charity dedicated to animal welfare, provides funding to support approved animal welfare charities working to rescue and care for animals that have suffered cruelty. The Trust's main objectives are protecting animals from suffering and mistreatment, promoting research to reduce animal use in scientific experiments, and ensuring proper accommodation for animals during transportation. The grants, which are for capital projects and running costs aim to support a wide range of activities, including providing shelter, medical treatment, and care for abused or neglected animals. The next closing date for applications is the 31 March 2026. Find out more

Grants to Support Individuals & Families in Need
Grants of up to £2,000 are available to charities, housing associations, schools, and social services that support individuals and families across the UK in financial need. The Cosaraf Charitable Foundation’s Hardship Grants will support individuals and families who have exhausted all other funding sources and are struggling with everyday costs, such as basic living expenses, household items and utilities, work- or education-related expenses, or rent arrears. Priority will be given to the most financially excluded people, families over individuals, those with caring responsibilities, and items that will make the most difference to the individual/family’s long-term future. The Foundation distributes both Zakat and Sadaqah funds.  Sadaqah funds are available for all people of all faiths and none.  Zakat funds are only available for Muslim applicants. Applications can be made at any time and are assessed every six weeks. Find out more


Grants to Support Early Years Development for Deaf Children
Grants of up to £10,000 are available through the National Deaf Children’s Society’s Community Grants Programme for community groups, charities, and not-for-profit organisations supporting deaf children and their families across the UK. In this round, funding will support projects and activities that promote the development of deaf children in their early years (ages 0–5). This stage is crucial, particularly for children who may face challenges with language, communication, and social skills without the right support. Projects may involve families, professionals, and older deaf children provided they contribute to early years development. Funding can cover costs such as venue hire, transport, promotional materials, wages for sessional workers, interpreters, language tutors, and equipment. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with set assessment dates throughout the year. Find out more

Grants of up to £10,000 Available for Projects Addressing Urban and Rural Deprivation
Charities and not-for-profit organisations in the UK can now apply for grants of up to £10,000 to tackle deprivation in urban and rural communities. The funding can support core costs, including salaries, running expenses and project delivery, helping frontline groups maintain essential services. The funding is made available through the Trusthouse Charitable Foundation’s small grants programme, which is open to organisations with annual income below £250,000. Applicants must contribute at least 50% in match funding. There is no deadline, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Find out more

New Funding Opportunity for Technology-Driven Vocational Learning Projects
The Ufi VocTech Trust will open its VocTech Activate fund on 6 January 2026 to support early-stage digital innovations addressing vocational learning needs for adults aged 16 and over, particularly underserved groups. Grants of £30,000–£60,000 are available for projects lasting three to twelve months and aimed at advancing ideas to proof of concept. Eligible applicants include charities, trade bodies, learning providers, employers, private companies, community interest companies and other not for profit organisations. The fund uses a two stage application process, with Stage 1 bids due by 3 February 2026 and successful applicants then invited to submit full proposals by 24 March 2026. Find out more

Environmental Groups Offered Chance to Double Donations
Environmental charities have the opportunity to boost their fundraising through a national match-funding campaign that will double every public donation received during World Earth Day week (22 and 29 April 2026). The initiative, which is made available through the Big Give’s Earth Raise campaign, supports UK-registered organisations working on issues such as climate change, biodiversity, waste, energy, transport, and pollution, provided they have an annual income of at least £25,000. Applications close on 16 January 2026. Find out more

Grants of up to £150,000 for Community Initiatives that Tackle Barriers to Cancer Care
UK voluntary and community organisations with experience tackling health inequalities can apply for £50,000–£150,000 to run community-led projects that remove barriers to cancer care. A total of £1.5 million is available in this round, with priority for initiatives that boost cultural responsiveness, strengthen shared decision-making between patients and clinicians, or improve support for people living with both cancer and dementia. The funding comes through Macmillan Cancer Support’s Macmillan Care Grants Programme, and applications close at 5pm on 23 January 2026.  Find out more

Grants of up to £5,000 Available for Projects that Help the Homeless
Small Homeless charities can apply for grants of up to £5,000 for projects that aim to help homeless people rebuild their lives. To be eligible to apply, applicants must be a registered charity and have an annual turnover of under £500,000, with ‘unrestricted reserves’ of under six months. Typically, organisations awarded funding operate residential or training facilities to assist homeless people. The funding is being made available through Help the Homeless, a grant-giving trust, founded in 1975, to help homeless people off the streets and enable them to live healthy, independent lives. The next closing date for applications is 20 December 2025. Find out more

National Lottery Grants for Heritage - Grants of up to £10 Million Available
Not-for-profit organisations across the UK can now apply for grants of between £250,000 and £10 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for projects connecting people and communities to UK heritage. The funding can support a broad range of activities and project costs such as volunteer expenses, capital works, repairs, maintenance, conservation costs, professional fees, event costs, and the acquisition of heritage. All projects must also consider long-term environmental sustainability. Partnerships are encouraged. Up to 10% match funding is required. The next closing date for expressions of interest for National Lottery Grants for Heritage is 12 noon on 26 February 2026. Find out more


Grants of up to £1.5 Million Available to Regenerate Historic Buildings
Councils, national park authorities and not-for-profit organisations can apply for funding to regenerate Scotland’s historic places, with awards typically ranging from £750,000 to £1.5 million. Projects must focus on recognised heritage areas and demonstrate strong community involvement, a clear need for repair, traditional skills training, and plans for long-term stewardship. Eligible activities include commissioning consultants, undertaking surveys, delivering capital repairs, supporting adaptive reuse, running community heritage programs, and developing maintenance strategies. Expressions of Interest are open until 16 January 2026, with invited applicants submitting full bids by 7 August 2026, through the Heritage & Place Programme from Historic Environment Scotland. Find out more

Screwfix Foundation
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to local charities and not-for-profit organisations (including specialist not-for-profit schools) to fund projects that will fix, repair, maintain and improve properties and community facilities for those in need in the UK. The funding is being made available through Screwfix Foundations, and the grants are available for a wide range of projects, from repairing buildings and improving facilities in deprived areas to decorating the homes of people living with sickness and disabilities. Applications are reviewed every quarter, and the next deadline for applications is 10 February 2026. Find out more

Grants to Support Projects in Horticulture, Plant Sciences, Fine Art & Art History
UK charities and charitable organisations, including schools and colleges, can apply for grants to support projects in horticulture and plant sciences as well as the study, exhibition and conservation of fine art. The Finnis Scott Foundation is especially interested in supporting horticultural training through bursaries and apprenticeships. The sponsoring institution should submit applications; individuals may not apply directly. The Foundation will consider applications for one-off grants of up to £10,000; however, due to high demand, most grants are currently £5,000 or less. Exceptionally, grants of up to £60,000 are made when funds permit, payable over several years. The next application closing date is 4pm on 11 December 2025. Find out more

Amazon Literary Partnership Opens for 2026 Grant Applications
Non-profit literary organisations in the UK or Republic of Ireland can apply for funding to support writers to create, publish, learn, teach and experiment. Eligible applicants are registered, non-profit literary organisations whose core mission is to develop emerging writers, celebrate storytelling, promote diversity and build writers’ careers. Recent awards have funded bilingual creative writing workshops and teen Write Clubs, community writing labs, programmes for pupils excluded from mainstream education and structured schemes for emerging writers. The funding is being made available through the Amazon Literary Partnership’s 2026 Grants programme and applications close on 30 January 2026. Find out more

Funding to Improve the Sustainability of Community Sports Clubs
Grants of up to £2,000 are available for community sports clubs and organisations across the UK and Ireland to enhance facilities, purchase equipment, gain coaching qualifications, or invest in long-term sustainability. The funding prioritises clubs working in deprived areas and those delivering activities exclusively for adults aged 18 and over. Applications must be submitted by 8 December 2025. The scheme is delivered by Sported, a UK charity supporting youth through sport and physical activity, and is part of the Cash4Clubs programme, funded by Flutter Entertainment. Find out more

Funding to Tackle Hunger Amongst Young People
Schools and not-for-profit organisations can apply for grants of up to £1,500 to support projects that give children across the UK a stronger start in life, with priority for initiatives that improve access to healthy, nutritious food. The funding helps provide nutritious meals, activities that promote physical and mental wellbeing such as breakfast clubs, snacks, or equipment for healthy pursuits. The funding is awarded through the blue-token customer vote held every three months in Tesco stores, where three locally nominated projects are shortlisted and funded according to the number of votes received. The programme is delivered through the Tesco Stronger Starts initiative, managed by Groundwork across the UK in partnership with greenspace scotland for applicants in Scotland. Applications can be submitted at any time. Find out more

Funding to Support New Female Coaches in Grassroots Sport
Eligible not-for-profit organisations—including sports clubs, youth groups, and community organisations—can apply for up to two grants per organisation to cover the cost of a Level 1 (or equivalent) coaching qualification. Part of the Barclays Community Sport Fund, delivered in partnership with the Sported Foundation, the Female Coaches for Girls Grants provide around £160 for football and £200 for cricket or tennis training, aiming to boost the number of female coaches working with girls in underserved communities. The scheme prioritises areas ranked in the UK’s Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 1–3, with flexibility for disability-focused groups outside those areas. Applications for the Female Coaches for Girls Grants are open until 31 December 2025. Find out more


Voices from the Frontline
Rosa’s Voices from the Frontline fund, now in its eighth year of running, offers  grants of up to £10,000 over 18 months to women’s and girls’ organisations to support campaigning and influencing work  that enables women and girls to use their voice to achieve change.  Rosa is proud to champion the campaigning and influencing work that women’s and girls’ organisations do, as we recognise that every progress in culture, law and practice in women’s and girls’ lives over the last two hundred years has been pioneered by women and girls, organising and mobilising. Women’s and girls’ organisations are at the forefront of addressing social issues. We believe change comes about when women and girls who have lived experience of injustice and inequality get heard. 
However, there remains a critical need for funding for women’s and girls’ organisations to deliver activism and campaigning to raise awareness of the issues women and girls face. This is why Voices from the Frontline exists. 
The deadline for applications is 4pm on Tuesday 9th December. You

Additional Support/Training

St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity work to end homelessness by providing funding, supporting frontline workers, and advocating for change.
 
As part of this, we offer the Vicar’s Relief Fund (VRF), which awards fast emergency grants of up to £500 to help people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. These crisis grants can be used to remove immediate barriers such as rent in advance, deposits, ID, and removal costs. If all the required information is provided, we aim to process and pay grants within 5 working days.
 
We would like to invite you to join a Zoom meeting where we can discuss our grant offer and answer any questions you might have:
 
Date/time: Tuesday 09 December 14:00 – 15:30
Meeting link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75035588195?pwd=hQ6VbJwght3uTc3oXLBYLL0G6M7rZr.1
Meeting ID: 750 3558 8195
Passcode: 2AeYtm
  
You can register for an account today using your direct work email address and once approved, you can start an application via our Application Portal. (Instructions on how to register, request an account and apply for grants are included in our Help Page and FAQ’s).
 
Full details of the above are set out in our Terms & Conditions and Grant Making Policy, which includes our eligibility criteria. Please read these documents carefully before registering for an account or applying for a grant.