Community Support

"Despite their huge social, environmental and economic impact, small charities are often under-funded and struggle for vital visibility in a crowded media landscape. I am committed to supporting local communities in South Shropshire, and have been pleased to visit many community-based initiatives since my election in July 2024. To support these organisations, I have launched a Community Support Finder on my website. This details the latest support that is available for charitable organisations in both South Shropshire and beyond. I hope that this will be a useful resource for the many volunteers who give their time and energy to run these impactful organisations."

Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)

The £2.6 billion Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) has seen more than £12 million invested across South Shropshire to support businesses and communities including:

• £150,000 for Crowdfund Shropshire - a civic crowd funding platform for community groups to access support from public donations, launched in October 2023. An opportunity to bring forward an impactful project in the neighbourhood and receive financial support from the Council and the local community - via crowdfunding - to help make it happen.
• Vibrant Shropshire: A Cultural Compact Grant Scheme of between £1,000 to £5,000 to deliver innovative cultural projects that will make a real difference in local communities. In 2024, Vibrant Shropshire awarded 29 projects across the county with UKSPF grants reaching a total of over £115,000.

Multi-Sports Grassroots Facilities Programme

On 21st March, Ministers announced a £100 million to a flagship sports programme set up by the last government. It follows a request by Stuart who called on the government to continue it. In England, it will be delivered via the Football Foundation – a charity set up by Government, the FA, and Premier League. Applications are on ongoing.

Also See:

• The Rowing Foundation promotes the participation in rowing of young people (those under 18 or still in full time education) and the disabled of all ages.
• Sport England Movement Fund offers crowdfunding pledges, grants and resources to improve physical activity opportunities for the people and communities who need it the most.
  • The Green Sport Initiatives strand offers grants from £300 up to £15,000 to support projects that reduce carbon emissions, cut waste, boost biodiversity, and help clubs adapt to climate change and extreme weather.
• Parkinson’s UK Physical Activity Grants Programme supports activity providers to develop opportunities for people with Parkinson’s to become and stay active.
• The Big Bike Revival is an intervention for adults aimed at encouraging an uptake in cycling. Groups can apply for grants to run events as part of the Revival.

Dormant Assets Scheme

The Dormant Assets Scheme is led by industry and backed by the government with the aim of reuniting people with their financial assets. Where this is not possible, this money goes towards social and environmental initiatives across the UK. An estimated £350 million will flow into the Dormant Assets Scheme between 2024-28.

Community Radio Fund

Community radio stations across the UK are to benefit from a £600,000 funding uplift this year, ensuring they can continue to thrive and provide a vital platform for local voices. The uplift will help stations in need of support to invest in staff, train volunteers, develop business plans and reach wider audiences. Ofcom will shortly announce more details about how they will manage the process for the 2025/26 fund, which will open for bids in September. Grants awarded are usually in the range of £5,000 to £30,000.

Arts Everywhere Fund

The Government has announced a £270 million 'Arts Everywhere Fund' for the sector. This continues the previous government's proud legacy of investing in Britain's cultural and historical assets. This includes support for arts venues, museums, libraries, and heritage buildings. Beginning in April 2025, the investment includes:

• £85 million Creative Foundations Fund
• £25 million Museum Estate and Development Fund
• £20 million Museum Renewal Fund
• £15 million for Heritage at Risk Grants
• £5.5 million Libraries Improvement Fund
• £4.85 million Heritage Revival Fund
• £120 million Public Bodies Infrastructure Fund
• 5% increase national museums and galleries budgets
• £3.2 million Museums and Schools Programme

See Also:

• The Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund supports work with museum collections to improve inclusion and equitable working with community partners.
• The Youth Music Trailblazer Fund offers grants of £2,000 to £30,000 to organisations to run projects for children and young people to make, learn and earn in music.
• Universal Music UK Sound Foundation offers grants for the purchase or upgrade of musical instruments and equipment to schools teaching the national curriculum.
• Association of Independent Museums Museum Fundamentals will support small and medium sized museums with core activities required for Accreditation

Places of Worship:

Stuart is raising awareness of a range of support available for listed places of worship. This includes the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s £15 million 'Heritage in Need: Places of Worship initiative'.

Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS) provides grants to reimburse the VAT that is incurred by registered charities and faith groups on costs of over £1,000 associated with the repair and conservation of listed places of worship. This includes the roofs, masonry, and monuments integral to such buildings.

It also includes the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT), which funds repairs and maintenance of over 350 churches in the CCT portfolio. Meanwhile, Historic England’s 'Heritage At Risk' grants supports certain religious buildings such as cathedrals on the 'Heritage at Risk' register.

Places of worship can also apply for support from the Net Zero Carbon programme’s Quick Wins Fund, which is providing £2.4 million to help them become more sustainable and energy efficient. Grants can help buy new LED lighting, pew heaters, insulation, or updated electric supplies.

The Church of England give grants for the conservation of historic church interiors and churchyard structures in partnership with the Pilgrim Trust, the Radcliffe Trust, the Oswald Allen Bequest, the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, and the Anglican Parish Churches Fund. 

Commercial Support:

• Lloyds Bank Foundation deaf and disabled people's organisations fund is open until 4th September 2025.
• Asda Foundation is an independent charity with more than 30 years’ history of helping people in local communities.
• Tesco has donated over £120 million in grants to more than 70,000 projects - including around 5,000 schools and children's groups every year.
• National Grid's Community Grant Programme enables communities impacted by maintenance to apply for grants of up to £10,000.
• Boots Charitable Trust funds charities and voluntary organisations working in the areas of health, lifelong learning, community development and social care.
• The Co-op Local Community Fund has shared £114 million with 36,500 unique community projects across the UK since 2016.
• The Morrisons Foundation supports registered charities making a positive difference with grants of up to £10,000.
• The Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund awards grants of between £10,000 and £70,000 for projects that find ways to reduce the challenges of service life for partners of serving armed forces personnel, including reservists.
• Severn Trent’s NeighbourGOOD Scheme has returned for a second year, offering funding and hands-on support to brilliant community projects across the region. Projects can include anything from painting and decorating a community space, to cleaning wetland areas and even restoring a community garden.

External Support:

• Shropshire Community Foundation supports small community groups and charities in Shropshire.
• NFU Mutual Charitable Trust grants focus on the areas of agriculture, rural development and insurance in the UK.
• CLA Charitable Trust grants support the most disadvantaged to access the benefits of the countryside.
• War Memorials Trust grants support repair and conservation works undertaken following best conservation practice.
• The National Lottery funds arts, sport, heritage, charity, voluntary, health, education and environment projects.
• The Charity Commission registers and regulates charities to ensure the public can support them with confidence.
• NCVO is the membership community for charities, voluntary organisations and community groups in England.
• Arts Council England is the national development agency, helping people experience and benefit from creativity.
• The British Film Institute is the lead organisation for film and the moving image and a National Lottery distributor.
• Sport England is determined to give everyone in England the chance to benefit from sport and physical activity.
• UK Sport is the UK's high-performance experts, powering the greatest athletes, sports, and events to success.
• Help the Homeless makes grants to charitable organisations with the aim of helping homeless people.
• Schools, colleges and community groups in England can apply for grants to Blue Spark Foundation.
• The Garfield Weston Foundation support a wide range of charities that make a positive difference.
• The Wolfson Foundation's main grants programme provides support for capital initiatives and equipment.
• The Stobart Sustainability Fund is aimed at supporting community-led sustainability projects.
• The Steel Charitable Trust aims to improve outcomes for children and young people under 26 years of age.
• The Clothworkers’ Foundation award grants to not-for-profit organisations including special schools.
• The JJ Charitable Trust improves the effectiveness of literacy teaching for children with learning difficulties.
• Legal & General Health Equity Fund offers grants for place-based projects that address the social determinants of health.
• The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation provides grants for organisations with a focus on family support.
• Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Grants supports adults to reduce their risk of coronary heart disease,
• The Bernard Sunley Foundation offers grants in the categories of Community, Education, Health or Social Welfare.
• The Big Issue Energy Saving Loans scheme offers grants to social enterprises and charities in England.
• Theatres Trust's Small Grants Programme funds small projects that make a big impact to theatres.
• Veolia Environmental Trust awards grants for improvements to community facilities and the natural environment.
• The Historic Houses Foundation gives grants for the repair and conservation of rural historic buildings and structures.

Stuart would urge all eligible venues across South Shropshire to apply for this funding. He would also be more than happy to support any application that you make and to visit your organisation to find out more about your exciting plans for future growth and success.