Worcestershire Community Foundation is launching a new round of the Strengthening Worcestershire Fund to support local communities through small grants, positively impacting all areas of the county.
Round 3 of the Fund opens on Thursday 1st October 2026.
The aim of the Strengthening Worcestershire Fund is to support disadvantaged local communities continuing to experience the ongoing effects of cost-of-living, by delivering help for a wide range of projects via charities, community groups and social enterprises.
Strengthening Worcestershire Fund Round 3 is a match funded programme offered in partnership with Worcestershire County Council (WCC). There will be a maximum of £115,000 to distribute across the county.
PLEASE NOTE:
ORGANISATIONS WHICH PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THIS PROGRAMME IN 2025 ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY
(grantees from 2024 may reapply)
Who can apply?
This programme will support organisations and groups based in Worcestershire including charities, CICs, community groups and social enterprises. You may apply for projects for the benefit of any age group.
Whilst inviting applications from throughout Worcestershire, we particularly welcome applications for projects delivered where deprivation is greatest across the county.
Applications may be made for projects which contribute to one or more of the following outcomes (please note these are slightly different to Rounds 1 and 2):
Outcomes
- People can meet their essential needs
- People are financially resilient and better able to manage future challenges
- People are connected, included and less isolated
- People can live safely, independently and in good health
- People can access the information, digital tools and community services they need
- Unpaid carers are recognised, supported and able to maintain their wellbeing
Themes we will fund
Reducing poverty and financial hardship
This theme is looking to fund projects that support people struggling with:
- Cost of living support
- Food and fuel poverty
- Financial resilience
Projects submitted in this theme could include:
- Community fridges or food banks distributing food
- Energy advice projects in local communities to help reduce bills and improve home energy efficiency
- School uniform banks or other similar schemes
- Debt advice or money management support projects
- Supporting costs to set up, run, expand or enhance the above or other similar projects
Building individual and community resilience
This theme is looking to fund projects which provide:
- Early intervention or prevention
- Community-led support
- Strengthening local networks
Projects submitted in this theme could include:
- Events and roadshows e.g. older people’s showcases that provide information about fraud, home safety, home adaptations and equipment for changing needs
- Local network organisation projects supporting community and charitable organisations
- Supporting costs to set up, run, expand or enhance the above or other similar projects
Improving health, wellbeing and independence
This theme is looking to fund projects which support:
- Ageing well
- Physical and mental wellbeing
- Independent living
Projects submitted in this theme could include:
- Classes or groups in a community venue specifically for older people, those with physical or mental wellbeing challenges
- Dementia cafes or similar support activity
- Schemes to provide support for residents that need a little extra help
- Projects which provide support for people to continue to live independently or remain in their own homes for longer
- Services that support identified local needs e.g. local groups which support people in their mental or physical health
- Supporting costs to set up, run, expand or enhance the above or other similar projects
Tackling social isolation and strengthening community connections
This theme is looking to fund projects which support:
- Loneliness reduction
- Volunteering
- Community participation
Projects submitted in this theme could include:
- Befriending or social groups in a local community to enable people to connect with others
- Costs associated with existing volunteering opportunities for organisations
- Support for organisations running volunteering or community services
- Projects which help isolated individuals to remain connected to their community e.g. telephone friendship or support service
- Supporting costs to set up, run, expand or enhance the above or other similar projects
Improving access to support, services and opportunities
This theme is looking to fund projects which support:
- Information, advice and guidance (you will need to be able to demonstrate relevant training and quality assured services)
- Digital inclusion
- Transport or practical access barriers
- Helping residents connect with local services and opportunities
Projects submitted in this theme could include:
- Supporting costs of delivering IAG sessions in community locations
- Training staff or volunteers to deliver quality assured advice and guidance, supporting people to identify and make good choices, and help them identify a way forward
- Communication and engagement projects to reach new audiences that may benefit from information and advice including translation and other accessibility requirements
- Projects which aim to improve people’s knowledge of or access to the digital environment
- Community transport services to enable access to social activities, local services or healthcare
- Supporting costs to set up, run, expand or enhance the above or other similar projects
Supporting unpaid carers and people with caring responsibilities
The theme is looking to contribute to WCC’s carers’ strategic priorities which supports carers’ wellbeing, respite, peer support and access to services.
Projects submitted in this theme could include:
- Supporting carers to have a break
- Promoting and supporting the health and wellbeing of carers
- Projects which enable carers to meet together for social and/or mutual support
- Ensuring that staff are ‘carer aware’ and can recognise people with a caring role
- Liaising directly with Worcestershire Association of Carers to ensure carers have access to sufficient services, support and advice
Please note: WCC currently commissions Worcestershire Association of Carers to support all carers within Worcestershire.
What and who we don’t fund
- Solely capital application funding bids e.g. to purchase a minibus, disability ramp
- Projects which are the responsibility of statutory services
- Activities promoting religious activity (with the exception of inter-faith activity).
- Activities promoting party-political activity
- Activities generating private profit
- Individual sponsorship
- Organisations in receipt of a Strengthening Worcestershire Fund grant in 2025.
- Organisations established less than 12 months
- Organisations with financial accounting records of less than 12 months
- Organisations with fewer than 3 directors
- CICs registered for less than 12 months
- CICs without an asset locked body (must be currently active)
- CICs with less than 50% of income earned through trading
How much can you apply for?
Applicants can apply for grants from £2,000 – £5,000.
For a limited number of organisations with particularly strong/innovative projects with wider impacts there will be the opportunity to apply for up to £7,500. However, your application bid will need to be proportionate to your organisation’s income.
PLEASE NOTE the following requirements which must be factored into your budget for the project you apply for:
- The funding period begins 1st March 2027 and ends 29th February 2028. (Please apply for no more than 12 months’ funding and for projects that only take place between these dates).
- Overheads/core costs may not form more than 15% of your total project costs.
- Capital equipment may not form more than 25% of your total project costs.
- You must be able to explain how 5% or more of your total project costs come from in kind support, volunteering and/or match funding from your own organisation.
To help you complete your project budget please take a look at our
Guide to Types of Costs for Grant Applications
Click here to download.
How to apply
Applications open: 9.00 am Thursday 1st October 2026
The deadline for applications is: 5.00 pm Thursday 29th October 2026
All funding must be spent by 29th February 2028.
Please read all the above guidance carefully before making an application.
To help all potential applicants we have put together some general
Guidance Notes for Making Grant Applications to WCF
Click here to download.
To preview a copy of our application form click here
Please note this may be subject to change and that the text shown behind in the 
symbols may not be visible in the preview.
For our Terms and Conditions information please click here
(Please note that 6-monthly monitoring and evaluation and end of grant reports are required for successful applicants).
Please contact Karen McVeigh, Grants and Funding Officer [email protected] if you have any queries regarding eligibility and/or the fund priorities.
