Up to £5,000 for Grassroots Community Organisations – Comic Relief Community Fund

The Comic Relief Community Fund (England) 2026/27, delivered by Groundwork, supports small community-led organisations tackling some of the biggest challenges facing people locally, with a particular focus on basic needs, early childhood development and safety.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Up to £5,000 per organisation

• Just over £600,000 available overall

• Around 120 organisations expected to receive grants

• Funding can cover core organisational costs, project costs, or a combination of both

• Eligible core costs can include staff wages, rent, energy bills and training

• Project costs can include venue hire, coordinators, outreach workers, activity staff and improvements to facilities

• Funding for projects addressing homelessness, food poverty, essential goods and cost-of-living pressures

• Support for early childhood development for children aged up to eight

• Funding for projects preventing violence against women and girls

• Support for refugees, asylum seekers and people experiencing forced migration.

Who can apply?

• Constituted voluntary and community groups

• Registered charities

• Social enterprises

• Community Interest Companies limited by guarantee

• Not-for-profit companies limited by guarantee

• Organisations must have an annual income of £250,000 or less

• Organisations must be based in England

• Applicants must be based in the same region where their project will be delivered

• CICs must have been operating for at least two years

• Projects should draw on the lived experience of the people and communities they support

• Individuals, schools, universities, hospitals and profit-making businesses aren't eligible.

One important exclusion: projects where mental health is the principal focus aren't eligible this year. Mental-health support can still form part of a wider eligible project, such as supporting survivors of domestic violence.

Deadline: 30 September 2026 at 5:00pm.