Community group grants and funding

Select the below options to view more information about available community group grants and funding.

• Community Capacity Building and Infrastructure Support Fund
• Large Community Grants Fund
• Small Community Grant Fund
• Play and Open Spaces Fund
• FCC Environmental Improvement Grant Funding
• Adult Health and Wellbeing Grant Fund
• Local Business Grant Scheme to reduce Anti - Social Behaviour, Crime and Disorder 2024 / 2025
• Other funding

For a comprehensive selection of all available funding opportunities, including national government programmes, regional scheme and local initiatives, please visit the Chorley 4 Community Portal.

Community Capacity Building and Infrastructure Support Fund

The Community Capacity Building and Infrastructure Support Fund is now closed.

We recognise the valuable role that the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise sector plays in enhancing the life of people in Chorley and it is evident through our community commissioning programme and annual community grant fund which provides an avenue of funding to support these organisations, along with continued partnership working across the borough to help develop community initiatives.

We are excited to launch our latest Community Capacity Building and Infrastructure Support Grant scheme in which we are inviting partners and organisations from the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise sector to apply. The funding is provided by the UK government as part of the United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). This is a one-off community grant fund programme which builds on our core delivery and will enable Chorley's voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise sector to further enhance and sustain their delivery, react to the current challenges our communities are experiencing, and help in providing services that support our most vulnerable. In total, £200,000 is available from which we will award grants between £15,000 and £30,000.

Please read the criteria below which is required to ensure your organisation and project meets expectations for you to receive this funding.

What is the Community Capacity Building and Infrastructure Support Fund for?

This funding is available to build capacity, deliver social action projects and improve community infrastructure that will help create more vibrant, engaged, and resilient communities. Funding is designed to support and enhance existing services. The grant scheme will be an open competitive process and projects should support the work the council has undertaken, and provide delivery that reacts to the pressures our communities are experiencing. They should be innovative and creative, addressing local needs and clearly demonstrating the difference the project will make to local people and communities. Bids may address gaps in services or complement and enhance any existing offer. We want to capitalise on known successes so will consider supporting activity that has proved to add value.

Value for money will be a leading assessment criterion for all submissions. Funding will not be used simply to displace existing or committed funding. It's about helping organisations to grow, deliver more and /or expand its reach into different areas of the borough. Applicants will need to show they can deliver lasting legacy for our residents and communities, enhancing the life of people in Chorley and supporting better outcomes.

Community Capacity Building and Infrastructure Support Fund eligibility criteria

To be considered for a funding award, applicants must:

• be based in Chorley
• be a registered charity, voluntary, community, faith, or social enterprise sector group/organisation
• those trading as commercial business, or private individuals are not eligible
• have a bank account registered to their group or organisation
• you must be able to complete your project by March 2025
• ensure that it is addresses one or more of the key priorities of the fund
• ensure the project is based on local need
• demonstrate the positive impacts which will be made through the project
• any works to buildings or property must be less than £5,000 as we cannot provide capital based funding
• funding will not be awarded to any retrospective spending
• we must be satisfied that the applicant has the necessary expertise and resources to see the project through to successful completion
• grants are not generally available to fund permanent staff positions, but consideration will be given to maintain some hours of service delivery, or exceptionally towards posts on fixed-term contracts. Consideration will be given where salaries are included as part of the organisation's start up costs
• grants are not generally available to fund an organisation's running costs

Apply for the Community Capacity Building and Infrastructure Support Fund

To find out more information about the grant, including eligibility criteria, and how to apply please use the links below:

View more information about the requirements of this grant using the Community Capacity Building and Infrastructure Support Fund guidance notes. 

To apply, complete the Community Capacity Building and Infrastructure Support Fund application form and return to us by email to funding@chorley.gov.uk. 

Large Community Grants Fund

The Large Community Grants Fund is now closed

• small grants up to £5,000
• large grants from £5,000 and up to £10,000.

We recognise the valuable role that voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise sector play in enhancing the life of people in Chorley. To further our support and in recognition of the challenges our communities are experiencing due to the impact of the cost of living crisis, we are providing a one off large community grant funding programme which builds on our core delivery and will enable Chorley's voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector (VCFS) to further enhance their delivery, react to current challenges our residents are experiencing and help in providing services that support our most vulnerable.

We encourage groups and organisations across the borough to apply and aim to allocate funding to ensure both our rural and urban communities are supported.

What is the Large Community Grants Fund for?

The funding is designed for projects that focus on the negative impact of the cost of living situation. It aims to support the work the council has undertaken and enhance the help available to our residents, providing services which react to the current pressures our communities are experiencing.

Applicants will have to demonstrate how their application for funding will enhance the life of people in Chorley, supporting better outcomes and meet one or more of our key priorities below:

• provide support for those experiencing financial hardship
• provide opportunities that address food poverty
• provide opportunities that address furniture poverty
• provide opportunities for those experiencing mental health issues
• provide opportunities to addresses social isolation
• provide opportunities to enhance life skills that support residents during cost of living crisis
• provide support for residents to overcome digital barriers and address gaps in provision
• provide opportunities that help encourage residents to be more active.

We would like organisations to consider how their project can target those residents who are not already assisted through other schemes, new to experiencing challenges, and unaware of support available.

Apply for the Large Community Grants Fund

To find out more information about the grant, including eligibility criteria, and how to apply please use the links below:

View more information on the Large Community Grants Fund guidance notes

To apply, complete the Large Community Grants Fund application form and return to us by email to funding@chorley.gov.uk. 

Small Community Grant Fund

The Small Community Grant Fund is now closed.

Funding of up to a maximum of £500 is available.

We recognise the valuable role that voluntary, community and faith groups play in enhancing the life of the people of Chorley. We are committed to supporting local groups and organisations across Chorley to access opportunities and secure funding to improve services and facilities in your local area. 

What is the Small Community Grant Fund for?

Applications should aim to enhance the life of people in Chorley and support better outcomes for our residents. Funding will particularly look to enable groups to react to the current challenges that our communities are experiencing. Projects could focus on:

• providing opportunities that address food poverty
• providing opportunities that help encourage residents to be more active
• coordinating employment or education opportunities
• making residents more digitally connected
• providing peer support opportunities for those experiencing difficulties
• providing opportunities to addresses social isolation
• support for those experiencing financial hardship

Apply for the Small Community Grant Fund

Applications are available for:

• voluntary, community and faith sector groups operating within Chorley
• groups with a bank account
• groups who have not had a Councillor Community Grant awarded this year

Individuals cannot apply.

Funding awarded must be used by the end of March 2025

To apply, complete the Small Community Grant Fund application form and return to us by email to funding@chorley.gov.uk. 

Play and Open Spaces Fund

The Play and Open Spaces Fund is now closed.

In total, £200,000 is available as:

• small grants of up to £10,000
• large grants up to £20,000
• grants in excess of £20,000 may be considered if exceptional need is demonstrated and significant impact can be achieved.

We recognise the crucial need for residents to have access to high quality outdoor spaces such as play areas, parks and open spaces. This fund is for partner organisations, parish councils, community and voluntary groups to work with us to make long lasting improvements to non council owned outdoor spaces and play areas to improve the wellbeing of the local community.

Play and Open Spaces Fund eligibility

To be considered for a funding award you must:

• be based in Chorley
• be a parish council, registered charity, club, or constituted community group
• be the landowner, long term lease holder or have appropriate permissions
• have a bank account registered to their group or organisation.
• able to commence a maximum of 6 months after the funding has been issued
• ensure that it is open access for all community to enjoy
• demonstrate the positive impacts which will be made through the project
• have match funding/in kind contribution, we will not fund 100% project costs
• seek to increase the engagement of residents who do not utilise the amenity.

Apply for the Play and Open Spaces Fund

Read the Play and Open Spaces Fund guidance notes for information to ensure you meet all the eligible criteria

To apply, complete the Play and Open Spaces Fund application form and return to us by email to funding@chorley.gov.uk. 

FCC Environmental Improvement Grant Funding

The FCC Environmental Improvement Grant Funding is now closed.

Funding up to a maximum of £400 is available.

In partnership with FCC Environment, our waste contract provider, we are committed to supporting local groups and organisations across Chorley to help improve services and facilities in local areas with a focus on projects that bring about environment Improvement.

What is the FCC Environmental Improvement Grant Funding for?

We have created this fund which is looking for applicants to demonstrate how their projects fulfil the following aims and criteria:

• help to keep neighbourhoods clean and safe
• provide equipment support for local clean up projects.
• support local environmental communication and education campaigns
• support recycling and waste reduction initiatives
• involves improvements to waste reduction, recycling or re-use within their local community

Apply for the FCC Environmental Improvement Grant Funding

To be considered for a funding award you must:

• be a voluntary, community and faith sector group operating within Chorley
• have a group bank account
• not had a Councillor Community Grant awarded this year

Individuals cannot apply.

Funding awarded must be used by the end of March 2025.

To apply, complete the FCC Environmental Improvement Grant Funding application form and return to us by email to funding@chorley.gov.uk. 

Adult Health and Wellbeing Grant Fund

The Adult Health and Wellbeing Grant Fund aims to support residents by providing opportunity to access high quality, entry level, low cost or free activity to improve health and wellbeing outcomes. 

What is the Adult Health and Wellbeing Grant Fund for?

We are looking to fund:

• an 8 week activity programme designed to support adults into health and wellbeing promoting activity
• free or very low cost activity
• targeting inactive adults, or adults who are experiencing financial barriers to accessing activity, or both
• we encourage a holistic approach to defining health and wellbeing activity, and will consider less traditional approaches
• the purpose of this grant fund is to offer a broad range of activity across the borough to support adults into health and wellbeing supporting activity. 
• there will be a preference for funding provision that provides sustainable routes into activity beyond the stipulated 8 week delivery window.

The funding period is between 1 August and 30 November, applications will be considered as they are received, within the context of ensuring diverse provision in all areas of Chorley.

Apply for the Adult Health and Wellbeing Grant Fund

To be considered for a funding award you must:

• be a voluntary, community and faith sector group, CIC, social enterprise or business operating within Chorley
• have a group a bank account

Individuals cannot apply.

A grant of up to a £650 maximum is available.

Before applying please read the Adult Health and Wellbeing Grant Fund guidance notes.

To apply, complete the Adult Health and Wellbeing Grant Fund application form and return to us by email to communities@chorley.gov.uk. 

Local Business Grant Scheme to reduce Anti - Social Behaviour, Crime and Disorder 2024 / 2025

The Local Business Grant Scheme to reduce Anti - Social Behaviour, Crime and Disorder is now closed.

Funding up to a maximum of £5,000

What is the Local Business Grant Scheme to reduce Anti - Social Behaviour, Crime and Disorder for?

Working with public protection and Design Out crime officers, applicants should aim to help secure and improve business premises to reduce anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder. Funding will particularly look to provide solutions to businesses that have experienced anti-social behaviour or have been a victim to crime at their premises. 

We are looking to fund:

• alarms
• bodycams
• CCTV
• door access
• lighting
• locks
• lone working systems
• shutters
• signage
• staff conflict training

Apply for the Local Business Grant Scheme to reduce Anti - Social Behaviour, Crime and Disorder

To be considered for a funding award you must:

• be a town centre independent businesses
• be an out of town businesses that have been victims of anti-social behaviour.

Other funding

Please see below a selection of funding opportunities that may be of interest.

Chorley Council - Councillor Grants 

Organisations must be voluntary, community or faith sector groups operating within the borough of Chorley. The project must be based on local need.

To apply, contact your local councillor who will discuss your proposal in more detail and provide an application form if applicable.

Find your local councillor

There is up to £300 of funding available.

Applications are ongoing (dependent of whether a councillor has allocated their grant for the year)

Asda Foundation Grants

The Asda Foundation Grants for this year have now finished, the next round will start in February. Details grants and how to apply will be available once they are launched.

The new grants available will be: 

• Cost of Living Grant
• Under 18 Better Starts Grant 
• Empowering Local Communities Grant.

For more details and application form please contact us by email to communities@chorley.gov.uk

There are various amounts of funding available depending on chosen fund.

Tesco - Stronger Starts Grant

The scheme is open to all schools, registered charities and not-for-profit organisations, with priority given to projects that provide food and support to young people. 

Apply for the Tesco - Stronger Starts Grant

National Lottery - Awards for all

The fund aims to support people and communities with things that are important to them, including mitigating the impact of the cost of living crisis and supporting them as they seek to recover, rebuild and grow following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Apply for the National Lottery - Awards for all

Sport England - Movement Fund

The Movement Fund provides crowd-funding pledges, grants and support to help projects that get more people active.

Apply for the Sport England - Movement Fund

National Lottery - Reaching Communities Fund

The fund is for projects and organisations that work to make positive changes in their community.

Apply for the National Lottery - Reaching Communities Fund

Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner - Community Fund

View more information about Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner funding.