The Comic Relief Community Fund (England) programme is now closed to new applications, If you have recently submitted an application to us we hope to be in touch with you in Spring 2023

Alternative and Accessible Formats

Sometimes there are particular reasons why people find it difficult to apply for a grant or access our services. If you experience or anticipate any barriers with our application process, require help to make an application, or access our services and information, please contact Groundwork at comicrelief@groundwork.org.uk or on 0121 237 5800 to discuss the type of support we can provide.

Groundwork UK’s commitment to safeguarding:

Read about our commitment to safeguarding when awarding grants.

Read our guidance: Before applying we ask that you read the information on this website and the guidance notes thoroughly.

Take our eligibility quiz: Check that your voluntary or community organisation is eligible to apply for funding.

Apply: Taking the eligibility quiz provides access to the application form where you can apply for a Comic Relief Community Fund grant.

How can the fund support you?

Grants of up to a maximum of £10,000 are available. All applications must include a request for up to £1,000 to support capacity building, this would leave a maximum request of £9,000 for project delivery. Projects must be completed within one year of receiving a grant.

Capacity Building Funding (up to £1,000)

This funding will support your organisation to become more robust and better able to deliver projects that bring about lasting change. The types of activities funded could include:

  • Developing better organisational governance through training for staff or trustees
  • Gaining a better understanding of the needs of your beneficiaries
  • Support to develop policies and procedures and strengthen working practices
  • Improvement in the marketing and promotion of your services
  • Gaining a better understanding of how to measure the impact of your work

Project Delivery Funding (up to £9,000)

Grants will support your organisation to deliver projects on any of the four strategic themes. Examples of projects could include:

  • Employing seasonal workers to deliver summer activities for young people, tackling inequality issues
  • Creating a community garden to help refugees come together, tackling family isolation and mental health issues
  • Employing support workers to help vulnerable families with young children transition to primary school
  • A creative arts project to help tackle gender-based violence through workshops and exhibitions
  • Renting space to support people to recover from homelessness
  • Counselling and Support Services for young people
  • Decorating and refurbishing a training room, to enable a new gender specific client group to be engaged

Who is eligible?

Grants will be awarded to voluntary or community organisations including registered charities and not for profit companies.

Applications are not eligible from:

  • Individuals
  • Community Interest Companies limited by shares
  • Community Interest Companies limited by guarantee that are less than two years old
  • Profit making organisations
  • Statutory organisations including schools, universities and hospitals
  • Organisations with an income of more than £250,000
  • Organisations who were awarded funding from the Comic Relief Community Fund in 2022
  • Organisations not based in and delivering in England
  • Organisations not based in the region where the project will be delivered

When can you apply?

The Comic Relief Community Fund (England) programme is now closed to new applications,

Please note that there will be no further funding rounds and projects must be completed within one year of receiving a grant.