Groundwork is working with People’s Postcode Lottery for a third year to deliver Grassroots Grants.

This year, the programme will provide unrestricted funding of up to £2,000 to 700 small, local organisations in England that are making a positive difference in their communities.

Funding can be used for core organisational costs that support the important work organisations deliver in their communities. The funding offered is unrestricted and therefore flexible and can be used where it is most needed.

The grant programme is possible thanks to funding raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and is awarded through Postcode Local Trust, Postcode Places Trust, Postcode Neighbourhood Trust and Postcode Society Trust.

Changes for 2026 – key information:

• Applications may be submitted at any time between January and September
• Eligible to organisations whose income is up to £25,000 in the last financial year
• Applicants will receive a decision within 10 weeks of submission
• Successful organisations awarded up to £2,000 will have 12 months to spend the grant
• The programme will not fund sports or physical activities-based projects. Further details of an alternative programme can be found below.

Who can apply?

Unrestricted grants of between £500 and £2,000 can be accessed by voluntary or community organisations, including registered charities/companies, whose annual turnover is no more than £25,000.

Priority will be shown to organisations which meet the following criteria:

• Funding for communities that rank as being within the top 15% on the English Indices of Deprivation
• Organisations that work with and support communities classed as marginalised or vulnerable

Please note:

• If you have previously received funding through the programme: you are invited to apply again once your grant spend is complete and you have submitted an end of grant report
• If you were unsuccessful in previous rounds: we would welcome a new application from you this year
•  We will only accept one application per organisation
• We will fund Community Interest Companies that have been in operation for at least two years with an asset lock (Schedule 1 and 2 only)

Who can’t apply?

• Individuals
• Community Interest Companies that are less than two years old
• Schedule 3 Community Interest Companies
• Companies Limited by Shares
• Profit-making organisations
• Unconstituted organisations
• Local Authorities
• Parish or Town Councils
• Schools, Academies, Nurseries and Pre-schools
• Parent Teacher Associations or Friends of Parent Teacher Associations
• Colleges or Universities
• Organisations with solely religious objects in their governing document

Please see the Guidance Notes for full detail on the eligibility criteria.

What can you apply for?

We want to support groups that provide vital services in their local communities. Funding can be used for project ideas within an organisation’s charitable or constituted objects including: access to food or basic essentials, improvements to local green spaces, cultural initiatives, support or wellbeing activities, volunteering opportunities to improve the local environment or support people or training to improve the capacity building of your organisation.

We will consider costs for a range of purposes which could include:

• Paying staff or volunteer expenses
• Costs for equipment or materials
• Core, ongoing running costs of your organisation, such as, rent, utilities, and other general running costs
• Training for staff and volunteers
• Consultant time to help develop your organisation or key policies

This is not an exhaustive list and other costs may also be welcomed.

What can’t be funded?

• Sport and physical activity-based projects – please visit Sported Foundation for information on another funding programme specifically for sport and physical activity-based projects
• Work that has already taken place or will have taken place before you receive the grant
• Political donations
• Conferences or seminars
• Fundraising activities or challenges (e.g. costs for a sky dive etc.)
• Activities which collect funds for redistribution to other charities or individuals
• Projects which redistribute funds including vouchers
• Overseas appeals
• Expeditions or overseas travel
• Promotion of a religious or political cause
• Activities that the state has a legal obligation to provide
• Making payments against loans, fines or penalties
• Funding being allocated to the organisation’s reserves
• Medical research, clinical treatment, medical staff in a clinical setting where the diagnosis, and/or prescribing of clinical advice or medication is taking place and medical equipment
• Alcohol
• Animal welfare – please note: we will consider applications that support the wellbeing of people through project delivery, such as therapy animals

Apply for a grant

Applications opened on Wednesday 7 January and close in September 2026.

We encourage applicants to apply throughout this period and can reassure that the fund will not close early, nor will funding be given out on a first come, first served basis.