Does your organisation need extra support to deliver services or activities that benefit your community?

The Comic Relief Community Fund offers grants of up to £5,000 for grassroots, community-led organisations in England to help support the delivery of services and activity that benefit local communities.

Funding can be used for direct project costs or to support your core running expenses. Whether you need help with staff wages, materials, rent or training – this fund is flexible to meet the needs of your organisation.

Funding is available to organisations with an income of less than £250,000 for applications under one the below areas:

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Tackling immediate impacts of hardship

Organisations that directly address the immediate impacts of poverty, including providing food, warmth, shelter and financial advice such as foodbanks, community hubs, homeless shelters or welfare advice agencies.

Poverty

Building resilience to poverty and hardship

Organisations that deliver activities to empower people to take positive steps out of poverty in the longer term. Examples include skills training, job search, volunteering, mental resilience and financial confidence skills.

Working to support equity and inclusion

Organisations that champion social justice, diversity and inclusion. This could involve service or projects to tackle inequalities which can lead to poverty and exclusion including gender, sexuality, age, race, language or ability.

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Working to support climate justice

Supporting activities that improve energy efficiency, environmental education and resilience-building within communities most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such communities at risk of flooding or urban heat islands and those more vulnerable to extreme weather events, such as older people, isolated communities or people with disabilities. Projects might include community awareness sessions, carbon literacy training and practical measures.


Working together since 2019

Groundwork has worked with Comic Relief since 2019 as an intermediary funder in England, supporting grassroots community organisations, with a turnover of under £250,000.

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£5.9 million

in grant money awarded

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1321

grants awarded

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150,000

beneficiaries have been supported and 3,000 volunteering opportunities created

Story: North East Sight Matters

North East Sight Matters engage with sight-impaired children, young people, and their families who live in the North East. Run by an experienced team of specialists with a significant understanding of the needs of those living with sight loss.