Comic Relief Community Fund (England)
This programme is currently closed for applications. For more information, please contact comicrelief@groundwork.org.uk
Does your organisation need extra support to deliver services or activities that benefit your community?
The Comic Relief Community Fund offered 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 was available 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 was available to organisations with an income of less than £250,000 and who deliver against one of the below areas, which link with Comic Relief’s new funding strategy:
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.
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.
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.
£5.9 million
in grant money awarded
1321
grants awarded
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.