Funding can come from many different sources. We have highlighted some external funding opportunities.
This organisation provides support and advice for third sector organisations with accessing funding opportunities.
This organisation manages several different funding schemes that benefit the voluntary sector in Wales.
Community Foundation Wales also has a number of funding opportunities available.
Children and young people
Find out about the different external funding opportunities available.
The Clothworkers Foundation is the charitable arm of the Clothworkers Company, providing grants towards capital projects since 1977.
Who can apply?
Registered charities, community interest companies (CICs), charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs) and special schools.
Aims of the fund
The foundation will provide capital funding towards:
- buildings (fitting, fixtures and equipment), and
- vehicles (with the exception of leasing).
Amount of funding per project
Small and large grants are available.
Closing date
There is no closing date for this funding.
Visit the Clothworkers' Foundation website for more information.
In 2017, Welsh Water launched the Welsh Water Community Fund. Since then, it has donated over £500,000 to support hundreds of local community initiatives.
Who can apply?
Schools, charitable trusts, housing associations and friendly societies.
Aims of the fund
- To make improvements to the environment or local community initiatives promoting health, wellbeing, and environmental objectives,
- to fund activities undertaken by registered community groups: specifically with health, wellbeing, cost of living support, and environmental objectives, and
- to improve and support local education activity. For example, promoting the learning of water efficiency and its environmental benefits through innovation.
Amount of funding per project
You can claim up to £5,000 in grants.
Closing date
Online applications are accepted 3 times a year for 8 weeks at a time.
2024 dates:
- 1 May to 30 June, and
- 1 September to 31 October.
2025 dates:
- 1 January to 28 February.
Visit the Welsh Water website for more information on the Community Fund.
This scheme is intended to support projects that deliver positive outcomes for local communities and meet at least one of the National Lottery Community Fund's priorities, which are:
- bringing people together to build strong relationships in and across communities,
- improving the places and spaces that matter to communities,
- helping more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage, and
- supporting people, communities and organisations facing more demands and challenges because of the cost of living crisis.
Projects supported by Awards for All may include delivering new or existing activity or supporting an organisation to change and adapt to new and future challenges.
Who can apply?
Voluntary and community organisations, schools and statutory bodies.
Aims of the fund
To support projects that improve the lives of local communities, and to help community organisations change and adapt to new and future challenges.
Amount of funding per project
You can claim £300 to £10,000 in grants.
Closing date
There is no closing date specified.
Visit the National Lottery Community Fund website for more information.
Grants are available to non-profit making, constituted groups and organisations for local good causes that focus on supporting children and families in the UK.
Who can apply?
Although the current focus is on schools and organisations working with schools, not-for-profit organisations in the UK can apply if they are constituted and have a governing document.
This includes:
- voluntary and community organisations,
- registered charities,
- community interest companies (CICs) limited by guarantee and running for a minimum of 2 years,
- 'friends of' groups,
- social enterprises,
- industrial and provident societies (IPSs),
- schools,
- health bodies such as NHS hospital trusts and foundation trusts,
- parish, town, or community councils,
- local authorities,
- hospices,
- day care centres, and
- housing associations.
Aims of the fund
Getting schools who lack funds and resources to apply for extra financial help, to provide healthy food and activities that boost young people's mental and physical wellbeing.
Amount of funding per project
You can claim up to £1,500 in grants.
Closing date
There is no closing date specified.
Visit the Tesco Community Grants website for more information.
Applications are open to grassroots football clubs across the UK.
Who can apply?
Groups must be constituted and have a governing document and safeguarding policy in place.
Aims of the fund
Funding is to support grassroots football organisations working with under 18s, so that they can continue to deliver activities and get more young people involved.
Amount of funding per project
You can claim up to £1,000 in grants.
Closing date
30 April 2024.
Visit the Stronger Starts website for more information.
The LoveReading4Kids scheme provides funding to state-funded schools in the UK to support access to books, and to let children experience reading for pleasure.
Who can apply?
State-funded primary and secondary schools and early years settings.
Aims of the fund
LoveReading4Kids will provide grants to schools via a credit to be spent on their online bookstore to purchase non-curriculum books.
Amount of funding per project
You can claim between £1,000 and £5,000 in grants, awarded as a credit.
Closing date
There is no closing date specified.
Visit the LoveReading4Kids website for more information.
The British and Foreign School Society (BFSS) supports charitable organisations working to improve access to education or the quality of education for children and young people under the age of 25, both in the UK and internationally. It awards approximately £900,000 in new grants every year.
Who can apply?
Applications are accepted from UK registered charities with an annual income of between £25,000 and £2.5 million, and at least 3 years of continuous accounts. Eligible organisations must be UK-based.
For UK projects, state funded schools, academies, colleges and other educational establishments (regardless of their income) are eligible, providing they can demonstrate a network effect beyond one individual school.
Aims of the fund
To advance educational opportunity in the UK and developing countries.
Through UK projects, the Society supports work to improve the educational outcomes and life chances of:
- displaced young people,
- young carers, and
- care-experienced young people.
Amount of funding per project
You can claim grants between £30,000 and £90,000 for UK projects of 1 to 3 years, or up to £30,000 a year for multi-year UK projects.
Closing date
There is no closing date specified.
Visit the British and Foreign School Society website for more information.
The Foyle School Library Programme provides funding for schools across the UK that wish to improve their school library services.
Who can apply?
State-funded schools in the UK are eligible to apply.
Aims of the fund
To help schools to improve their library services. It is hoped that by encouraging children to read widely, there will be a huge boost in literacy levels, which is currently a key national educational objective.
Amount of funding per project
You can claim between £2,000 and £10,000 in grants.
Closing date
30 September 2024.
Visit the Foyle Foundation website for more information on the scheme.
The Association provides funding for a small number of major projects, considered to be of fundamental benefit to the discipline. Successful applications are typically for projects that look to support and encourage the study of classical subjects in schools and sixth-form colleges.
Who can apply?
The Classical Association's grants typically fund activities undertaken by schoolteachers, students, academics and organisations.
Aims of the fund
- To support the teaching and learning of classical subjects and topics, primarily in UK schools, but also amongst the wider public,
- to increase access to classics, widening participation and pursuing EDI objectives in UK classics, and
- to increase the sustainability and viability of classics as a discipline in UK schools and beyond.
Amount of funding per project
You can claim up to £5,000 in grants. Grants higher than this are only considered twice per year.
Closing date
Deadlines:
- 1 June,
- 1 September, and
- 1 December.
Visit the Classical Association website for more information on grants.
Grants are available to community groups, schools and other not-for-profit organisations for projects that champion education, participation, environment, diversity and health in the UK.
Who can apply?
Applications will be considered from community groups, schools and organisations based and working within the UK.
Aims of the fund
To power grassroots direct action projects that tackle issues such as diversity and inclusion in the outdoors, participation, education, conservation and protection of the natural environment and health and wellbeing.
Amount of funding per project
You can claim between £50 and £500 in grants.
Closing date
There is no closing date specified.
Visit the Alpkit website for more information.
The Energy Service was launched in October 2018 and is funded by the Welsh Government. The scheme is delivered by a consortium, led by Energy Saving Trust and Carbon Trust and supported by Local Partnerships. The consortium is made up of Ricardo Energy and Environment, Wales Council for Voluntary Action, Regen, GEP Environmental, Awel Aman Tawe and Ecodyfi.
Who can apply?
Applications are accepted from public sector organisations and community groups in Wales. Eligible organisations include:
- local authorities,
- health boards and trusts,
- universities, colleges and schools,
- national parks,
- fire and rescue services,
- national museums and libraries,
- arts and sports councils,
- community councils, and
- community enterprises.
Aims of the fund
To offer public sector and community groups in Wales financial planning, technical support and funding, such as interest-free loans and grants. This is to support the development of their renewable energy schemes.
Amount of funding per project
There is no minimum or maximum levels of funding specified.
Closing date
There is no closing date specified.
Visit the Energy Service section of the Welsh Government website for more information.
People and Places is a grants programme provided by the National Lottery Community Fund to support projects where people and communities are working together and using their strengths to make positive impacts on the things that matter to them the most.
Who can apply?
People and Places is open to community and voluntary groups and public sector organisations in Wales. This includes:
- voluntary or community organisations,
- registered charities,
- constituted groups or clubs,
- community interest companies (CICs),
- social enterprises,
- schools, and
- statutory bodies including town, parish or community councils.
Aims of the fund
To support voluntary, community and public sector organisations with projects in Wales that deliver positive outcomes for local communities.
Projects supported by People and Places may include those designed to help communities to recover, rebuild, and grow from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amount of funding per project
- You can claim medium grants which offer funding from £10,001 to £100,000 for projects lasting up to 5 years.
- You can claim large grants which offer funding from £100,001 to £500,000 for projects lasting up to 5 years.
Closing date
Sustainable Steps Wales Green Careers - 30 April 2024 at 5pm.
Visit the National Lottery Community Fund website for more information.
BBC Children in Need's focus is on children and young people experiencing disadvantage. It funds organisations working to combat this disadvantage.
Who can apply for core or project grants?
Registered not-for-profit organisations who work with disadvantaged children and young people of 18 years and under living in the UK, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands can apply.
Organisations that fit these criteria are:
- community interest companies (CICs),
- companies limited by guarantee (CLGs) including social enterprises,
- housing associations,
- industrial and provident community benefit societies,
- registered charities,
- religious institutions,
- special schools, and
- hospices.
Aims of the fund
To distribute funds raised each year as grants to organisations that work with disadvantaged children and young people, making a real difference to their lives.
Amount of funding per project
The maximum grant is £120,000 (or £40,000 over 3 years), though most grants made are for much less than this. The core grants stream can support organisations for up to 3 years.
Closing date
There is no closing date specified.
Find out more about BBC Children in Need's
core grants and
project grants.
This fund has been set up to nurture new and existing talent in the creative industries.
Who can apply?
Any organisation or business with a track record of delivering high quality skills and training projects in the creative industries in Wales can apply.
Aims of the fund
The fund is designed to help people in the creative industries with:
- business and leadership training,
- diverse and inclusive recruitment support,
- finding placements and opportunities at different levels,
- delivering education and curricula,
- promotion of workforce wellbeing,
- freelancer support,
- careers awareness, and
- bridging gaps between higher education and industries.
Funding is available for projects that can deliver against 1 or more of these priorities. The current funding round prioritises projects that fill skills gaps within the screen, music, animation, games, and immersive technology sectors.
Amount of funding per project
You can claim between £25,000 and £125,000 per project.
Closing date
10 May 2024 at 12 midday.
Visit the Creative Wales website for more information.