Unrestricted grants of between £300 and £2,000 are available for small, local organisations in England that are making a positive difference in their communities.
Groundwork is working with the Postcode Lottery for a third year to deliver Grassroots Grants. For 2026, 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 flexible and unrestricted and can be used where it is needed most.
The key changes to the fund for 2026 are:
- Applications may be submitted at any time up to Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 23:59.
- Eligible to organisations whose income is up to £25,000 (this was previously £60,000) 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, and
- The programme will not fund sports or physical activities-based projects.
Unrestricted grants of between £500 and £2,000 can be accessed by voluntary or community organisations in England, including registered charities/companies, whose annual turnover is no more than £25,000.
Priority will be given 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.
Grassroot Grants will support organisations whose aims and objectives align with one of Postcode Lottery’s funding themes:
- Enabling participation in the arts
- Improving green spaces and increasing access to the outdoors
- Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty
- Providing support to improve mental health, and/or
- Supporting marginalised groups and tackling inequality.
The Fund aims 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
- To support people or training to improve the capacity building of your organisation.
Groundwork will consider costs for a range of purposes. These could include (please note that this is not an exclusive list):
- 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, and
- Consultant time to help develop your organisation or key policies.
A list of organisations that are not eligible to apply to this grant scheme, which includes Community Interest Companies that are less than two years old, local authorities, town and parish councils, and schools is provided on the Fund’s webpage, together with a list of activities that can’t be funded (these include animal welfare, medical research and sport).
A map showing previously funded projects is available on the Groundwork website.
To apply for a grant, complete the Eligibility Checker in the first instance. Applicants that meet the programme criteria will be sent a link to the application form.
The programme will close to applications at 23:59 on Wednesday 30 September 2026. Groundwork have stated that the fund will not close early, nor will funding be given out on a "first come, first served" basis.
Further information about the Fund and how to apply can be found on the Groundwork website.
This also includes a link to a recorded webinar that you can view.