This snapshot, taken on 07/04/2010, shows web content selected for preservation by The National Archives. External links, forms and search boxes may not work in archived websites.
Last updated: 03 December 2009
Grassroots Grants is a £130million scheme which aims to provide much needed access to small grants for local community groups. The programme, which will run from 2008-2011 will be divided into two parts:
To apply for a small grant or to make a donation for the future or your community, please contact the Grassroots Grants local funder in your area. Local funders can be found at the link below. Or you can call the Grassroots Grants helpline on 01223 400 331 or email grassroots@cdf.org.uk.
For further information on Grassroots Grants case studies, visit the link below:
The Government's intention to provide £80 million in small grants to community organisations and £50 million endowments funds to local foundations over the CSR years of 2008-2011 was announced in, ‘The future role of the third sector in social and economic regeneration’ published by the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury in July 2007. This involved the widest ever consultation with the third sector through which small organisations told the government that they were often unable to get the small amounts of money they needed to do their work.
In December 2007 the OTS announced that the Community Development Foundation would be its lead national partner in delivering the scheme, called ‘Grassroots Grants’.
The Government wants the smallest, volunteer-led organisations to thrive and direct their energies to the particular challenges they see in their local community, especially in giving a voice to marginalised groups. The Government recognises the work of these grassroots groups and is taking this action to support them.
A vital part of the programme are the local funders that will help deliver the money where it is needed. Local funders will also raise and build the endowments to sustain funding in the future.
Grassroots Grants launched in January 2008 when the CDF invited local third sector funders in each top-tier local authority area of England to apply to become a local partner in delivering the scheme. They are looking for local funders with experience of grant giving and managing endowments, that can prove their ability to reach out to the most vulnerable people and marginalised groups in our communities.
Overall, we expect the programme to improve access to funding for grassroots groups, seeing more funding invested in the organisations. In turn, this will increase their capacity to respond to local issues and strengthen both the grassroots groups and the local funders in each area, leading to stronger communities through increased local impact.