RISE community grants

Our RISE (Resilient, Informed, Sustainable, and Engaged) grants programme is designed to support not-for-profit organisations in making positive improvements to our local communities.

Organisations that can apply for grants include community, cultural and sports sectors.

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Strategic grants round 1 2026 to 2027

You can apply for funding for projects that help return pride to our district and support one or more of our strategic priorities, as set out in the Corporate Plan 2024-28.

Applications for projects should meet one or more of the following priority themes:

• Greener - Improve education and community awareness about climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
• Fairer - Improve access to food and health services to support healthy lifestyles.
• Better - Help stop poverty and deprivation by supporting education and training that develops skills for employment.
• Stronger - Promote inclusion and challenge discrimination by encouraging participation in cultural and leisure activities that celebrate diversity and strengthen community bonds.

How much you can apply for

Project delivery funding up to £10,000 

We'll award up to £10,000 for applications that meet one or more of the priority themes.

You can ask for up to 5% of your application to cover core costs. This includes things like back office expenses, day-to-day management, utility bills and office support.

Core funding up to £4,000

You can apply for core funding instead if your organisation's core objectives meet one of the priority themes. This includes non-project based activity like back office expenses, day-to-day management, utility bills and office support.

How to apply for a grant

You must read the strategic grants guidelines before completing the form.

Your project(s) must have started by Tuesday 9 June 2026 and end by Tuesday 23 March 2027.

Apply for a strategic grant

You must apply by 9am on Tuesday 9 June 2026.