SMALL GRANTS
Community First is proud to administer small grants that help grassroots organisations, community groups, and local charities make a real difference in people’s lives across Blackpool, Fylde, and Wyre.
Working in partnership with local organisations, funders, and voluntary sector networks, we aim to support projects that strengthen communities, promote wellbeing, and create lasting local impact.
Our small grants are designed to empower community-led initiatives, enabling local groups to:
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Improve health, wellbeing, and social connection.
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Provide opportunities for skills development, employability, and volunteering.
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Reduce social isolation and support vulnerable members of the community.
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Promote community cohesion, environmental improvements, and pride in local areas.
We manage the application and assessment process on behalf of our funding partners, offering guidance and support to help groups access funding effectively. Through these grants, we aim to ensure that small, grassroots organisations have the resources they need to deliver meaningful projects and create a positive impact in the communities they serve
“Supporting Local Communities Through
Small Grants.”
Discover our current grant opportunities and find out how your organisation can apply to make a difference.
7 Sept 2026
LACVS/LOCAL Fylde Coast VCFSE Poverty Support & Community Centre Grant Scheme (2026–27)
Supporting local solutions to reduce poverty, improve access to healthy food, and strengthen community wellbeing across the Fylde Coast.
The Fylde Coast VCFSE Poverty Support & Community Centre Grant Scheme has been established to invest in community-led projects that tackle poverty, improve access to healthy food, and strengthen the vital role of community centres and wellbeing hubs across Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde.
Managed locally by Community First Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde, this grant scheme will support voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations to develop practical, sustainable initiatives that make a real difference within their neighbourhoods.
Funding is available for projects that encourage volunteering, community food growing, food sharing and distribution, community meals, and healthy eating education. The scheme also supports initiatives that enhance community centres and wellbeing hubs as welcoming spaces where people can connect, learn new skills, access support, and build stronger local networks. This could include activities such as community larders, allotments, job clubs, self-help groups, intergenerational learning, clothes swaps, and neighbourhood support projects.
Who can apply: VCFSE organisations in Wyre, Fylde and Blackpool with an annual turnover under £100,000
Themes: Poverty support, access to healthy food, community food projects, strengthening community centres/wellbeing hubs, volunteering, reducing isolation, improving wellbeing, skills development, neighbourhood support projects
Spend limits: – Capital spend max 15% – Management/overheads max 20%
Key Dates
• Deadline: No fixed deadline — first come, first served until funds are fully allocated
All funds awarded must be spent by 28th Feb 2027.
Funding Available
• Grant amounts:
Community grants up to £2,000
One partnership grant up to £4,000
7 Sept 2026
Wyre Community Cohesion Fund - Up to £25,000
Building Stronger, Safer and More Connected Communities Across Wyre
The Wyre Community Cohesion Fund has been established to support projects that bring communities together, strengthen relationships and promote a greater sense of belonging across Wyre. Delivered by Community First Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde on behalf of Wyre Council, the fund offers two levels of grant funding — up to £5,000 and up to £25,000 — for voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations delivering activities that build trust, encourage inclusion and create stronger connections between people from different backgrounds.
Projects should support community resilience, shared understanding and positive engagement, helping to create safer, more connected and cohesive communities across the borough.
Key Dates
Timetable
Funding Open - 18th May 2026
Deadline for Applications - 20th July 2026 Midnight
Scoring W/C 20th July 2026
Award Notification W/C 17th August 2026
Funding Available
A total of £150,000 is available through the Wyre Community Cohesion Fund, with grant awards offered across two funding tiers:
SMALL Grant up to £5,000
LARGE Grant up to £25,000
The level of funding applied for should reflect the scale, scope and needs of the proposed project, with applicants selecting the most appropriate tier to match their delivery plans and expected outcomes.
Each funding tier has a corresponding application form, and applicants should ensure they complete the correct form for the level of funding being requested.
7 Sept 2026
Eric Wright Charitable Trust Small Groups’ Funding 2026/27 in Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde
Supporting Stronger, More Connected Communities
The Eric Wright Charitable Trust Small Grants Programme, delivered by LACVS and supported by Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale CVS, provides funding for grassroots community projects in Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde. Grants of up to £1,000 are available for small voluntary, community and faith sector organisations with an annual turnover of less than £30,000.
The programme supports projects that strengthen community cohesion, reduce social isolation, improve health and wellbeing, and help local people feel more connected, resilient and supported within their communities.
Key Dates
There are NO deadlines for this funding – awards are made on a first, come, first served basis – when it’s gone, it’s gone.
Funding Available
There are three tiers to the funding:
o Grassroots grants – up to £250.00: for un-constituted community groups that are working with Community First Blackpool Wyre & Fylde (CFBWF) and the LACVS LOCAL project to help achieve their community engagement activities / events.
o Community grants – up to £500.00: for constituted community groups.
o Longer-term community grants – up to £1000: for constituted community groups
who are proposing to deliver a project of 12 weeks or longer.
7 Sept 2026
LACVS/LOCAL Fylde Coast VCFSE Support Fund 2026/2027 For Blackpool Wyre & Fylde
Funding is now available through the LACVS LOCAL Fylde Coast VCFSE Support Fund 2025/2026 for small, local organisations in Wyre, Fylde, and Blackpool. Grants of up to £2,000 and one larger grant of up to £4,000 are on offer to support community-led projects. –
The programme is aimed at local organisations within the VCFSE sector with an annual turnover of less than £100,000 who are providing activity to address local community development, including support into training and employment, cohesion, and which make a positive difference to the lives and wellbeing of people of all ages.
The grants are being made available to community projects in Wyre, Fylde and Blackpool. There is a strong focus on smaller constituted grassroots groups and smaller charities/social enterprises that are providing effective community development and cohesion programmes which connect people in their communities and improve community wellbeing.
Key Dates
There are no deadlines for this funding – awards are made on a first, come, first served basis – when it’s gone, it’s gone.
Funding Available
There are TWO tiers to the funding:
Community grants – up to £2,000.00 for formally constituted and registered VCFSE community groups/organisations.
There is 1 grant available for up to £4,000.00 for a constituted community group/organisation or registered charity, social enterprise or VCFSE partnership.