LACVS/LOCAL Fylde Coast VCFSE Poverty Support & Community Centre Grant Scheme (2026–27)

Introduction

This Support Pack has been compiled by the LACVS LOCAL (Locally Organised Communities Across Lancashire 14), who have received independent grant funds to deliver a Fylde Coast (Wyre, Fylde and Blackpool) grant scheme. The grant programme is to support local VCFSE organisations with an annual turnover of less than £100K to provide activity addressing poverty in their community and to strengthen the essential role of community centres and wellbeing hubs in supporting those affected by poverty in their daily lives. This new grant scheme is called  ‘The LACVS/LOCAL Fylde Coast VCFSE Poverty Support & Community Centre Grant Scheme’.

Aims

Projects should strongly support specific local needs in one or both of the following key areas:

1.Poverty and Access to Food (reducing food poverty).

Support community members who are impacted by poverty, to have greater involvement and activity around developing practical, local solutions to increase access to healthy food. 

● Volunteering around food issues.

● Community food growing

● Food sharing/distribution

● Community shared meal provision

● Community education around healthy eating and its relationship with health and wellbeing. 

2.Community Centres and Wellbeing Hubs.

Increasing community involvement and neighbourhood support for VCFSE community centres and wellbeing hubs. This may include:

● Increasing volunteering around the support services offered by or needed within community centres or wellbeing hubs - particularly for community facilitated practical support around poverty and access to food issues.

● Creation of new support projects within community centres and WB hubs e.g. neighbourhood support for food provision, larders, community allotments, neighbourhood food initiatives, young and older people connection groups, job clubs, self-help groups, learning groups (DIY, tool lending, intergenerational learning etc.) clothes swaps etc.

Alongside the above themes, the grant scheme aims to amplify the essential role that community centres and wellbeing hubs provide within Fylde Coast neighbourhoods e.g.:

• Increase community members’ participation in local social development action and activity. 

• Keeping people well and feeling part of their community, plus increasing the community’s connection to its local assets.

• Increasing resilience and improving mental wellbeing, enabling individuals and families to cope well, overcome barriers to achieving their potential and increase their skills. 

• Support people who are more vulnerable, such as those with long term conditions, who are frail and/or have complex needs.

• Promote greater partnership working between the community, local services and other VCFSE projects, providing practical solutions to poverty and improving access to healthy food.

• Reduce social isolation, with a positive impact on health and wellbeing. 

•Supporting people into employment and training and/or skills improvement.

This new Fylde Coast VCFSE Poverty Support & Community Centre Grant Scheme will be locally managed by Community First Blackpool Wyre and Fylde (CFBWF).

Who can apply to the Grant Programme?

The grants are being made available to community projects in Wyre, Fylde and Blackpool, run by registered charities and social businesses based in the area. There is a strong focus on smaller, formally constituted community groups and registered charities/social enterprises with a turnover of less than £100K that are providing effective community development and cohesion programmes which connect people in their communities and improve community wellbeing.

How much money can groups apply for?

There are two tiers to the funding:

o Community grants – up to £2,000 for formally constituted community groups and registered charities/social enterprises

o There is 1 grant available for up to £4,000 for a registered charity, Social Enterprise for a VCFSE partnership bid

● Annual turnover for your organisation should be less than £100K

● organisations that have a turnover above this will not be considered.

● There will be no appeals or deferred applications – applications will be either successful or unsuccessful. Unsuccessful applications will receive limited feedback. If unsuccessful you may apply again in further rounds (subject to available funds).

Community First BWF will help support groups through the application process if required.

 All funds awarded must be spent by 28th Feb 2027.

What can’t be funded?

● Activities that promote political and religious messages.

● Activities that commence or equipment purchased prior to confirmation of grant funding. ● There is a maximum of 15% spend on capital equipment. Any capital equipment must be 100% related to the delivery of the project. This grant is for delivery of community development, activities / events / services.

● Contribution to core costs / management costs has a maximum of 20%.

Submitting your application

You can submit your application via email matt@communityfirstbwf.org, though you will need to post the signed original to 

Matt Winder, 

Community First, 

95 Abingdon Street, Blackpool, 

FY1 1PP

Deadlines

There are no deadlines for this funding – awards are made on a first, come, first served basis – when it’s gone, it’s gone.

Procedure for successful applications:

● Written notification of approval is posted.

● Applicant to read and sign the acceptance of the terms and conditions.

● Applicant to return the original signed acceptance to Matt Winder, Community First Blackpool Wyre & Fylde, 95 Abingdon Street, Blackpool, FY1 1PP.

● On receipt of original signed acceptance, the cheque is processed and posted to the applicant.

Unsuccessful applicants can contact Matt Winder for feedback and support