Introduction – overview of the funding
The Comic Relief Community Fund (England) 2024 programme will focus on supporting organisations whose activities help to address poverty and its impact – funding organisations that provide essential resources such as food, shelter, healthcare and education, include foodbanks, homeless shelters, family hubs and community wellbeing centres.
The Fund offers grants of up to £5,000 for grassroots, community-led organisations in England to help support the delivery of services and activity that benefit local communities. The fund is being administered by Groundwork UK.
Who is eligible to apply?
Grants will be awarded to voluntary or community organisations including registered charities and not for profit companies with an income of less than £250,000 and who deliver against the key areas (see below) which link with Comic Relief’s new funding strategy.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be based within the area where they are carrying out activities.
- Have local people involved in the running of the organisation as trustees/staff/volunteers.
- Be not for profit.
- Have an annual income of £250,000 or less.
- Have a governing document (e.g. constitution or memorandum and articles of association) which includes appropriate statements on members not benefiting financially from the organisation or its dissolution.
- Have its own safeguarding policy.
- Have at least two unrelated people on the committee.
- Have its own bank account with a minimum of two unrelated signatories.
- Not be a statutory organisation.
What are the funder priorities?
The 2025/26 funding round will support organisations in England that are:
- Tackling the immediate and urgent impacts of being in poverty, including providing essential resources like food, shelter, advice and healthcare. For example, foodbanks, community kitchens, homeless shelters, welfare advice agencies and health outreach projects.
- Working to empower communities to take positive steps to lift themselves out of poverty in the longer term. For example, projects that build skills, increase access to employment, strengthen financial resilience or develop community-led solutions.
When assessing applications, Groundwork, who administers the grants programme on behalf of Comic Relief, will take into account the level of deprivation in the area where the organisation is working. Applications from areas that score higher on the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) may be given greater priority.
How much can organizations apply for?
Grants of up to £5,000 are available for grassroots, community-led organisations with an income of less than £250,000
Projects must be completed by 30 September 2026.
This will be the only funding round for 2025/2026, and it anticipated that it will be highly competitive.
What the funding can be used for
The programme offers flexible, core funding, and is designed to support the good work of organisations, and not just projects. The grants can be used on core organisation costs, project costs or a combination of both.
An example of core funding could be a contribution to organisation’s annual budget to continue its good work, funding to expand the work, or to add something new that amplifies results. It could also be allocated for expenses that are harder to fund, such as salaries of senior management or administration, or ongoing costs that are not covered by other grants.
Core funding has to be used for an agreed purpose, and in an agreed time period, by the end of September 2025.
Examples of direct project costs could include:
- Counselling and support services
- Paying staff or volunteer expenses
- Costs for equipment or materials
- Core, ongoing running costs of the organisation, such as, rent, utilities, and other general running costs.
- Training for staff and volunteers
- Consultant time to help develop the organisation or key policies
- Website development to improve the marketing and promotion of services
- Buying food and equipment for a foodbank
- Employing seasonal workers to deliver activities for young people, tackling inequality issues
- Creating a community garden to help refugees come together, tackling family isolation and mental health issues.
Please note that core funding is not the same as unrestricted funding, which can be put in a bank or investment and spent however wanted.
Is there a deadline?
Yes, the deadline is 12noon on 6 October 2025.
It is expected that the application process will be competitive. If it is oversubscribed, the application form will be closed at any point.
Find out more/how to apply
The first step in the application process is to complete an online Eligibility Checker. Eligible groups will then be given a link to the online application form.
Further support
For further support from RVA with preparing your application or your policies and procedures required for this funding, contact Herjeet Vass at herjeet.vass@rva.org.uk.