The scheme provides small grants to support independent UK registered non-for-profit organisations for grassroots, community-based projects that fall within its core funding themes:
- Heritage and conservation.
- Education.
- Health and wellbeing.
- Social inclusion.
- Environment.
- Countryside.
Grants of up to £3,000 are available per year for three years. The total cost of the project should not exceed £50,000. Approximately 100 community-based organisations are awarded grants each year.
The funding is for community projects that fall within the KCCF's core funding themes:
- Heritage and conservation – the preservation of historic and culturally important buildings and traditional craftmanship, together with the sustainable regeneration of communities and the built environment across the globe.
- Education – supporting education, training and employability opportunities through which young people and adults can fulfil their potential. This includes grants to non-profit organisations working to narrow the attainment gap, support broader education through music, the arts, sports and outdoor pursuits, as well as investing in teachers continuing professional development.
- Health and wellbeing – improving the health and wellbeing of people and communities. Grants have enabled people with disabilities, those facing life limiting illnesses and people from disadvantaged and marginalised communities to benefit from improved physical and mental health.
- Social inclusion – promoting social inclusion for vulnerable and marginalised communities through projects that relieve poverty, loneliness and other social issues.
- Environment – protecting and promoting the natural world through efforts including habitat restoration, species conservation, carbon savings and sequestration and circular economies.
- Countryside – investing in the economic and environmental future of the countryside. This includes grants to support sustainable and regenerative agriculture, nature friendly farming practices and a brighter future for those who live and work in rural communities.
Priority will be given to projects serving the most disadvantaged communities.
Funding provided through this programme is restricted and must be used exclusively for the project. Core costs or staff salaries may be covered, provided these expenses are directly attributable to the delivery of the project. For example funding for a youth coordinator’s salary to support the delivery of a youth project will be considered.
The small grants programme is open to applications from 28 January (9am) to 11 February 2026 (12 noon).
In 2025/26, applications are open as follows:
- 6 to 20 August (12 noon) – environment and countryside funding themes. (Now closed.)
- 17 to 31 October (12 noon) – education and heritage and conservation funding themes. (Now closed.)
- 28 January to 11 February (12 noon) – social inclusion and health and wellbeing funding themes.
An online application form and guidance notes are available on the KCCF website.