The Windrush Day Grant Scheme is part of the Government's work to create more resilient communities, where different religions, cultures and opinions are celebrated, underpinned by a shared set of values that champion tolerance, freedom and equality of opportunity.
In 2026, the scheme's focus is on bringing communities together, across different ages and ethnic backgrounds. It is expected that events and activities will be inclusive and encourage engagement and participation from people from a variety of different backgrounds, including those beyond Windrush communities.
The funding is for projects that focus on one of the following overarching celebratory aims of the Windrush Day Grant Scheme:
- Raise Awareness: To raise awareness of the historical facts and experiences of the Windrush story. This includes the pioneers who arrived on the MV Empire Windrush in 1948, and those who came on vessels and aircraft in the decades after WW2.
- Foster Pride: To foster a greater sense of national pride and recognition of the historic and ongoing contributions made by the Windrush generation and their descendants to UK society. To proactively support and encourage people from different backgrounds to embrace, celebrate and commemorate this aspect of our shared history
- Encourage & Inspire: To encourage and inspire the descendants of the Windrush Generation to become young leaders, pursue their aspirations and contribute to the shared values of UK society.
Proposals should be unique, bold, creative, community-led, and culturally resonant, engaging with the Windrush story and Windrush communities in powerful, enterprising and thoughtful ways.
The budget for 2026 is £500,000. Grants of between £5,000 and £25,000 are available.
22 June each year marks National Windrush Day and projects must include a lead event or activity on this date. All other events and activities can take place before 31 July 2026.
This funding will support organisations to deliver projects which they would otherwise not have been able to deliver.
Projects will need to demonstrate value for money:
- Costs should be reasonable and proportionate to the nature of the project outputs/activities, taking into consideration the expected levels of engagement.
- Where staff costs are included, provide a clear breakdown of reasonable hourly rates, with no more than 25% of the requested amount allocated to staff costs.
- There should be a clear breakdown of the costs of the project provided and evidence of trying to get the best value from the funding by making it go further, such as by sharing of premises, people and equipment, recruiting volunteers, sourcing match funding, etc..
Proposals must demonstrate clearly how their project will work with local partners. These might include organisations such as museums, libraries and schools.
Organisations that do not directly work with Caribbean-heritage groups may still apply, but their applications must be created with, or informed by, the Windrush community and they will need to describe their plans to engage and work with Windrush Communities as part of their application.
Notification of decisions in early May 2026. Funding distributed to projects in May 2026.
Near Neighbours will be holding the following online bidder workshops:
- 19 January (12:30 - 13:30)
- 20 January (18:00 - 19:00)
- 21 January (10:00 - 11:00)
- 22 January (17:00 – 18:00)
Registration is via the Near Neighbours website