Significant changes have been made to the way the Community Grants fund is administered for 2025/26.
The £5,000 and under fund replaces the Area Committee Grants and builds on the small grants programme introduced in 2023/24. There will be two funding rounds and the first round will launch on 26 November 2024. You should also refer to the Community Grants over £5,000 fund to make sure that you are clear on which fund to apply to and the application deadline date.
You can only hold one Community Grant award during the funded year (2025/26) – either from the over £5,000 fund or the £5,000 and under fund.
The Community Grants £5,000 and under is available for activities that will help to reduce social or economic inequality in Cambridge and is for activities:
- taking place between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026
- that are open to city wide residents and those living in a particular area of the city
It will fund activities that:
- help people be more active
- are for arts and culture
- bring communities together
- reduce poverty
- reduce loneliness and social isolation
The full guidelines will be published on these webpages in August and the online application form will be available from 26 November.
There will be two funding rounds:
- Round 1 – for activities taking place between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026
- Launch: 26 November 2024
- Webinar: 3 December 2024
- Drop in help: 4 December 2024
- Apply by: 14 January 2025
- Funding awarded: from April 2025 (and must be spent by 31 March 2026)
- Round 2 – for activities taking place between 1 July 2025 and 31 March 2026
- Launch: 23 April 2025
- Webinar: Round 1 webinar available online
- Drop in help: 7 May 2025
- Apply by: 3 June 2025
- Funding awarded: from July 2025 (and must be spent by 31 March 2026)
Contact us to register for the webinar or book a slot at the drop-in session.
You can only apply once to one round per funding year.
Should you be unsuccessful in the first round then please contact the grants team if you are considering applying to the second round.
