Comic Relief Community Fund 2026/27: Grants of Up to £5,000 for Grassroots Organisations in England

Grassroots organisations working to address pressing social challenges in their local communities can apply for funding through the Comic Relief Community Fund (England) 2026/27. Delivered by Groundwork in partnership with Comic Relief, the programme is designed to provide financial support to community-led organisations that are creating positive change and improving the lives of people in their communities.

For the 2026/27 funding round, grants of up to £5,000 will be awarded to organisations in England. The programme has a particular focus on initiatives addressing homelessness and the cost of living, early childhood development, violence against women and girls, and the safety and wellbeing of refugees, asylum seekers and people experiencing forced migration.

With a total funding allocation of just over £600,000, the programme expects to support approximately 120 organisations across England.

What Is the Comic Relief Community Fund?

The Comic Relief Community Fund is a grant programme supporting grassroots and community-led organisations that are working to make a meaningful difference in their local communities.

Groundwork has partnered with Comic Relief to deliver the programme in England since 2019. The initiative recognises that smaller, locally rooted organisations often have a strong understanding of the challenges faced by their communities because they work directly with people experiencing those challenges.

The fund therefore seeks to support organisations that draw on the lived experience of the people and communities they serve when developing and delivering their work.

For the 2026/27 programme, funding will be directed towards organisations undertaking projects that respond to some of the most significant social and economic challenges affecting communities in England.

Comic Relief Community Fund 2026/27 Key Details

Applicants should take note of the following important information:

• Funding amount: Grants of up to £5,000
• Total funding available: Just over £600,000
• Expected number of organisations supported: Approximately 120
• Location: England
• Application opening date: Tuesday, 1 September 2026
• Application deadline: 5pm on Wednesday, 30 September 2026
• Project completion deadline: All funded projects must be delivered by 30 September 2027
• Eligible costs: Funding can support project costs, core organisational costs, or a combination of both
• Geographical requirement: Organisations must be located in the same region in which their funded projects will be delivered
• Previous grant recipients: Organisations receiving a 2025/26 grant may apply for the new funding round provided their previous project is completed and the required end-of-grant report has been submitted by 30 September 2026

Applicants are encouraged to review the full programme criteria and application guidance before submitting an application.

How Much Funding Is Available?

Successful organisations can receive a grant of up to £5,000.

Although the individual grant size is relatively small, the funding is intended to provide flexible support to grassroots organisations that may have limited access to larger funding opportunities.

The programme has a total allocation of just over £600,000, with approximately 120 organisations expected to receive funding.

The funding can be particularly useful for community organisations seeking to:

• Launch a new local project.
• Expand an existing community initiative.
• Respond to an emerging need within their community.
• Cover eligible core organisational costs.
• Strengthen the delivery of an existing programme.
• Combine organisational and project-related expenditure.
• Support activities designed around the needs and experiences of local beneficiaries.

What Will the Comic Relief Community Fund Support?

The 2026/27 programme has identified several priority areas. Organisations should ensure that their proposed activities clearly demonstrate how they respond to the needs addressed by the fund.

1. Tackling Homelessness

One of the major priorities of the 2026/27 programme is tackling homelessness.

Funding may therefore be relevant to grassroots organisations working with people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or experiencing barriers to secure and stable housing.

Community-led organisations addressing homelessness may be involved in initiatives that respond to local needs and help vulnerable people access appropriate support, improve their circumstances or strengthen their connection with community services.

2. Addressing Cost-of-Living Concerns

The fund also focuses on initiatives supporting people experiencing cost-of-living concerns.

Rising household costs can place significant pressure on individuals and families, particularly those already experiencing financial insecurity or other forms of disadvantage.

Grassroots organisations with initiatives designed to help communities cope with cost-of-living challenges may therefore find this funding opportunity relevant to their work.

Projects should demonstrate an understanding of the challenges facing the communities they serve and explain how the proposed activities can contribute to positive local change.

3. Supporting Early Childhood Development

Another priority area is early childhood development.

The programme recognises the importance of supporting children during the early stages of life and initiatives that contribute to positive childhood development may be considered within the fund’s priorities.

Community organisations working with children, families and caregivers can consider whether their existing or proposed activities align with this focus.

Projects should demonstrate a clear connection between the proposed activities and the needs of the children, families or communities they seek to support.

4. Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls

The 2026/27 fund also prioritises projects supporting the prevention of violence against women and girls.

This provides an opportunity for grassroots organisations working to improve safety, awareness, prevention, community support and related areas to seek financial assistance for eligible activities.

Organisations should clearly explain the problem they are addressing, the communities affected and how their proposed work can contribute to preventing violence or improving safety and support.

5. Supporting Refugees and Asylum Seekers

The fund includes initiatives that support the safety of refugees and asylum seekers.

Organisations working directly with refugee and asylum-seeking communities may therefore consider whether their activities meet the programme’s criteria.

This could be particularly relevant to community-led organisations with strong local relationships and an understanding of the challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers.

6. Supporting People Experiencing Forced Migration

The programme also recognises the needs of people experiencing forced migration.

Grassroots organisations supporting people affected by displacement and forced migration can explore the programme criteria to determine whether their proposed activities qualify for funding.

A strong application should demonstrate how the organisation’s work responds to locally identified needs and how the project can create meaningful benefits for the people it supports.

What Can the Grant Funding Be Used For?

One of the important features of the Comic Relief Community Fund is the flexibility around eligible expenditure.

Funding can be used for:

• Project costs
• Core organisational costs
• A combination of project and core organisational costs

This flexibility can be particularly valuable for grassroots organisations because smaller community organisations may require support not only for individual activities but also for the organisational capacity needed to deliver those activities effectively.

Applicants should nevertheless consult the official application guidance to understand the specific costs and activities permitted under the programme.

Who Can Apply?

The Comic Relief Community Fund is intended for grassroots, community-led organisations based in England that are working to create positive change within their local communities.

The programme places importance on organisations that understand the needs of their communities and draw on the lived experience of the people they support.

An organisation considering applying should carefully assess the full eligibility requirements contained in the official application guidance before preparing its application.

Geographic Eligibility

The 2026/27 programme is specifically for organisations in England.

An important requirement is that an organisation must be located in the same region where the funded project will be delivered.

This means organisations should pay close attention to the geographic relationship between their own location and the location of their proposed activities.

The opportunity is therefore not a general international grant programme. Organisations based outside England should not assume that they are eligible simply because their work addresses one of the programme’s priority areas.

Organisational Size and Grassroots Focus

Groundwork has worked with Comic Relief since 2019 as an intermediary funder supporting grassroots community organisations in England, particularly organisations with a turnover of under £250,000.

Applicants should check the current application guidance to confirm the precise eligibility requirements for the 2026/27 funding round rather than relying solely on previous programme information.

The grassroots focus is important because the fund is designed to reach organisations that are closely connected to the communities they serve.

Can Previous Comic Relief Community Fund Recipients Apply?

Yes, organisations that received a 2025/26 grant can apply to the new 2026/27 fund.

However, there is an important condition.

Their previous project must have been completed and the required end-of-grant report submitted by Wednesday, 30 September 2026.

Organisations that received previous funding should therefore ensure that they have completed all reporting requirements before applying for the new funding round.

How to Prepare a Strong Application

Although receiving a grant is not guaranteed, applicants can improve the quality of their submissions by clearly demonstrating the relevance and impact of their proposed work.

1. Clearly Identify the Community Need

Start by explaining the issue your organisation is addressing.

A strong application should make it easy for the funder to understand:

• What problem exists?
• Who is affected?
• Where does the problem occur?
• Why is the issue important?
• What evidence or lived experience demonstrates the need?
• Why is your organisation well positioned to respond?

2. Connect Your Project to a Priority Area

Your proposal should clearly demonstrate how it relates to one or more of the fund’s 2026/27 priorities.

These include:

• Homelessness
• Cost-of-living concerns
• Early childhood development
• Prevention of violence against women and girls
• Safety of refugees and asylum seekers
• Support for people experiencing forced migration

Avoid presenting a project without clearly explaining its connection to the programme’s priorities.

3. Demonstrate Community Involvement

The programme places emphasis on community-led approaches and lived experience.

Applicants should therefore demonstrate how the people they support have influenced the organisation’s understanding of the issue and, where relevant, the design and delivery of the proposed project.

4. Explain How the Money Will Be Used

Because grants are limited to a maximum of £5,000, applicants should present a realistic and clearly structured budget.

Explain how the requested funding will contribute to the proposed activities and how each major cost supports the project’s objectives.

5. Demonstrate Local Impact

Applicants should explain the expected benefits of the project for the local community.

Consider describing:

• Who will benefit.
• How many people may benefit.
• What activities will be delivered.
• What changes the project is expected to achieve.
• How the organisation will know whether the project has made a difference.

6. Check the Eligibility Criteria Carefully

Before submitting an application, organisations should read the full programme criteria and application guidance.

This is especially important because the fund has specific requirements relating to organisational location, project delivery, previous grants and other eligibility considerations.

Previous Impact of the Comic Relief and Groundwork Partnership

The partnership between Groundwork and Comic Relief has been operating since 2019.

According to the programme information, the partnership has so far achieved significant reach across communities in England.

The programme reports:

• £6.3 million in grant funding awarded.
• 1,462 grants awarded.
• Approximately 156,000 beneficiaries supported.
• Around 3,000 volunteering opportunities created.

These figures illustrate the scale of the partnership’s support for grassroots organisations and the communities they serve.

Important Deadline for the Comic Relief Community Fund 2026/27

The application window opens on:

Tuesday, 1 September 2026

The deadline for applications is:

5pm on Wednesday, 30 September 2026

Applicants should avoid waiting until the final hours to submit their applications. Organisations should allow sufficient time to review the eligibility criteria, prepare their project information, develop a realistic budget and check the application before submission.

All successful projects must be delivered by:

30 September 2027

Organisations that received a 2025/26 grant and intend to apply for the new funding round must also ensure that their previous project has been completed and the end-of-grant report submitted by 30 September 2026.

How to Apply for the Comic Relief Community Fund

Organisations interested in applying should visit the official Groundwork Comic Relief Community Fund website and access the How to Apply section.

The application guidance provides the detailed programme criteria that applicants need to understand before submitting their proposals.

Applicants should use the official guidance as the authoritative source for determining eligibility, eligible expenditure, application requirements and other conditions.

APPLY HERE

About Groundwork and Comic Relief

The Comic Relief Community Fund in England is delivered through a partnership between Comic Relief and Groundwork.

Groundwork acts as an intermediary funder, supporting grassroots community organisations and helping channel funding towards locally driven initiatives.

Comic Relief is known for supporting projects and organisations working to tackle social challenges and improve people’s lives, while Groundwork works with communities to create positive environmental, social and economic change.

Their continued partnership provides a mechanism for directing funding towards community organisations that are often deeply embedded within the communities they serve.

Why This Funding Opportunity Matters

Small grants can play an important role in helping grassroots organisations turn community ideas into practical action.

For smaller organisations, even a grant of £5,000 can provide resources for activities that might otherwise be difficult to implement.

The flexibility to use funding towards project costs, core organisational costs or a combination of both can also help organisations strengthen their ability to deliver community-focused initiatives.

The 2026/27 priorities are particularly relevant to organisations responding to issues such as homelessness, financial hardship, child development, gender-based violence, displacement and migration.

By directing funding towards community-led organisations, the programme aims to support initiatives that are grounded in local realities and informed by the experiences of the people who benefit from them.

Visit HERE for more information about the Comic Relief Community Fund 2026/27.

Key Takeaways

The most important points for prospective applicants are

1. The Comic Relief Community Fund 2026/27 is a funding opportunity for grassroots and community-led organisations in England.
2. Grants of up to £5,000 are available.
3. More than £600,000 in total funding is expected to be distributed.
4. Approximately 120 organisations are expected to receive grants.
5. The programme focuses on homelessness, cost-of-living concerns, early childhood development, violence against women and girls, and support for refugees, asylum seekers and people experiencing forced migration.
6. Funding may be used for project costs, core organisational costs, or a combination of both.
7. Organisations must be located in the same region where their funded projects will be delivered.
8. Organisations receiving a 2025/26 grant may apply provided their previous project is completed and the end-of-grant report submitted by 30 September 2026.
9. Applications close at 5pm on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
10. Funded projects must be completed by 30 September 2027.
11. Applicants should consult the full programme criteria and application guidance before applying.

Conclusion

The Comic Relief Community Fund 2026/27 provides an important funding opportunity for grassroots organisations in England that are working directly with communities to address pressing social challenges.

With grants of up to £5,000, the programme can help locally rooted organisations develop or strengthen initiatives addressing homelessness, cost-of-living pressures, early childhood development, violence against women and girls, and the safety and wellbeing of refugees, asylum seekers and people experiencing forced migration.

The programme’s emphasis on community-led action and lived experience makes it particularly relevant to organisations that have a strong understanding of the challenges facing the people they support.

Eligible organisations should carefully review the official criteria, prepare a clear proposal demonstrating local need and expected impact, develop a realistic budget and submit their application before the 5pm, 30 September 2026 deadline.

For complete eligibility requirements, application guidance and submission instructions, applicants should consult the official Comic Relief Community Fund information provided by Groundwork.

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