I have been researching Community Development Funding in the UK.

Sources for grants and funding for your Community Development project could include:

• The National Lottery - This is the big one. Very specific application requirements - consider attending a training course to learn how BEST to make an application to the National Lottery for a grant, these do exist. An alternative is to make contact and pick the brains of a funder who has made a SUCCESSFUL application to the National Lottery - successful applicants tend to be very proud of the fact that they have succeeded and would likely be happy to share knowledge. (and aren't we in the business of sharing knowledge? :-))
• Charitable Trusts - There are literally hundreds of Charitable Trusts and a big issue is how to find the one(s) that will mostlikely support your funding application. See the links below, I have provided two sources of Charitable Trusts databases that list Trusts.
• Local Government - Check out your Local Councils web site. I have never yet seen one that does NOT provide funds to Local Community Development projects.
• National Government -
• Banks and Building Societies - SAee links below - huge source of unding for local communities, some are better than others....
• Supermarkets - Many supermarkets have a fund for assisting local community projects. This is usually provided to worthy causes at the discretion of the store manager - if you don't ask, you won't get.
• Larger Shops - Same principle. Approach them and ask!
• Local Businesses - As with supermarkets, and large shops above - Ask. Many local businesses NEVER get asked to contribute to local community projects and would probably LOVE to be involved in some way. Remember, it can be more effective to ask for a contribution in goods or services than cash - but why not ASK for both which gives the manager a chance to say no to one of them? :-)

Community Development Funding Advice Pages

My thanks and acknowledgements to the following pages on the web for much of the knowledge and information I have digested and regurgitated in this article: (Sorry about the bodily funtions metaphor, I won't do it again. (Burp).......:-))

Grants and Funding - Ten Point Plan - Tips on Bid Writing - A page from Beacon Council in Oxfordshire. Excellent resource for anyone involved in submitting a grant application for a Community Development Project.

Grants and Funding - Another useful page from The Vale of White Horse District Council - How can we help? they ask and then they answer it on this page - useful.

Sources of Funding for Community Projects - This page from Craven District Council details the main funding sources for Community Development projects. There is a detailed information page for each listed, for example The National Lottery. They also have a downloadable link on the page to their PDF file entitled "Funding Guide" which lists over 60 sources for Community Funding. (Link is in the sidebar of the page, to the right).

Access Point to GrantNet - This is an Access Point to the GrantNet database. The database allows you to input details of your project and then provides suggested sources of funding. This page at the Vale of White Horse Council also has a good tutorial on how to use the GrantNet database effectively, to research for your funding project.

High Street Stores Funding Opportunities - Brilliant page here from the CIB that lists some of the major high street stores, ie Dixons, ASDA, Marks and Spencers, and then gives detailed information and advice on approaching the store with a community funding application. Even tells you where to find the link on the store's home page to begin your community funding research. I like this page.

Banks and Building Societies Opportunities for Funding - Same source as the page above (CIB) - yee haaaaa!

List of Charitable Trusts - does exactly what it says on the tin.

Another list of Charitable Sources - ditto.