These are the funds that specifically have been launched or re-focused to the Covid emergency. Some funders are continuing their normal funding programmes and priorities so do not appear on this list.
See our full list of Funders in Bedfordshire for funders which operate outside of Covid-19 circumstances.
For any general queries, or support in preparing to make a funding application, please use the information on the supporting pages on this website, or contact the CVS Funding and Development team.
Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants
Offers grants between £1,000 and £100,000+ (If you apply for £15,000 or under, you will receive a decision in 6 weeks. If you apply for over £15,000 a decision will take 12 weeks.) to community and cultural organisations to support arts, museums and libraries projects. Largely the same as it was before the programme was suspended in March 2020 but has reopened with some additional guidance about how the fund will be administered in response to the COVID-19 period which is a formal part of the programme guidance until 31 August 2021.
Business Support Grants via local authorities
Restart Grants from 1 April 2021 -
Catalyst Housing
Grants of up to £2,000 to organisations working in Catalyst neighbourhoods.
National Lottery Community Fund - Coronavirus Community Support Fund
Two grant schemes of up to £10,000 and over £10,000 are offered to:
- continue to deliver activity, respond to the immediate crisis or support recovery activity
- change and adapt and/or become more resilient in order to respond to new and future challenges
Heritage Fund
Heritage project with grants of £3,000 up to £5million has resumed which marks a return to Heritage Fund’s core business, but it is not a return to ‘business as usual’. Until April 2022, priority is being given to six outcomes for heritage projects to respond to the COVID-19 context: skills and jobs, inclusion, organisational resilience, better places, the economy and wellbeing and all projects are expected to demonstrate that they are building long-term environmental sustainability and inclusion into their plans. Projects don't have to meet all priority outcomes and the National Lottery Grants for Heritage funding process - application, award and monitoring - remains the same.
Green Recovery Challenge Fund round 2 offers grants of £50,000 to £250,000 to environmental charities or their partners running projects which focus on nature restoration, nature-based solutions and connecting people with nature. Deadline for expressions of interest: 12noon 14 April 2021
SoupFest Bedford
Increased SoupFest Covid-19 grants are available at this time - the amount available per application has been increased from £250 to £1000 to help Bedford's homeless. For homeless organisations in Bedford who need financial support.
Return to Play from Sport England
- Small grants from £300 to £10,000 to help sport and activity groups, clubs and organisations respond to the immediate challenges of returning to play in a coronavirus-safe way. This could include contributing to covering the costs incurred by having to deliver activity in smaller groups than normal, or having the correct hygiene and safety equipment.
- Community Asset grants of £10,001 to £50,000 to help local sports clubs and organisations adapt and open important places and spaces to help their local community return to play safely. This could include contributing to covering the costs incurred by converting existing space to meet social distancing guidelines, or improving a facility’s ventilation.
- Active Together match funding of up to £10,000 for successful Crowdfunder campaigns
- Tackling Inequalities Fund to reduce the negative impact of coronavirus and the widening of the inequalities in sport and physical activity through Team Beds and Luton – for more information about this fund, contact marcia@teambedsandluton.co.uk
Volant Charitable Trust - COVID-19 Response Fund
Grants of £15,000 or less per year for up to three years charities and social enterprises that demonstrate a strong focus on alleviating social deprivation and helping vulnerable groups who have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The grant can be for project and administrative costs, although capital costs for medical equipment and the production or distribution of PPE may be considered.
Deadline 31 July 2021