2025 CVS Funding Fair Online
Hear the latest news from local and national funders and get details on how to apply.
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Bedfordshire funders on Thursday 20 March
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National funders on Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 March
Each different funder will have a session, using Zoom, to explain what funding they have and also how their application process works. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions. You will need to book separately for each session you wish to attend. You can attend as many or as few as you would like to.
CVS Beds: Local Funding Fair Thursday 20 March 25
Promoting safe, high-quality and inclusive opportunities for people to participate in sport and physical activity for life by offering a range of services to community organisations, sports clubs and individuals. The local specialists for Sport England funding information, together with appropriate and timely advice, guidance and support for sport funding needs and sport grant applications.
For over 450 years The Harpur Trust has been inspiring and supporting the people of Bedford to help them improve their lives. Exclusive to the Borough of Bedford, their grants provide essential funding to groups who run projects to help improve the lives of others. They have approximately £1 million a year in grant funds that they are able to award to projects that focus on education, recreation and relief.
12noon Bedford Borough Council
Several grant schemes are open to charities and community groups including Community Chest Fund, The House of Industry Estate, Rural Grants Scheme and Members' Ward Fund to address specific local priorities, reduce the needs, hardship or distress of residents and/or improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of Bedford Borough.
2pm The Bedfordshire Charitable Trust
The charity has existed since 1964 supporting local organisations to deliver meaningful impact. The Trust prides itself on responding to the needs of the local community and has developed organically over the years. They have over £100k a year that they are able to award to organisations and projects in Bedfordshire with a particular focus on Bedford Borough.
3pm Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation
An independent local grant-maker, supporting voluntary and community groups managing several funds on behalf of statutory agencies, private donors, companies and local families. Their mission is to build partnerships which effectively connect donors with charities and/or community projects through effective and efficient grant-making and philanthropy in order to strengthen the communities they work in.
4pm CVS Bedfordshire Other Local Funders
We will finish the day with a session delivered by CVS senior advisor David Brewer, who will round-up other significant funders / funding opportunities, providing insight in how best to connect with each. David will also give a short, practical guide of ‘top tips’ to help you on your journey to achieving those vital grants that make all the difference!
Tuesday 18th March – National Funders
11:00 - 12:00 Easyfundraising
Easyfundraising is the UK’s biggest charity shopping site where you can raise money for your good cause when your supporters shop on line. easyfundraising turns everyday online shopping into free donations for your cause – your supporters shop as normal (but start on your easyfundraising cause page), and then retailers will make a small donation to say “thank you”.
If you would like to set up your free easyfundraising page before the session, you can do that here
12:30 - 13:30 Heritage Lottery Fund
We believe that understanding, valuing and sharing our heritage brings people together, inspires pride in communities and boosts investment in local economies. We distribute National Lottery grants from £3,000 to £5million and over, funding projects that sustain and transform the UK’s heritage Increasing resilience.
14:00 - 15:00 Key Fund
The Key Fund offers flexible loans and grant/loan packages to help the community and social enterprises to start up, become sustainable, or grow.
15:30 - 16:30 Lloyds Bank Foundation
We have committed to funding at least 700 charities at any one time, for longer, more flexibly and with more money. We will provide a wide range of developmental support, including training, consultancy and mentoring alongside our funding to strengthen charities.
Wednesday 19th March – National Funders
10:00 - 11:00, Groundwork
Groundwork have a number of grant programs including Tesco bags of Help.
11:30 - 12:30 Clothworkers Foundation
The Clothworkers’ Foundation improves the lives of people and communities – particularly those facing disadvantage, deprivation and/or discrimination – through grant-making. The Foundation was set up in 1977 to be the primary vehicle of charitable giving for The Clothworkers’ Company. Since then, The Foundation has awarded more than £152 million in capital grants to charities registered in the UK or not-for-profit organisations working across the nine areas of priority defined in its Main and Small Grants programme.
13:00 - 14:00 People's Postcode Lottery
Six community focused trusts award funding from £500 up to £20,000 to support smaller charities and local community groups that are working for the benefit of people and planet.
14:30 - 15:30 Benefact Trust
Benefact Trust (formerly Allchurches Trust) was established to empower Christian churches and charities across the UK and Ireland, giving them the means to make a positive difference in the lives of the people and communities they serve. Our support of churches and Christian charities in the UK and Ireland is more than just the preservation of history and heritage, it's the preservation of hope, it's a potential lifeline for many of our most disadvantaged communities. Since 1972 we have awarded over £235 million to churches, Christian charities and the communities they serve - £100 million in the last 5 years alone. Although Christian causes are at the heart of our giving, the wider social impact of what we do reaches much further.
15:45 - 16:45 Bernard Sunley
A family grant making foundation which supports charities in England and Wales working to raise the quality of life and provide greater opportunities for the young, the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged.
