Up to £20,000 in Unrestricted Funding for Small Groups in Southwark: Community Southwark
Funding Differently 2026/27 offers two-year grants of £10,000 or £20,000 to small voluntary and community organisations in Southwark. The money is unrestricted, there is no budget to submit, and there are no monitoring reports to write.
The programme aims to reduce health inequalities at neighbourhood level by strengthening small local groups, while removing the barriers that often stop them accessing funding. £500,000 is available in total across 40 grants.
The deadline is 23:59 on Wednesday 21 October 2026.
About the Funder
Funding Differently is a partnership between Community Southwark, Partnership Southwark, United St Saviour’s Charity, Peter Minet Trust, Impact on Urban Health, PPL and Southwark’s voluntary and community sector (VCS).
It was set up to tackle three common frustrations for small groups: complex applications, restricted funding and a lack of feedback. Local VCS groups also act as peer assessors and help decide where the money goes.
What the Fund Supports
The grants are unrestricted. You can use them for anything your organisation needs, including running costs, core costs and overheads, as well as project or capital costs.
Your organisation must support disabled people and/or run activities that:
- Promote positive mental health and wellbeing
- Address social isolation and loneliness
Preventative work is eligible, and this does not need to be your main organisational focus.
How Much Funding Is Available
There are two grant sizes, each paid over two years:
- £5,000 a year (£10,000 total) for 30 groups with an annual income of £50,000 or less
- £10,000 a year (£20,000 total) for 10 groups with an annual income between £40,000 and £150,000
You can apply for one grant only. If your income sits between £40,000 and £50,000 you can choose either, so weigh up the larger award against the tougher competition for just 10 places.
There is no strict deadline to spend the money, though impact learning begins by March 2027.
Who Is Eligible
Not-for-profit organisations operating in Southwark, including:
- Registered charities and CIOs
- CICs limited by guarantee
- Constituted community and voluntary groups
- Companies limited by guarantee with an asset lock
You must also have:
- A safeguarding policy
- A governing document such as a constitution or articles of association
- At least two unrelated trustees, directors or committee members
- A bank account in your organisation’s name
Organisations funded in previous rounds can reapply.
What Makes a Strong Application
Decisions are made by local VCS groups in two stages. At stage 1, scoring panels assess the initial applications. At stage 2, shortlisted groups read and score 10 other applications, give brief feedback and receive £100 for their time.
Taking part in stage 2 scoring is mandatory to receive a grant. Put 25 November to 9 December 2026 in your diary before you apply, and make sure someone in your group has the time to do it.
Because your peers are scoring you, write in plain language about the real difference your group makes locally. Be clear about who you support, why it matters for their mental health, wellbeing or connection, and what the funding would let you do.
Free support is available from Community Southwark. You can book an appointment with Louis Baxter at louis@communitysouthwark.org.
Documents You Will Need
- Safeguarding policy
- Governing document (constitution, articles of association or similar)
- Confirmation of at least two unrelated trustees, directors or committee members
- Bank account in your organisation’s name
- Most recent annual accounts or income and expenditure statement (newer groups can provide 3 months of bank statements)
How to Apply
Applications are submitted online through Flexi-Grant. There are separate forms for each grant size:
- Download and read the grant pack
- Choose the £5,000 or £10,000 grant based on your annual income
- Complete the matching online form and submit before the deadline
Key Dates
- Applications open: 9 September 2026
- Deadline: 23:59 on 21 October 2026
- Stage 2 peer scoring: 25 November to 9 December 2026
- Decisions: by 22 December 2026
- Funds distributed: within 4 weeks of decisions
