London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

Civic Pride Fund

Richmond Council's rolling Civic Pride Fund gives one-off grants of up to £5,000 to constituted not-for-profit organisations, and up to £1,000 to individuals and informal groups. It funds new local initiatives that benefit the borough under four priorities: building community capacity, 'a borough to be proud of' (public spaces, environment and climate, culture, heritage and arts), town and neighbourhood centres, and sport. Small groups get extra weight, especially those with turnover under £50,000, no existing council or NHS SWL ICS funding, or no previous Civic Pride grant. Decisions usually take up to twelve weeks. The fund is live, with 2026/27 awards already published.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £5,000; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

Constituted organisations (up to £5,000): not-for-profit voluntary and community organisations, charities, social enterprises and other surplus-generating bodies whose governing documents require surpluses to be reinvested, with services or activities that benefit the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and its residents
Organisations with a regional or national remit can apply, but only for activity benefiting Richmond borough
They must have a signed and dated constitution or governing document; at least three unrelated, non-cohabiting trustees, directors or management committee members; liabilities no greater than current assets; and a bank account in the organisation's name with at least two unrelated signatories at different addresses
CICs must have operated for at least two years
Companies limited by shares cannot apply
Schools and PTAs need significant match funding
Partnerships with statutory bodies or private companies are allowed if the voluntary or community group leads and receives the money
Priority goes to groups with turnover under £50,000, groups without current council or NHS South-West London ICS funding, groups working with adults at risk, projects in under-represented areas of the borough, and first-time applicants
Individuals and informal (unconstituted) groups can apply separately, for up to £1,000

What it funds

One-off local projects that launch new ideas and make a positive difference in Richmond borough or specific wards, meeting at least one priority.

Building capacity in the community: local people developing their own responses to local issues, having a say in or delivering services, and tackling inequality and discrimination
A borough to be proud of: improving public spaces and the natural environment, including open spaces and gardens; tackling the climate emergency and increasing biodiversity; promoting the borough's culture, history and heritage (Culture Richmond); opportunities for local artists and arts organisations; and celebrating links with other communities in the UK and Europe
Town and neighbourhood centre initiatives outside the scope of the Town Centre Opportunities Fund
Sport: more participation for adults and young people, especially low-participation groups such as disabled people, and competitive sport pathways

Sports equipment can be funded, with priority for additional (not replacement) equipment used by the whole club.

Staff costs can be included.

In exceptional circumstances, unforeseen or emergency running costs may be considered, but not year after year.

Recent awards include after-school tennis for underprivileged children (£1,850) and training a youth support worker for a Get Active programme (£4,995.30).

What it will not fund

Organisations that make a profit, including Companies Limited by Shares
Community Interest Companies operating for less than two years
Schools or Parent Teacher Associations, unless significant match funding is secured
Churches or other organisations where the money will be used for religious purposes
Political purposes
General fundraising
Contingency costs, application-writing costs and recoverable VAT
Refreshment/food costs where they are a large part of the budget
Individual sponsorship, or passing the grant on to individuals or other organisations
Work that another person or organisation has a statutory duty to provide
Repeat projects, or projects needing ongoing funding (except in exceptional circumstances)
Projects that have already taken place
Low priority: an organisation's ongoing work, large capital or revenue appeals, retrospective activities, mobile apps, projects eligible for the Town Centre Opportunities Fund or seeking match funding for a Town Centre project grant, and applicants funded before

Applications are not accepted with less than ten weeks until the project starts, except in exceptional circumstances. Organisations with large unrestricted reserves (over 6 months' running costs) are unlikely to succeed unless they contribute or justify their reserves. The council may fund only part of the costs if it thinks you can raise the rest elsewhere

How to apply

Read the guidance notes for your route: constituted organisations (https://www.richmond.gov.uk/media/rgvcayqi/civic_fund_guidance_notes_constituted_organisations.pdf) or individuals and informal groups (https://www.richmond.gov.uk/media/0c2fbxsk/guidance_notes_civic_pride_fund_individual_informal_groups.pdf)
Optionally talk through your idea with the Grant Officer (civicpride@richmond.gov.uk, 020 8487 5259), and for parks, environment, sport, arts, children and families, town centres or adult social care projects, with the relevant council lead officer named in the guidance; get any third-party permissions (e.g. for work on council land)
Complete the Word application form for your route. It asks about your organisation's aims, finances and reserves, the project, beneficiaries, evidence of need, fit with the priorities and the Climate Change Strategy, timeline, a cost breakdown with cash and in-kind match funding, and other funders approached
Sign the form and email it with your supporting documents to CivicPride@richmond.gov.uk (preferred), or post it to the Voluntary Sector Team, Civic Centre, 44 York Street, Twickenham TW1 3BZ, at least ten weeks before the project starts
Grants are awarded by the Chief Executive's Group. If successful, complete the grant acceptance form and sign the terms and conditions, then formally request payment when the project is about to start (paid in one instalment)
Complete the project within 12 months and submit the end-of-project monitoring and evaluation form

Applications can be submitted at any point in the year. Past grantees can reapply once their end-of-project monitoring form is accepted, but at lower priority. Organisations can apply more than once a year for different projects

If the grant is not claimed within 12 months of the offer, the offer lapses

Have ready

Completed, signed application form
Constitution / governing document / set of rules
Most recent financial report and accounts (or an income and expenditure sheet for the past 12 months if you have no audited accounts)
Safeguarding policy (for projects working with children, young people or adults at risk)

Quotes for goods/services may be requested at assessment. New organisations will be asked for evidence of recent income and expenditure, e.g. bank statements, if successful. A grant acceptance form and signed terms and conditions follow an award

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