GrantRadar

Norfolk Community Foundation

A Better Childhood - The first 1001 Days Fund

Grants of up to £7,000 from Norfolk Community Foundation for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in Norfolk that support parents from conception to a baby's second birthday (the first 1001 days). The fund backs early intervention that builds support networks and improves the wellbeing of parents and carers. It particularly welcomes work with families facing extra challenges, such as domestic abuse, substance misuse, care or justice experience, insecure immigration status, SEND, disability, poverty, and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller or minoritised ethnic communities. The deadline is 12 noon on 29 October 2026, and £115,000 is available in total.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £7,000
Closes in
11 days left
29 October
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations working in Norfolk (Breckland, Broadland, Great Yarmouth, King's Lynn & West Norfolk, North Norfolk, Norwich and South Norfolk): charities, faith organisations, parish and town councils, social enterprises and CICs, and voluntary and community groups
  • Applicants should support families in the first 1001 days and work with one or more of the priority groups
  • They need a proven track record in relevant activities, the skills and capacity to deliver, and a strong understanding of the challenges these families face
  • Proposals should be designed around identified need, with a way to measure impact
  • NCF's general criteria apply: a governing document with a charitable dissolution clause (not needed for faith groups or parish and town councils), and a governing body of at least 3 unconnected people
  • You also need a bank account in the group's name with at least two unconnected signatories (exceptions possible under £10,000), annual accounts if operating for over 12 months, and safeguarding and equal opportunities policies
  • No income limit is stated

What it funds

Early intervention activity for parents and carers in the first 1001 days (conception to age two) that develops support networks and improves wellbeing. The fund aims for a geographical spread across Norfolk and is keen to build on and continue existing activity. New parent and baby groups can be considered where gaps in support are strongly evidenced. Examples:

  • Social spaces and peer support networks
  • Parenting programmes that build confidence and practical skills, strengthen parent-child relationships and support healthy development
  • Culturally tailored and accessible activities or information, including interpretation and translation, and support for parents with learning disabilities, autism or English as an additional language
  • Activities targeting fathers facing inequalities, such as separated fathers, fathers of children with SEND or with learning difficulties
  • Volunteer recruitment and training, or staff training to build capacity to support parental wellbeing and parent-infant relationships

Support for families bereaved by pregnancy loss can be considered where the need is among the fund's priority communities.

Projects working with a wider age range qualify only where children aged 2 and under are the majority.

What it will not fund

  • Activity that does not address the fund's priority areas
  • Large capital or building costs
  • Public or private healthcare provision or statutory services
  • Projects where children aged 2 and under are not the majority of those supported
  • Reimbursement for activities that have already happened
  • Projects mainly benefiting people outside Norfolk
  • Contributions to general appeals
  • Work on land or buildings the applicant has no legal interest in, and planning permission costs
  • Activity that is solely religious or political
  • Medical research and equipment
  • In-school curriculum activity or school projects without wider community benefit

How to apply

  1. Check the fund page and NCF's general eligibility criteria on the Guidance & Resources page
  2. Review the Standard Application Form Questions to prepare your answers
  3. Optionally contact Stefanie Pearson, Senior Programmes Advisor (01603 623958, stefaniepearson@norfolkfoundation.com) to discuss your project
  4. Complete and submit the online application via the Apply now link by 12 noon on Thursday 29 October 2026
  5. Decisions are confirmed in December
  6. If funded, give feedback at 6 and 12 months, which may include learning-sharing sessions and written reports

Have ready

  • Governing document (constitution, rules or articles)
  • Most recent annual accounts showing income, expenditure, free reserves and a balance sheet (if operating over 12 months)
  • Bank statement from the last 12 months
  • Safeguarding policy with a named safeguarding lead
  • Equal opportunities policy

These are NCF's general requirements for groups; faith groups and parish or town councils need not have a dissolution clause.

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