GrantRadarApplications closed on 16 October 2026.
Many funders run the same grant every year, so check the funder’s site for a new round. The details below are what the funder published when it was open.
England Illegal Money Lending Team (Stop Loan Sharks)
Stop Loan Sharks POCA Grants
Grants of up to £5,000 from the England Illegal Money Lending Team (Stop Loan Sharks), using money confiscated from convicted loan sharks under the Proceeds of Crime Act, for creative community projects that raise awareness of the dangers of loan sharks and illegal lending. Charities, community and voluntary groups, residents' groups, social enterprises, schools and statutory agencies anywhere in England can bid; several organisations can each bid for £5,000 towards a joint project. Apply by emailing a short form by Friday 16 October 2026; projects must be delivered by 1 September 2027.
Open grants like this
Grants you can apply for now, for the same kind of work or place.
- Kent Community FoundationKent Community Foundation grants for organisations (Micro and General routes)£10,000 – £6,000Rolling
- Kent Community FoundationSWEF Business GrantsUp to £2,000Rolling
- The Mainstay FoundationGrant for Mosques & CentresAmount not specifiedRolling
- The 29th May 1961 Charitable TrustThe 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust grantsAmount not specifiedRolling
- The Michael and Barbara Bell Foundation (CIO)Michael and Barbara Bell Foundation GrantsAmount not specifiedRolling
- Breckland District Council (Norfolk Warm Homes partnership)Warm Homes Fund (Norfolk Warm Homes)Amount not specifiedRolling
- You could get
- Up to £5,000
- Deadline
- Closed
- the deadline has passed
- Effort
- Light
- short form, little evidence needed
Who can apply
- Local residents' groups, charities, private companies, social enterprises, community and voluntary groups, schools and statutory agencies in England
- Groups do not have to be formally constituted, and a group without its own bank account can name another organisation (e.g. a church, school, residents' association or mosque) to act as banker
- Successful applicants must be able to invoice the IMLT to claim the grant
- Projects involving schools or partner agencies must have their agreement before bidding, and projects working with children or vulnerable adults need safeguarding policies, criminal record checks and appropriate insurance
- Previous recipients can reapply only if they provided evidence of spend and outcomes last time
What it funds
Any worthwhile community project that has Stop Loan Sharks at its core and:
- Raises awareness of the dangers of using loan sharks
- Prevents crime and disorder and publicises the Stop Loan Sharks message
- Promotes the work of the Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) in communities
- Encourages reporting of loan sharks
Projects are judged on five criteria: innovation, community engagement (reach, new audiences), impact, legacy and value for money.
Examples given by the funder include murals, sports equipment, radio adverts, theatre and educational materials.
Additional sessional staff, or current staff delivering activity beyond their normal remit, can be paid for, as can paid social media adverts about Stop Loan Sharks (with a weekly social media report), and tea and coffee.
Plays are only funded with a guaranteed audience of 50 people.
What it will not fund
- Projects where Stop Loan Sharks is not the main focus of the project and spending
- Staff training, presentation slides, posters and other publicity materials (available free from your local IMLT LIAISE Officer)
- Translation services or translated literature
- Staff salaries, day-to-day running costs or vehicle costs
- Freebies, publicity merchandise or distribution costs
- Film production (unless niche and with a guaranteed audience)
- Office or home working equipment, including laptops and filming equipment
- Plays without a guaranteed audience of 50 people
- Food (tea and coffee can be funded)
- Organic social media content, account management and staff costs for social media
- Costs of putting together your application
- Organisations that previously received funding and did not provide evidence of spend and outcomes
How to apply
- Download the 2026-27 POCA application form from the Stop Loan Sharks website
- Optionally talk to your local IMLT LIAISE Officer for project ideas and send them a copy of the completed form to proofread
- Complete the form: your group, project description, change it will make and legacy, partners, location, inclusion, outcome measures, risks, safeguarding and a cost breakdown
- Email the completed form to partner@stoploansharks.gov.uk by Friday 16 October 2026
- After the closing date a panel decides; your local LIAISE Officer tells you the outcome (by 31 October 2026)
- If successful, meet your LIAISE Officer (with any partners) before money is paid, book free Stop Loan Sharks training, and invoice the IMLT by 31 March 2027
- Deliver the project by 1 September 2027 and return the project evaluation sheet (and a newsletter article)
You may be awarded less than you apply for; bids are compared with similar ones from across the country, so budget realistically.
Several organisations can each bid for up to £5,000 towards a collective project.
Have ready
- Completed 2026-27 POCA application form, signed, with a breakdown of total project costs
No other documents are requested with the application; evidence of spend and outcomes and an evaluation sheet are required afterwards.