GrantRadar

East Devon District Council

The Community Grant Fund

East Devon District Council's grant scheme for voluntary groups, charities and social enterprises supporting East Devon residents, with £118,454 available in 2026/27. It has two parts: Small Community Grants of £300 to £1,500 for community-led ideas and initiatives, and Community Building Grants of £500 to £10,000 towards building projects or refurbishment of community buildings in East Devon's rural parishes. Projects must help deliver the council plan's two priorities, and the current application window closes on 26 October 2026.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£300 – £10,000
Closes in
8 days left
26 October
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Not-for-profit voluntary groups, community groups, registered charities, CIOs, CICs and social enterprises providing support to East Devon residents; at least 90% of the people benefiting must live in East Devon
  • There is no income limit, but the fund is meant for organisations that do not hold relatively high surplus funds
  • Unincorporated groups, or groups setting up a new project, must be working with Devon Communities Together, and a group without its own bank account needs an incorporated host organisation to hold the funds
  • Countywide organisations can apply only for Small Community Grants
  • Community Building Grants are only for buildings in East Devon's rural parishes, or a rural settlement or village within a town parish boundary (for example Sidbury, within Sidmouth parish); leased buildings need at least 2 years left on the lease for removable equipment or 5 years for refurbishment, and any request over £3,000 needs at least 30% match funding
  • The applicant must be an authorised representative (Chair, Secretary, Treasurer or Chief Officer/Lead), be able to spend the grant within 12 months, have relevant permissions such as planning in place, and sign a legal grant agreement
  • Town and parish councils, schools and PTAs cannot apply

What it funds

Projects that benefit East Devon's communities and help deliver the council plan's two priorities (a supported and engaged community; financially secure and improving quality services), for example:

  • Small Community Grants (£300 to £1,500) for community-led ideas and initiatives across East Devon
  • Community Building Grants (£500 to £10,000) towards building projects or refurbishment of community buildings in East Devon's rural parishes, to improve facilities and/or ensure services can be provided to the local community
  • Support helping homeless residents find and/or sustain accommodation
  • Anti-poverty work, such as cooking-skills classes helping low-income families in financial crisis provide healthy low-cost meals
  • Services helping refugees integrate into the community
  • Improving happiness, health and wellbeing and supporting people at risk of loneliness and social isolation through creativity or leisure activities
  • Support for residents who struggle to access online services or feel isolated
  • Community building improvements such as broadband, projectors and screens, new kitchen/catering facilities, accessible toilets or a new roof (capital costs only for building grants)
  • Small Community Grants can also cover revenue costs such as events, therapeutic sessions, training, coaching, volunteering activity and running costs (the council expects groups to become self-supporting and will not fund year after year)

What it will not fund

  • Public sector or statutory bodies, including town and parish councils, schools and Parent Teacher Associations
  • Carbon reduction initiatives and support for local businesses (other council schemes cover these)
  • Projects already funded, or fundable, by another East Devon District Council grant scheme within a rolling 12 months
  • Projects whose other public sector funding has been withdrawn
  • Projects that do not support one of the two council plan priorities, or work against them or existing services
  • Work a statutory organisation has to do by law, unless over and above what it would ever provide
  • Projects needing planning permission that has not yet been given
  • Work with vulnerable people without a safeguarding policy and/or appropriately trained staff or volunteers
  • Regular highways-related activity such as grass cutting, ditch and drainage work or other 'lengthsman' duties
  • Projects promoting or supporting a particular politics, faith or belief (including repairs to buildings used solely or mainly for these)
  • Projects likely to create a new or displaced dependency on other public and voluntary services
  • Commercial or private-profit organisations
  • Direct cash payments or awards to end beneficiaries, or projects benefiting one individual recipient
  • Paying off debts
  • Ongoing costs such as rent, salaries or day-to-day running costs, unless during a documented transition phase or as part of a pilot
  • Projects needing a commitment to ongoing support
  • Groups that did not use a previous Community Grant Fund award in line with its grant agreement
  • Sponsorship and fundraising events
  • Projects where more than 10% of beneficiaries live outside East Devon
  • Animal welfare projects where all or most beneficiaries are animals
  • Retrospective costs or costs to cover existing services
  • More than one grant per organisation in any rolling 12-month period

How to apply

  1. Read the guidance notes for the part you are applying to (Small Community Grants or Community Building Grants)
  2. Gather all information and evidence first: the online form cannot be saved and returned to
  3. Complete the online application form (Start button on the How to apply page) by 26 October 2026
  4. Officers check eligibility, may ask for more information, and score the application
  5. The Community Grants Panel makes the final decision (the Chair has delegated authority for grants under £3,000) and you are told by email
  6. Sign and return the grant agreement; payment is then made by BACS

free help with applications is available from Devon Communities Together (info@devoncommunities.org.uk, 01392 248919)

there is no right of review of decisions, though the council may review in exceptional circumstances

Have ready

  • A statement of what the project will achieve and how it links to the council plan (up to 500 words in the form)
  • A full breakdown of what the funding will be used for, with key milestones and dates
  • A governing document showing the status of the organisation
  • An up-to-date bank statement in the name of the applying organisation or its host organisation
  • Safeguarding policy (and evidence of relevant training) if working with children or vulnerable adults
  • Evidence of match funding where required (Community Building Grants over £3,000)
  • Planning application reference and consent details if planning permission is needed
  • A copy of the lease agreement if the building is leased
  • Details of any previous applications to the council, including unsuccessful ones

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