GrantRadar

London Borough of Waltham Forest

Community Ward Funding 2026/27 (Waltham Forest)

Waltham Forest's ward councillors fund local projects that bring residents together, transform local spaces or build skills, under this year's theme 'Waltham Forest Futures'. Residents and organisations of any size can apply for any amount, and councillors decide; past awards mostly ranged from about £150 to £3,000. Each ward has £10,000 (three-councillor wards) or £6,660 (two-councillor wards) for the year, and applications are open on a rolling basis until a ward's money runs out.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Amount not specified
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Residents (individuals) and organisations of any size in Waltham Forest, for projects delivered in the borough
  • Apply to the ward where the project takes place or whose residents will directly benefit; one project can apply to up to three wards
  • To apply for an organisation you must be its Treasurer or a Lead Member
  • Councillors may set limits per application in their ward
  • Projects must be finished by 31 August 2027
  • Outstanding evaluations or proof of spend from 2025/26 will hold up payment, and payment is only made if no money is owed to the council (e.g. business rates, council tax)

What it funds

Specific, project-based activities with a clear start and end date and cost breakdown, delivered in Waltham Forest, that strengthen community and belonging:

  • Bringing people and communities together
  • Creating opportunities for residents to learn something new
  • Reducing social isolation in your neighbourhood
  • One-off, inclusive events, series of workshops or programmes of activities for a specific audience, such as young people
  • Hiring a space, training equipment, teaching new skills or encouraging use of a public space
  • Paying additional support by invoice, such as a musician, chef, artist or face painter

What it will not fund

  • Individuals, families or businesses facing hardship
  • Personal needs
  • Core funding, ongoing running costs or overheads
  • Paying yourself or your organisation's payroll staff, staffing costs or wages
  • Political or religious events, or material of a political or religious nature
  • Projects delivered outside Waltham Forest
  • Alcohol, cigarettes, profit-making activities and gambling such as raffles
  • Single-use plastic items such as plastic cups
  • Projects that have already happened or items already bought

How to apply

  1. Read the 2026-27 applicant guidance in full
  2. Talk to your ward councillors before applying (encouraged)
  3. Apply using the online application form (Microsoft Forms), with a detailed cost breakdown; a separate form for each project
  4. Ward councillors decide on a rolling basis
  5. If successful, accept the offer letter by its deadline and send the required documents
  6. Receive 75% of the grant, then the balance after your final evaluation and proof of spend, due within 3 months of the project ending

Help is available by email, post, in-person support sessions, or a library self-service PC if you have no computer.

Have ready

  • Bank statement dated within the last 3 months, in the organisation's or applying resident's name
  • Constitution (constituted groups)
  • Public liability insurance (constituted groups)
  • Previous year's accounts (constituted groups established 15 months or more)
  • Employer's liability insurance, if you employ staff
  • Head teacher's approval, if delivered in a school
  • Safeguarding policy and DBS details, if working with children, young people or vulnerable adults

These are asked for after an award, when you accept the offer, not with the application.

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