Lincolnshire Community Foundation

East Lindsey Community Legacy Scheme

Lincolnshire Community Foundation's East Lindsey Community Legacy Scheme, funded by East Lindsey District Council's East Lindsey Investment Fund, gives grants of up to £35,000 (capital and revenue) to not-for-profit community groups, charities, social enterprises and town and parish councils delivering projects in the District of East Lindsey. Projects must address community development priorities such as community facilities, cohesion, organisational resilience, digital exclusion and transport, young people, older people, and heritage, arts and culture. Projects over £5,000 need at least 25% match funding (cash or in kind), and all spending and delivery must finish by 29 February 2028. The first closing date is Friday 30 October 2026, with further dates to be confirmed.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £35,000
Closes in: 12 days left; 30 October
Effort: Heavy; budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

Not-for-profit community groups, registered charities, social enterprises (including CICs) and town and parish councils delivering projects in the District of East Lindsey, Lincolnshire
Organisations should be locally managed (national and regional organisations, schools and PTAs cannot apply) and have a track record of local delivery
Applicants need a constitution or governing document (not required for town, parish or parochial church councils), a management board or committee of at least two unrelated people, and a bank account in the organisation's name with at least two signatories who are not related or living in the same household
New groups can apply using three months of bank statements in place of accounts
Groups can hold only one grant at a time from this scheme or other ELIF grant schemes, and cannot apply if they have an open, similar ELIF-funded project

What it funds

Capital and revenue costs of community-led projects in East Lindsey that align with the East Lindsey Investment Fund's community development aims and address one or more priorities:

Community Facilities (meeting places, community hubs, outdoor spaces that widen opportunities for residents)
Community Cohesion (community and neighbourhood projects and activities that bring people together and support groups of people)
Core Strength (capacity building for resilience and sustainability, e.g. governance advice, volunteer recruitment and retention, longer-term financial planning)
Digital Exclusion & Transport (improving internet access or training, support for local transport schemes)
Young People (activities, facilities and opportunities such as workshops, diversionary activities, intergenerational projects)
Older People (tackling isolation and loneliness, access to advice and support)
Heritage, arts & culture (new local arts, cultural and heritage activities that improve wellbeing and strengthen communities)

Up to one year's delivery; grants are usually paid in arrears, but advance or staged payments are possible where an applicant cannot cover costs.

What it will not fund

Projects with a total cost over £5,000 that cannot evidence match funding of at least 25% of the total project value (cash or in kind)
Projects promoting religious or political beliefs (places of worship can be considered if the project is open and welcoming to people of all faiths and the wider community)
Capital works to domestic properties
Individuals
General contributions to large appeals unless most of the match funding is in place
Requests for large capital projects where match funding has not been secured
Projects not taking place in, or supporting residents of, East Lindsey
Grant-making bodies applying to redistribute funds to others
Retrospective expenditure, unsustainable deficits or loans
Capital projects such as play or outdoor gym equipment without local consultation
Projects that cannot spend the funding, deliver and report on impact by the end of February 2028
Applicants with a limited track record in local delivery
Projects requiring substantial capacity building (e.g. specialist recruitment)
Building works without planning permission or confirmation from the planning department that none is needed
Activity duplicating existing private or public sector funding, or that the applicant has a statutory duty to undertake
Renewable energy sources such as solar panels
Schools or parent-teacher associations (PTAs)
National or regional organisations
Applicants with an open, similar project funded by this scheme or another East Lindsey Investment Fund (ELIF) programme

How to apply

Read the fund page and the Fund Guidelines (downloaded with the application form via the 'Download Application' button, as a zip file)
Optionally talk to the grantmaker, Cavan Collins (01529 305825, cavan@lincolnshirecf.co.uk), about your idea
Complete the Word application form (organisation details, project, outcomes and beneficiaries, risks, detailed costs and match funding, bank details) and have it signed by your Chair, Secretary or Treasurer
Email the form and all supporting documents to cavan@lincolnshirecf.co.uk, or post them to East Lindsey Community Legacy Scheme, Lincolnshire Community Foundation, Glennys Sanders House, Pride Parkway, Sleaford, NG34 8GL, by Friday 30 October 2026
LCF confirms receipt by email and may contact you with questions during assessment; a panel of the Foundation, local authority, strategic partners and the voluntary sector then decides
If funded, spend the grant within one year (and by 29 February 2028), report halfway through projects longer than 6 months and on completion, and complete an Impact Report

Further closing dates after 30 October 2026 are to be confirmed; the panel meets three times a year.

Have ready

Completed ELCLS application form, signed
Constitution / governing document / set of rules
Names, addresses and roles of the management committee or trustees (at least two unrelated people)
Latest annual accounts or income and expenditure account (or last three months' bank statements if a new group); CICs must provide full profit and loss accounts
Recent bank statement for every account in the organisation's name
Relevant policies, e.g. safeguarding policy (required if the project involves children or vulnerable adults) and equal opportunities policy
Quotes: three quotes for any item over £10,000 and one quote for other capital items
Evidence that the balance of project costs (match funding) is secured or pledged

Also needed where relevant: planning permission or confirmation it is not needed (building works); an accessibility audit (playground equipment); an approved faculty (building works within the Diocese of Lincoln). Town, parish and parochial church councils need not provide constitutional documents.

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