GrantRadar

Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation

Wessex Water Community Fund

Grants of up to £4,000 for up to 12 months of work, funded by the Wessex Water Foundation (YTL UK Foundation) and administered by Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation, for community activities that meet a local need and improve the lives of people most in need. Priority goes to work in areas of multiple deprivation or rural isolation, work that builds stronger communities, and help for people to manage or avoid debt (including take-up of utility affordability schemes). Only groups based and working in the part of Wiltshire served by Wessex Water can apply (not Swindon and some surrounding areas); organisations with income averaging under £500,000 are prioritised and groups led by ethnically minoritised communities are particularly welcome.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £4,000
Closes in
1 day left
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Voluntary and community groups with charitable aims, registered charities, Community Interest Companies and parish councils that are based and working in the part of Wiltshire covered by Wessex Water
  • Swindon and some surrounding areas are not served by Wessex Water and are not eligible; border applicants should check their water/sewerage supplier (water.org.uk find-your-supplier tool) or ask the Foundation
  • CICs must be limited by guarantee, have an asset lock and at least 3 directors, the majority unpaid
  • You need a board or committee of at least three members who are not related, in a long-term relationship or living at the same address, and a bank account in the organisation's name with at least 2 unrelated signatories
  • Applicants whose annual income has averaged under £500,000 over the last three years are prioritised, and the Foundation considers other funding and reserves; organisations holding more than 12 months' expenditure in unrestricted reserves are not normally funded unless they explain why
  • You cannot apply if you have had other Wessex Water funding in the last 12 months; debt advice agencies with Wessex Water core funding (e.g. Citizens Advice, Christians Against Poverty) must contact the Foundation first
  • Informal groups can apply through another charitable organisation that supplies the documents, submits the application and manages the grant

What it funds

  • Community-based activities or projects that meet a local need and improve the lives of local people most in need of support, informed by the people or community they serve and with considerable reach and wide community benefit
  • Priority goes to work that:
  • Takes place in areas of multiple deprivation or rural isolation where people lack access to local services
  • Helps build stronger communities by enabling people to work together on local challenges
  • Helps people manage or avoid debt and build financial capability (including raising awareness and take-up of utility affordability support such as Wessex Water's schemes)

New activities or continuing existing work; any reasonable costs including core or running costs and project and activity costs, for work lasting up to 12 months.

Spending should start within six months of the award.

Past grants include money advice caseworkers, a digital inclusion programme, running costs for refugee and asylum seeker support, and outdoor social prescribing for people with poor mental health.

What it will not fund

  • Applications from individuals
  • Onward grants to individuals
  • National organisations or those based outside the region
  • General appeals, including for capital building projects
  • Activities the government and other public bodies have a statutory responsibility to provide
  • Groups or activities giving support to a political party
  • Activities intending to influence people's religious choices
  • Activities that primarily support animal welfare
  • Arts or sports projects with no significant community or charitable element
  • Events
  • Schools (PTAs and 'friends of' groups can apply for non-statutory activities)
  • Medical research, equipment or treatment
  • Costs incurred before a grant can be awarded (work already undertaken)
  • Activities that raise funds for other organisations
  • Organisations that have received other Wessex Water funding in the last 12 months
  • Applying to more than one Community Foundation at the same time for a Wessex Water Community Fund grant

How to apply

  1. Read the 2026 guidelines and check your organisation is in the Wessex Water part of Wiltshire (use the find-your-supplier tool or call the Grants Team on 01380 738985)
  2. Preview the questions in the application question guidance notes
  3. Complete the online application form (opened 21 September 2026), giving organisation, governance, bank, project, budget and beneficiary details
  4. Upload or email the supporting documents
  5. Submit by 11am on Monday 19 October 2026 and make sure your trustees know the application has been submitted
  6. A member of staff assesses the application and may contact you or arrange a meeting to discuss it
  7. A community panel decides; outcomes are shared in early December
  8. If funded, start spending within six months and complete an End of Grant report after the project ends

Late applications will not be accepted.

A Word version or paper form can be emailed or posted if you cannot use the online form.

Projects mainly about environmental outcomes should apply to the Wessex Water Environment Fund instead (opening May 2027).

Have ready

  • Constitution or governing document
  • Bank statement no more than 3 months old showing bank name, organisation name, address, date, account number and sort code (transactions may be redacted)
  • Most recent annual accounts or financial records showing income, expenditure and balance of funds (unrestricted reserves)
  • Up-to-date safeguarding policy (required even if you do not work directly with children or vulnerable adults)
  • Equality policy
  • Financial plan or budget for this year

Apart from the bank statement, documents already sent to the Foundation in the last 6 months need not be resent. Equality policy and budget are listed in the question guidance notes but not the guidelines.

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