GrantRadar

Somerset Community Foundation (HPC Community Fund, funded by EDF / Hinkley Point C)

HPC Community Fund: Small Grants (Easy Access)

Grants for local groups, normally running on under £250,000 a year, working in Somerset communities affected by the construction of Hinkley Point C, such as Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea and surrounding villages. Grants can pay for projects, building refurbishment or equipment that improve community wellbeing and quality of life; requests from under £1,000 up to £30,000 (spent over up to 3 years) are considered, though most grants are £5,000-£10,000. It is open year-round with six deadlines a year; the next is 5pm on Monday 19 October 2026.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£5,000 – £30,000
Closes in
1 day left
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Local groups normally running on under £250,000 a year that work in areas impacted by Hinkley Point C (e.g. Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea and surrounding villages), for work in the county of Somerset
  • Must meet Somerset Community Foundation's minimum standards: charities and CIOs with at least 3 unrelated trustees; unincorporated community groups with a governing document with charitable aims and at least 3 unrelated members (register with the Charity Commission if income is regularly over £5,000); CICs that are clearly trading (not mostly grant-funded) with at least 3 unrelated directors; also Community Benefit Societies, housing associations (contact first), schools/PTAs, town and parish councils (if no suitable community group), and faith groups for projects open to all
  • All need a bank account in the group's name with two unrelated signatories (or a group holding funds on their behalf), annual accounts no more than 18 months old (new groups may apply), an up-to-date safeguarding policy meeting the Foundation's standards, and no more than 12 months' running costs in free reserves

What it funds

  • Projects, building refurbishment or equipment that improve community wellbeing and quality of life in areas impacted by Hinkley Point C, addressing its impacts or making the most of the opportunities it creates
  • Project, capital and core costs can be funded
  • Grants can be spent over a few months or up to 3 years; multi-year grants are paid in instalments with a yearly update
  • Up to £5,000 may get a quicker decision; for more than £10,000 talk to the team first
  • Priority goes to communities with bigger HPC impacts, projects with wide community support, partnership working and good value for money; previous funding from the programme is taken into account

What it will not fund

  • Groups outside the areas impacted by Hinkley Point C, or work outside the county of Somerset (North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset are excluded)
  • Groups that distribute profit, and private companies (normally)
  • Things that have already happened or already been paid for
  • Animal welfare (unless clearly benefiting people)
  • Medical research, equipment or treatment
  • Political groups
  • Practice or promotion of religion, or projects not open to people of all faiths and none
  • Statutory school duties, in-school-day educational activities, school facilities, classroom equipment or teacher training
  • Groups holding more than 12 months' running costs in free reserves without a reserves policy justifying it
  • Activities outside the group's governing document objectives

How to apply

  1. Check the minimum standards in the FAQs for Groups and take the eligibility quiz; for grants over £10,000, speak to Olivia Gore (Programmes Manager, 01749 597142) first
  2. Optionally download the Word version of the form to draft answers offline
  3. Complete the online HPC Community Fund Easy Access application form (about 90 minutes; progress can be saved), describing the HPC impacts on your community, the resulting needs, your project and evidence of community support
  4. Upload the supporting documents and submit by 5pm on the deadline
  5. A staff member assesses the application and checks the Charity Commission and your website; a panel of SCF, Somerset Council, EDF and independent community members makes the final decision
  6. If funded, complete an online end-of-grant report (and yearly updates for multi-year grants)

Six deadlines a year; the next is 5pm Monday 19 October 2026.

Documents that cannot be uploaded can be emailed to info@somersetcf.org.uk before the round deadline.

Have ready

  • Bank statement in the group's name from the last 3 months (or a bank welcome letter for accounts opened in the last 3 months)
  • Most recent accounts
  • Governing document (constitution, articles or rules)
  • Current safeguarding policy meeting the Foundation's minimum standards
  • Supporting documents such as quotes for works or community consultation information (optional)

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