Wealden Funding and Event Opportunities – October 2026

Wealden District Council – Information on Community Grant Funding

Find guidance on Wealden’s own grant funding programme, groups who have received awards this year, community spaces, and community organisation support.

https://www.wealden.gov.uk/community-and-safety/information-on-grant-funding/

East Sussex 4 Community

East Sussex 4 Community is a free-to-use funding website. It has information on grants, loans, and other initiatives in the UK

https://funding.idoxopen4community.co.uk/eastsussex/ 

East Sussex County Council Newsletter

See the latest funding newsletter from ESCC, for further opportunities:

Funding News – September 2026 | East Sussex County Council

East Sussex Community Information Service

A directory of local services, activities, and organisations in your local area. For more information and to add your local organisation or service, please go to https://www.escis.org.uk/

Events:

Free workshops for people in the VCSE sector in East Sussex.

The University of Brighton and East Sussex County Council are working together to support local voluntary and community organisations to do their own research. We are delivering ten online and in-person workshops on topics including: designing research, collecting data, analysing it, and presenting findings. You can take part whether you are new to doing research, or have some experience already. You can come to all the workshops or just some of them.

Workshop schedule: www.ticketsource.com/research-ready-communities-workshops

Further information on the Research Ready Communities programme and the Research Collaborative Hub: https://www.eastsussexinfigures.org.uk/jsna/research-collaborative-hub-rch/  

Queries? Want to join our mailing list? Please email rch-escc@brighton.ac.uk

Opportunity for local groups to use Freedom Leisure space for local activities

Freedom Leisure have availability in their café space and studios for local groups to use. There are Freedom Leisure centres in Hailsham, Uckfield and Crowborough. If you are interested in finding out more about space availability, please contact martyn.reynolds@freedom-leisure.co.uk.

Wealden District Council Funding Programmes 

Wealden Community Led Infrastructure Fund (CLIF) – open programme

Open funding programme currently open to support community buildings, green spaces, cultural infrastructure, and other leisure/ sports projects across the district.

The amount of funding awarded will be between £5,000 and £200,000. 20% match funding is needed.

The money could be spent on adaptations to community buildings, energy efficiency measures, access improvements to outdoor spaces and installing new facilities and equipment.

For further information about the programme, please go to: https://www.wealden.gov.uk/community-and-safety/information-on-grant-funding/wealden-community-led-infrastructure-fund-clif/

WDC Councillor Ward Budgets Scheme – Round 2 open for applications – Deadline: 27^th Feb 2027

WDC is pleased to announce that the Councillor Ward Budgets Schemeis now open for applications. The first Phase of the Scheme has now ended.

This community grant funding scheme is an initiative launched by us to give each elected councillor a budget of £10,000 to support community projects, events, and organisations within their ward. 

The scheme is open to non-profit community and voluntary organisations to apply for a grant of up to £5,000 in support of projects that will benefit Wealden residents and help deliver the Council’s strategic priorities.   

If you have any queries about the Scheme, please contact CouncillorWardBudgets@wealden.gov.uk    

For further info, please go to: https://www.wealden.gov.uk/councillors-and-committees/councillor-ward-budgets-scheme/

Wealden Sports Infrastructure Fund 2024-2027 –

Funding programme will expire on 31st March 2027.

The Sports Infrastructure Funding Programme is being launched by Wealden District Council. £600,000 will be invested over the next three years to improve outdoor sports pitches and facilities throughout the district. If you are an organisation looking to enhance or provide outdoor sports facilities and playing pitches to increase sports participation or physical exercise in Wealden, you may be able to apply for a capital sports grant.

The outdoor sports that could benefit from the funding programme include football, rugby union, tennis, cricket, lawn bowls, hockey, netball and stoolball. The amount of funding awarded can be between £5,000 and £50,000. 50% match funding is a requirement. For further information – https://www.wealden.gov.uk/community-and-safety/information-on-grant-funding/sports-infrastructure-fund-2024-2027/  

Wealden Community Lottery – Celebrating 121 good causes raising funds through the lottery. Open programme

Are you a charity, community group, sports club, residents’ association, parish or town council or a not-for profit group interested in raising unrestricted funds on a monthly basis?

Over the last 30 months, the Wealden’s Community Lottery has over 120 good causes signed up and currently raising funds through the platform and has raised a total of £175K for good causes and the central fund.

From every £1 ticket sale, 50% of the ticket proceeds goes to support a local Wealden good cause which could be a local charity, voluntary organisation, or other not-for-profit group, with the remainder being put towards a central fund, prizes, and operating costs.

Also check out WDC’s video in celebration of our current good causes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9gDc495WuM

Local organisations can sign up for FREE to start raising funds instantly: https://www.wealdencommunitylottery.co.uk/

For more information on how the lottery can have a positive impact on your local organisation, please email communitygrants@wealden.gov.uk to discuss further.

General Funds

• Registered charities
• Other not-for-profit organisations
• Sports clubs and teams
• Schools and education settings
• Social enterprises and CICs
• After-school and youth groups
• Churches and religious organisations

Dixie Rose Findlay Charitable Trust – Deadline: Ongoing

Grants are available for charitable organisations based in the UK for general charitable purposes. Examples of charitable organisations previously funded include: 

Maximum Grant: £4,000

N.B The Trust does not maintain a website. For more details on how to apply visit the East Sussex 4 Community page linked below.

 Fund details | East Sussex 4 Community

Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust – Deadline: Ongoing

The Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust offers funding to registered charities across the UK. The Trustees have complete discretion as to the type of charitable work supported, however the Trust has focused on supporting projects relating to young people, people with disabilities, the environment and the arts over the last few years. Grants usually range from £500 to £2,500. However, larger grants may be awarded under exceptional circumstances.

Maximum Grant: Discretionary

Gfct.org.uk

Ofenheim Charitable Trust – Deadline: Ongoing

The Ofenheim Charitable Trust provides grants for charitable organisations active in East Sussex for general charitable purposes. Grants tend to range between £2,500-£6,000, with a maximum of £14,000.

Maximum Grant: £14,000

N.B the Trust does not maintain a website. For more information on how to apply, visit: Fund details | East Sussex 4 Community

Funding is available for UK-registered charities to support projects in the areas of sustainable development, climate change mitigation and overseas disaster relief.

Funding is at the discretion of the Trustees. Previous grants have been for up to £500,000.

Maximum Grant: Discretionary

N.B. The Foundation does not maintain a website. For more information on how to apply, please visit: Fund details | East Sussex 4 Community

Community Infrastructure and Buildings