Staff and Trustees at Lincolnshire Community Foundation (LCF) in conjunction with the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (SELCP) are excited an extension to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund GRASSroots Grant Fund (UKSPF) into 2025. This Scheme is again open to support community-led efforts in Boston Borough, East Lindsey and South Holland which invest in and restore community spaces and create the foundations for growth at neighbourhood level. The intention of this Fund is to strengthen the social fabric of communities, build pride in place by improving local community infrastructure and create opportunities for social connections to develop and thrive.
Who can apply?
This scheme is open to not-for-profit community groups, registered charities, social enterprises and town and parish councils delivering projects impacting residents in Boston Borough, East Lindsey and South Holland.
How much can you apply for?
Grants of up to £24,999 can be applied for by prospective applicants. This is primarily for capital projects with some funding available for revenue initiatives.
What can be funded?
Projects must align with the aims of the UKSPF, demonstrate they improve the wellbeing of residents in Boston Borough, East Lindsey and South Holland, help strengthen communities and address one or more of the following priorities:
– Capital costs to improve and widen use of community buildings and smaller meeting places.
– Projects that enhance community transport infrastructure
– Community & neighbourhood projects/activities which bring together and support groups of people
– Projects that develop new local arts, cultural and heritage activities
– Impactful volunteering and/or social action projects
– Community projects aimed at reducing the cost of living
– Projects that improve digital connectivity in local community facilities
– Local regeneration projects which engage the wider community
– Capacity building projects that increase resilience and sustainability
More information about these priorities is noted in the Fund Guidelines available by clicking the orange ‘Download Application’ button.
What cannot be funded?
The following aspects cannot or are unlikely to be funded through this Scheme.
– Projects with a total cost exceeding £5,000 need to evidence match funding of at least 20% of the total project value, whether through other financial sources or an in kind contribution. If applicants are unable to reach the match funding element, please contact the UKSPF GRASSroots Team.
– Projects promoting religious or political beliefs. Places of worship can be considered, but will need to demonstrate the project is actively open and welcoming to people from all faiths and backgrounds and to the wider community.
– Capital works to domestic properties
– Individuals
– General contributions to large appeals unless the majority of match funding support is in place
– Projects not taking place in the area of benefit (Boston Borough, East Lindsey, South Holland)
– Grant making bodies applying for funding to redistribute to others
– Retrospective expenditure or unsustainable deficits or loans
– Funding for capital projects (play equipment, outdoor gym equipment etc) where there has been no local consultation
– Renewable energy sources such as solar panels
– Requests for large capital projects where match funding has not been secured
– Projects that cannot spend funding and deliver work by the end of December 2025 and report on impact by the end of January 2026.
– Projects where the applicant has a limited track record in local delivery
– A project that requires substantial capacity building (e.g. specialist recruitment)
– Activity that duplicates pre-existing private or public sector funding or activity that the applicant has a statutory duty to undertake.
– Schools or parent-teacher associations (PTAs)
– National or regional organisations
– Applicants holding grants from other UKSPF and ELIF funding schemes. Please get in touch with the UKSPF GRASSroots Team if you do hold another UKSPF or ELIF grant so we can assess if you are eligible for this Scheme.
– Projects that have a significant revenue aspect. Please get in touch with the UKSPF GRASSroots Team if you feel you have a revenue project that fits this Scheme.
How do I apply?
Please complete the application form downloadable through the orange ‘Download Application’ button and submit this alongside all supporting documentation either electronically to helen@lincolnshirecf.co.uk or by post FAO Helen Cater, Lincolnshire Community Foundation, 4 Mill House, Carre Street, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 7TW
If I’m successful, what will happen next?
We will generally notify you within six weeks of a closing date with the outcome of your application. If you are awarded a grant, it will be paid directly to the bank account listed in your application. Payments are usually made in arrears. However, where an applicant does not have the financial resource to cover project costs, payments may be made in advance or in staged payments.
You MUST spend your grant and complete all grant-related activity by the end of December 2025 and provide feedback halfway through your project (if longer than 6 months) and upon conclusion of project spend and completion of work. We’ll tell you more about this if you are successful.
What do you do with my application?
We’ll email you to confirm we have received your application once you have submitted your form. If we have any further questions or need additional information during our in-house assessment period, the Grants Manager for this Scheme or supporting Grantmakers will be in touch to discuss this with you.
Lincolnshire Community Foundation will then arrange a meeting with UKSPF GRASSroots Panel members to discuss your application further, so they can determine what awards should be made, taking into consideration:
- whether or not you meet the criteria for the fund
- what impact your project will have on SELCP area residents
- how well your project fits with the object of the Fund
We will let you know the outcome of your application within 6 weeks of the closing date for the Round in which the application is submitted to us.
We would ask that you please familiarise yourself with the Grant Guidelines and Application Form prior to making an application. If you would like to have a conversation with the Fund Manager regarding the UKSPF GRASSroots Scheme or a potential project for this, please contact either Helen Cater at 01529 305825 or email helen@lincolnshirecf.co.uk
