Over £180k awarded to Community Projects across Greater Lincolnshire – Michael Cornish Core Grants Programme and Foyle Foundation Grants

Staff and Trustees at Lincolnshire Community Foundation (LCF) are proud to announce the first tranche of awards made following a donation made by Michael and Sue Cornish, and supported by a donation to LCF from the Foyle Foundation. In this funding round, a total of £182,926.80 has been distributed to 25 projects across Greater Lincolnshire.

Among the projects supported are:

• Umbrella Counselling East Midlands CIO based in Grantham who will use the funding to continue providing free, trauma-informed counselling for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence, primarily for those aged 13 and over. The grant will help ensure people across Greater Lincolnshire can access critical, time-sensitive support without financial barriers.
• Trusthorpe Village Hall has also received a small grant from the Programme. Located in one of the County’s most deprived areas, volunteers at the Hall come together to run a crucial community hub, hosting key services and activities that bring residents closer together. Funding will enable the continuation of its warm space and coffee and chat sessions throughout the year, offering predominantly older residents the opportunity to access support, reducing isolation and create a place to build stronger community connections.
• Café Indiependent, a not-for-profit cooperative café and arts venue, was also awarded funding. The organisation supports young people and the wider community in Scunthorpe and this grant will allow Café Indiependent to create two new apprentice roles for local young people, helping to ensure its youth work remains youth-led and responsive to local needs. This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to gain qualifications and experience not usually available to them.

The full list of organisations supported in this funding round is as follows:

• OIKOS-Brigg – Project Manager costs to reduce volunteer burden and enhance service delivery.
• Lincolnshire Rural Support Network – Support towards countywide ‘Welly Wednesday’ gatherings.
• Astoria Youth Group – Equipment, materials and refreshments for a new youth group in Gedney Hill.
• Art Pop-Up – Core costs to deliver creative provision in and around Stamford.
• Lincolnshire Action Trust – Creation of a RISE Co-pilot group supporting girls at risk of entering the criminal justice system in East Lindsey.
• Citizens Advice North East Lincolnshire – Salary for an administrator post to increase adviser capacity across their area.
• Café Indiependent – Creation of two apprentice posts supporting youth work in Scunthorpe.
• Hand Me Down Hub – Premises costs to support sustainability for the group in Pinchbeck.
• Umbrella Counselling East Midlands CIO – Core counselling costs for survivors of sexual violence across the County.
• Foresight North East Lincolnshire – Funding to support ‘Putting Hard Times Behind Us’ workshops and drop-in services across North East Lincolnshire.
• The Network CIO – Support towards running ‘Catalyst Counselling’ mentoring sessions to young people in Lincoln.
• Haven Domestic Abuse Service – Rural Community Hub running costs in Spalding.
• Tonic Health – Core staff costs for open-access youth provision in Boston.
• Spilsby Christian Fellowship – Staffing to expand youth provision in Spilsby.
• Lincoln and Lindsey Blind Society – Running costs to provide advice and support for visually impaired residents in the north of the County.
• developmentplus – Core costs to run mentoring, employment support and homelessness advocacy in Lincoln.
• Jubilee Church – Expansion of domestic abuse support provision in Grantham.
• Don’t Lose Hope – Counselling support for young people in and around Bourne.
• Crosby Community Association – Costs to support frontline adviser role in Scunthorpe.
• Covenham Sailing Club and Sailability – Volunteer training and development to increase capacity at their site in East Lindsey.
• Create Hope and Safe Environments – Premises costs to secure support for children with additional needs in Louth.
• All Things Good and Nice – Costs to run outdoor learning and canoeing sessions in Grimsby.
• Boston Foodbank – Support to develop volunteers and increase financial inclusion work in Boston
• Trusthorpe Village Hall – Costs to run weekly warm space and coffee and chat sessions in Trusthorpe
• Together – Funding to continue community groups, baby bank, uniform shops and Pad Pals services in Immingham

Cavan Collins, Grants Manager at Lincolnshire Community Foundation, said: “It is a delight to share news of the first investments made through the Michael Cornish Core Grants Programme. These projects have some of the most vulnerable residents of our county at their forefront and are committed to make a real difference in the lives of these individuals whether that’s supporting young people, providing survivors of abuse with practical advice or solutions or improving the mental health outcomes of social isolated individuals by bringing people closer together. LCF are particularly grateful to Michael and Sue Cornish who, through their kind donation, will help improve lives and create positive outcomes for people living across Greater Lincolnshire.”

A further round of the Michael Cornish Core Grants Programme will open later in 2026. More information on this will be published on LCF’s website and social media channels in due course. For further details, potential applicants can contact Cavan Collins at cavan@lincolnshirecf.co.uk or on 01529 305825.