Funding applications now open for local community projects as Locala Community Fund launches for 2025/26

Community groups across Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Stockport, Tameside, Wigan and Leigh are being invited to apply for grants of up to £1,500 as Locala Health and Wellbeing opens applications for its Community Fund for 2025/26.

The Locala Community Fund supports a wide range of community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations delivering projects that make a meaningful difference in their local areas. Previous funding has helped initiatives such as youth and sports groups, faith and community organisations, school-based projects, and programmes addressing issues including social isolation, dementia, disability, substance misuse and environmental sustainability.

For 2025/26, the Fund will support projects that align with Locala’s Thrive Strategy, which aims to ‘support people to thrive where they live’.  Priority will be given to projects that focus on:

  1. Education, skills and employment – improving people’s skills, confidence and career opportunities; creating inclusive employment or training opportunities; or supporting informed lifestyle, health or career choices.
  2. Environmental – improving local living environments (such as housing, community spaces, green areas); supporting environmental sustainability or resilience; or strengthening safety, inclusion and a sense of belonging.
  3. Supporting the most vulnerable –including older people, isolated or lonely individuals, those experiencing homelessness, refugees and asylum seekers, care leavers, individuals with learning disabilities or long-term conditions, or those facing financial hardship or insecure housing.
  4. Children, young people and families – supporting young people who may be disadvantaged socially, financially, physically or mentally, targeting activities in deprived or marginalised communities.
  5. Economic and social value – strengthening the local economy; supporting local charities, SMEs or community groups, or building long-term sustainability and capacity within communities.

Applications to the Locala Community Fund are reviewed by Locala members, made up of colleagues and community representatives, who vote on the projects they would most like to see supported.

Full details, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, are available at www.locala.org.uk/get-involved/community-fund. 

Application forms can also be requested by emailing membership@locala.org.uk.

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When you sign up to be a VAC Member, you will be assigned a Go-To Contact from the VAC team.

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We want the VAC membership offer to be responsive to the needs of our members.  Member check ins keep us up to date on your organisation’s news and developments but also on any challenges or support gaps that may be affecting the VCSE sector.

The information we receive during our member check ins will highlight trends and challenges that we can then explore support and solutions for via our membership offer and partnerships with local providers and authorities.

To support VAC members to feel connected and informed, we have created a unique Member Area on the VAC Website.

The online dashboard will keep you and your colleagues up to date on the latest member opportunities, training and news.

The Member Area also has a forum function, allowing VAC Member organisations to interact and support each other.

A quarterly newsletter to keep our members up to date on not only VAC Membership updates and opportunities but also specifically created content on topics of interest to the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. 

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40% Discount on VAC Room Hire – We offer a range of flexible rooms for hire located in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Our rooms include a fully equipped, large training room with SMART board and flipchart facilities seating up to 25 theatre style, two smaller meeting rooms seating up to 12 and a small office with computer facilities suitable for one-to-one meetings or rent-a-desk.

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What's included?

You will receive a VAC Member welcome pack with useful information on getting the most out of your membership and a few extra treats!

Every member of VAC will be invited to our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and has voting rights for resolutions and proposals either in person or by proxy.

When you sign up to be a VAC Member, you will be assigned a Go-To Contact from the VAC team.

They will be your main point of contact for your membership, helping to answer questions and signposting you to the right place within VAC and/or our partnerships.

We want the VAC membership offer to be responsive to the needs of our members.  Member check ins keep us up to date on your organisation’s news and developments but also on any challenges or support gaps that may be affecting the VCSE sector. 

The information we receive during our member check ins will highlight trends and challenges that we can then explore support and solutions for via our membership offer and partnerships with local providers and authorities.

To support VAC members to feel connected and informed, we have created a unique Member Area on the VAC Website.

The online dashboard will keep you and your colleagues up to date on the latest member opportunities, training and news.

The Member Area also has a forum function, allowing VAC Member organisations to interact and support each other.

A quarterly newsletter to keep our members up to date on not only VAC Membership updates and opportunities but also specifically created content on topics of interest to the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. 

The Bimonthly Member Network is for VAC Members to connect with other VAC Members!

A perfect opportunity to support one another, find out about other local services and explore new collaborative opportunities and partnerships with fellow VAC members.

20% Discount on VAC Room Hire – We offer a range of flexible rooms for hire located in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Our rooms include a fully equipped, large training room with SMART board and flipchart facilities seating up to 25 theatre style, two smaller meeting rooms seating up to 12 and a small office with computer facilities suitable for one-to-one meetings or rent-a-desk.

Competitive rate on ID Badge Printing – Competitively priced to accommodate for smaller orders, our in-house ID Badge service supports both design and printing.

Based on feedback and insight we gain from our members, our training and events offer will complement local infrastructure support training programmes.

All sessions are cost effective and VCSE sector driven.