UK Local Noticeboard

VASLan Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund — grants up to £10,000

Eligible South Lanarkshire voluntary/community organisations can apply for support for local mental-health, loneliness, isolation and wellbeing projects. The 2026/27 funding round closes at 12 noon on 12 October.

Closed: 12 October 2026, 12 noon

Common Ground Award 2026–27 — community facilities and equipment

Capital grants for eligible England-based voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations whose main work builds connections between communities. Read the official eligibility and application rules. Applications close at 2pm on 12 October.

Closed: 12 October 2026, 2pm

West Northamptonshire Neighbourhood Fund — £1,000 to £7,500

Eligible voluntary, community, faith, social-enterprise and local groups can apply for community-led projects improving neighbourhood health and wellbeing. A webinar is on 14 October at 1pm; registration by 12 October. Request application guidance from laps@westnorthants.gov.uk.

Deadline / event: 30 November 2026, 10am

Wokingham Foodbank — October food and toiletries donation appeal

Current needs (checked 5 October) include cereal, long-life juice, rice, pasta sauce, preserves, shampoo, sanitary towels and selected tinned foods. The foodbank says nappies and pet food are not currently needed. Its Harvest Festival collection runs until 23 October; check its live needs list before donating.

Deadline / event: Harvest collection ends 23 October 2026

Edinburgh Community Grants Fund — up to £5,000

Constituted groups can apply for small grants for local community activity. The current application window covers the Pentlands, South West and Western neighbourhoods where funding remains available.

Deadline / event: 31 October 2026

Saintfield Library — free Universal Credit and Job Support session

Drop-in session on 15 October, 11am–1pm, at Saintfield Library, Ballynahinch Road, Saintfield BT24 7AD. Get help with benefits, CVs, job searching, interview skills and applying for work.

Closed: 15 October 2026, 11am–1pm

Free October Job Club sessions in Enniskillen, Fivemiletown and Irvinestown

Enniskillen Jobs & Benefits Office is running free Job Club sessions on 8 October in Enniskillen, 15 October in Fivemiletown and 20 October in Irvinestown. Support includes CVs, interviews, vacancy searches, applications and employability confidence; no appointment is required.

Barking & Dagenham secures £222,000 to strengthen food-insecurity work

The council has secured £222,000 through the Good Food Neighbourhoods programme to strengthen local work tackling food insecurity.

New Barking & Dagenham financial-confidence service

Barking & Dagenham Council has appointed We Are Group to provide a new resident financial-confidence service intended to improve money-management skills and help residents access support.

Free B&NES SEND support event for parents and carers on 14 October

Bath & North East Somerset Council has announced a free SEND support event at the Apex City of Bath Hotel on 14 October 2026, giving families practical advice and direct contact with local services.

Wheels in Motion in Ayr is due to close after October

Wheels in Motion, which has supported homeless and vulnerable people in Ayr for around 17 years, has announced October 2026 will be its final month. Anyone relying on the service should check alternative local support.

Good Relations Week 2026 runs 12-18 October

Good Relations Week 2026 focuses on inclusion, connection, inequality, isolation, health and wellbeing, poverty and education. Event registration closed on 2 October, but the public programme itself runs 12-18 October.

Scottish Veterans Fund Small Stream open — £100,000 available

The Scottish Veterans Fund Small Stream opened on 2 October 2026 for projects benefiting veterans and their families, including transition from military to civilian life. Applications close 20 November 2026.

Welcome to Scotland guide updated for service personnel and families

The Scottish Government published its updated 2026 Welcome to Scotland guide on 2 October, covering housing, money, education, children and families, health, employment and community support.

Parents' Federation coffee morning for unpaid carers in Barry — 12 October

A free coffee morning for unpaid carers supporting someone with a learning disability is listed in Barry for 12 October, 10:30am-12:00pm.

£500,000 Connect Fund returning for NI-GB community partnerships

The Northern Ireland Office says the Connect Fund will return with £500,000. Voluntary and community organisations can seek £300-£50,000 for partnership projects linking Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Applications open 2 November and close 18 December 2026.

Blacks Gate development completed with 196 social homes

The Department for Communities has confirmed completion of the Blacks Gate development in Dunmurry, providing 196 new social homes backed by £15.3 million of departmental support.

Devon unpaid-carer support moves to new arrangements

From 1 October 2026 Devon County Council introduces new carers-service arrangements. Carers’ assessments, reviews and the Carers Helpline move into the council while wider information, wellbeing and community support continues.

Solihull advice service replaced: Here2Help now provides borough-wide support

From 1 October 2026 Age UK Solihull no longer provides Solihull Information & Advice and the Community Advice Hubs at The Core and Chelmsley Wood Library are permanently closed. Here2Help, delivered by Citizens Advice Solihull Borough, is the replacement service for benefits, debt, housing, cost of living, mental health, disability, social care and immigration support across all 17 wards.

£115,000 Strengthening Worcestershire Fund open until 29 October

Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Community Foundation opened a new £115,000 round supporting projects around essential needs, financial resilience, isolation, independent living, digital access and unpaid-carer support. Applications close 29 October 2026.

Tewkesbury £50,000 Crisis and Resilience Fund open until 21 October

Tewkesbury Borough Council has opened £50,000 of Crisis and Resilience Fund grants for charities, community organisations, CICs and eligible not-for-profits helping residents with cost-of-living advice, low-cost furniture or white goods, essentials, clothing and energy-efficiency support.

Church of England Survivor Support Fund replaces the Interim Support Scheme

The Survivor Support Fund opened on 1 October 2026 for people affected by Church of England-related abuse. It can provide short/medium-term help including up to £500 for urgent basic needs and grants towards up to six months of therapy at a time. The Interim Support Scheme is no longer the route for new applications.

Asedau Ni launches as a Wales-wide community-assets support service

Asedau Ni launched on 1 October to support communities seeking to take on, protect and manage community buildings and assets, with practical support, specialist expertise, resources, events and peer learning.

Sunrise Haven Family Support at Merthyr Library every Thursday

Free Thursday sessions, 9am-11am, provide parents and families with trauma-informed advocacy, emotional support, wellbeing resources and practical guidance at Merthyr Library.

Belfast Positive Ageing Month runs throughout October

Belfast City Council's Positive Ageing Month runs 1-31 October 2026 with mostly free activities covering wellbeing, fitness, social connection, digital support, arts, talks and other opportunities for older residents.

YMCA Cornwall launches 2026 Winter Appeal

YMCA Cornwall launched its 2026 Winter Appeal on 1 October to support work keeping vulnerable young people safe, warm and off the streets during winter.

Shropshire Specialist Holiday Club: new provider from 1 October

Shropshire Council says Action for Children will deliver the Specialist Holiday Club from 1 October 2026. The service is for eligible children and young people with SEND; the age range changes to 8–18 under the new arrangements.

Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant opens for expressions of interest

Pembrokeshire County Council says the 2026–27 round has about £142,000 available, with grants up to £15,000. Expressions of Interest are invited from 1 to 30 October 2026.

£4.8m Welsh Government emergency food and poverty support

Welsh Government funding to local authorities can support emergency food aid, food banks, social supermarkets, community cafés, lunch clubs and longer-term cost-of-living and poverty-prevention work.

Belfast Local Change Fund: ending violence against women and girls

Belfast City Council has funding for Belfast voluntary and community organisations delivering projects aimed at ending violence against women and girls. Check the council funding hub for current eligibility and deadlines.

£100 Home Heating Oil Support Scheme open

Eligible Northern Ireland households using oil as their primary heating source can apply for a £100 digital pre-paid card. Department for Communities guidance says applications are open until 31 March 2027.

Rathcoole Library — Universal Credit & Job Support session

Newtownabbey Jobs & Benefits office is holding a support session at Rathcoole Library, 2 Rosslea Way, Newtownabbey, on 13 October 2026 from 10:30am to 11:30am. Help includes Universal Credit, CV and interview skills, job search, vacancies and applications.

Scotland winter-heating payments begin for 2026/27

Child Winter Heating Payment starts from the week beginning 5 October 2026. Scotland expects around 1.4 million winter-heating payments across its schemes, with Pension Age Winter Heating Payment starting from November and Winter Heating Payment from December. Most eligible people are paid automatically.

Fibrus Community Fund — digital inclusion grants up to £1,500

Constituted community and voluntary organisations in eligible Northern Ireland postcode areas can apply for grants of up to £1,500 to tackle digital poverty, with a focus on older people, people on low incomes and disabled people. Applications close 16 October 2026 at 1pm.

Lancaster Community Fund — grants up to £1,000

Lancaster District charities and community groups can apply for grants of up to £1,000 for projects benefiting local people. The October round opened 5 October 2026 and closes 1 November 2026 at 11:59pm.

Disability & Entrepreneurship events — remaining October dates

Small Business Britain and Barclays are taking The Lilac Centre to Eagle Labs for Disabled and neurodivergent founders. Remaining dates after 6 October are York 8 Oct, Manchester 9 Oct, Middlesbrough 14 Oct, Glasgow 20 Oct, Brighton 27 Oct and Southampton 29 Oct 2026.

Charlie House receives £90,000 three-year family-support award

Charlie House has received £90,000 over three years from the St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation to support accessible activities and experiences for families caring for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions across the North-east of Scotland.

GRID Braehead & Weekday Wow Factor — supported activities from £5

GRID Braehead has partnered with dementia-inclusive charity Weekday Wow Factor to provide supported days out for older people, people living with dementia, families and the wider community. Participating leisure activities and lunch options are available from £5; advance booking and terms may apply.

Scotland winter-heating payments begin for 2026/27

Child Winter Heating Payment starts from the week beginning 5 October 2026. Scotland expects around 1.4 million winter-heating payments across its schemes, with Pension Age Winter Heating Payment starting from November and Winter Heating Payment from December. Most eligible people are paid automatically.

Source: Social Security Scotland · Checked 2026-10-06

Lancaster Community Fund — grants up to £1,000

Lancaster District charities and community groups can apply for grants of up to £1,000 for projects benefiting local people. The October round opened 5 October 2026 and closes 1 November 2026 at 11:59pm.

Source: Lancaster District CVS · Checked 2026-10-06

Disability & Entrepreneurship events — remaining October dates

Small Business Britain and Barclays are taking The Lilac Centre to Eagle Labs for Disabled and neurodivergent founders. Remaining dates after 6 October are York 8 Oct, Manchester 9 Oct, Middlesbrough 14 Oct, Glasgow 20 Oct, Brighton 27 Oct and Southampton 29 Oct 2026.

Source: Business Wales · Checked 2026-10-06

Charlie House receives £90,000 three-year family-support award

Charlie House has received £90,000 over three years from the St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation to support accessible activities and experiences for families caring for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions across the North-east of Scotland.

Source: Charlie House · Checked 2026-10-06

GRID Braehead & Weekday Wow Factor — supported activities from £5

GRID Braehead has partnered with dementia-inclusive charity Weekday Wow Factor to provide supported days out for older people, people living with dementia, families and the wider community. Participating leisure activities and lunch options are available from £5; advance booking and terms may apply.

Source: Renfrewshire24 · Checked 2026-10-06

Shropshire Specialist Holiday Club: new provider from 1 October

Shropshire Council says Action for Children will deliver the Specialist Holiday Club from 1 October 2026. The service is for eligible children and young people with SEND; the age range changes to 8–18 under the new arrangements.

Devon unpaid-carer support moves to new arrangements

From 1 October 2026 Devon County Council introduces new carers-service arrangements. Carers’ assessments, reviews and the Carers Helpline move into the council while wider information, wellbeing and community support continues.

£4.8m Welsh Government emergency food and poverty support

Welsh Government funding to local authorities can support emergency food aid, food banks, social supermarkets, community cafés, lunch clubs and longer-term cost-of-living and poverty-prevention work.

Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant opens for expressions of interest

Pembrokeshire County Council says the 2026–27 round has about £142,000 available, with grants up to £15,000. Expressions of Interest are invited from 1 to 30 October 2026.

£100 Home Heating Oil Support Scheme open

Eligible Northern Ireland households using oil as their primary heating source can apply for a £100 digital pre-paid card. Department for Communities guidance says applications are open until 31 March 2027.

Belfast Local Change Fund: ending violence against women and girls

Belfast City Council has funding for Belfast voluntary and community organisations delivering projects aimed at ending violence against women and girls. Check the council funding hub for current eligibility and deadlines.