Ground Work & Postcode Lottery: Small grants for small organisations (Deadline September 2026)
This year, the programme will provide unrestricted funding of up to £2,000 to 700 small, local organisations in England that are making a positive difference in their communities.
Funding can be used for core organisational costs that support the important work organisations deliver in their communities. The funding offered is unrestricted and therefore flexible and can be used where it is most needed.
The grant programme is made possible thanks to funding raised by players of the Postcode Lottery and is awarded through Postcode Local Trust, Postcode Places Trust, Postcode Neighbourhood Trust and Postcode Society Trust.
Changes for 2026 – key information:
- Applications may be submitted at any time between January and September
- Eligible to organisations whose income is up to £25,000 in the last financial year
- Applicants will receive a decision within 10 weeks of submission
- Successful organisations awarded up to £2,000 will have 12 months to spend the grant
- The programme will not fund sports or physical activities-based projects. Further details of an alternative programme can be found below
Who can apply?
Unrestricted grants of between £500 and £2,000 can be accessed by voluntary or community organisations, including registered charities/companies, whose annual turnover is no more than £25,000.
Priority will be shown to organisations which meet the following criteria:
- Funding for communities that rank as being within the top 15% on the English Indices of Deprivation
- Organisations that work with and support communities classed as marginalised or vulnerable
Grassroot Grants supports organisations whose aims and objectives align with one of Postcode Lottery’s funding themes:
- Enabling participation in the arts
- Improving green spaces and increasing access to the outdoors
- Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty
- Providing support to improve mental health
- Supporting marginalised groups and tackling inequality