Community groups and charities across Cambridgeshire can now apply for grants of up to £4,750 through Cambridgeshire County Council’s Crisis and Resilience Fund Small Grants Scheme.

Funded by the UK Government, the scheme aims to strengthen local support for residents by helping community organisations develop and deliver projects that prevent hardship before people reach crisis point. The funding is intended to support initiatives that build financial resilience and help people manage challenges before they become severe.

The programme is open to community groups, charities, not-for-profit organisations and Community Interest Companies (CICs) working in Cambridgeshire. Grants can be used to support new ideas, pilot projects or to expand existing community initiatives that help people avoid financial crisis and improve their long-term financial wellbeing.

Key information

• Grants of up to £4,750 are available per project.
• Open to community groups, charities, not-for-profit organisations and CICs operating in Cambridgeshire.
• Funding is available for projects that help prevent financial crisis and build financial resilience.
• Suitable for new projects, pilot initiatives or existing community programmes.
• Funding must be spent by 31 March 2028.
• Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all available funding has been allocated.
• Projects cannot receive funding from another source for the same activity.

Please note that the funding cannot be used to support a specific individual. Residents experiencing financial hardship can access support through the Crisis and Resilience Fund’s wider assistance programmes.

Organisations interested in applying should read the guidance carefully before submitting an application, together with all required supporting documents, to crisis.resilience@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Further information, guidance and the application form are available from Cambridgeshire County Council.

Looking ahead

Cambridgeshire County Council has also announced that a Crisis and Resilience Fund Large Grants Scheme will launch later this year. The programme will offer grants of up to £25,000 and further details will be shared once the scheme opens.

This funding presents a valuable opportunity for local organisations to test new approaches, expand successful initiatives and strengthen the support available to Cambridgeshire residents before financial difficulties become a crisis.