Application deadline: 23 April, 5:00 pm
Focussed on supporting people furthest from the job market
This spring National Grid’s Community Matters Fund is supporting charities and community groups helping people who are struggling to find jobs or return to work. The £250,000 fund is looking to support projects which build skills, confidence and work experience.
Around one in eight young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training. Many others find it hard to get back into work after time away because of health issues, caring responsibilities or time spent in the armed forces. Without the right support, these barriers can last a long time.
The Community Matters Fund, run in partnership with Localgiving, aims to help local organisations support people facing these challenges.
You can apply for:
- Up to £5,000 if you are a registered charity or non‑profit organisation
- Up to £2,000 if you are an unregistered community group
Your organisation must be based in the Midlands, South West England or South Wales.
Who the fund is for
The fund supports projects that help:
- Young people aged 16–25 who are not in full‑time education
- People from ethnic minority backgrounds
- People with health conditions or disabilities
- Armed forces veterans
- People returning to work after a long time away
What your project can do
Your project must support people in at least one of these ways:
Offer work placements, work experience or qualifications
- Help people learn practical skills for jobs like construction, electrical work, digital roles or clean energy
- Improve employability, such as CV support, workshops or interview practice
- Support people to return to work after illness, caring roles or military service
Projects which do more than one of these things are encouraged, especially if they support people facing multiple barriers.
Follow this link for further details on how to apply – https://localgiving.org/community-matters-fund-future-skills-2026
