About the VCFS grant programme
We are committed to working in genuine partnership with the voluntary, community and faith sector to improve lives, reduce inequalities and build fairer, healthier and more connected communities.
We recognise the vital community infrastructure that the VCFS provides, involving organisations of all sizes, which provides trusted support, reaches residents who may not engage with statutory services, strengthens communities, and helps people thrive.
Our resources as a council are limited, so we need to focus our investment where it can make the greatest difference. This means responding to local need and inequalities, with partners focused on achieving clear and meaningful outcomes for residents and communities. This also means a fair distribution across our neighbourhoods, ensuring interventions and services are delivered where people need them most.
This work is also about strengthening the sector for the long term. The VCFS has faced significant pressures and disruption in recent years, including the loss of some established organisations. While we cannot financially support the whole sector, we want to work with organisations to build their capacity, resilience, and independence. This includes supporting organisations to diversify their income and develop new partnerships, helping to create a strong and sustainable VCFS for the future.
We are also committed to embedding co-design and co-production in how services are developed and delivered. People with lived experience should have a meaningful role in shaping the services and support they use. We want to help organisations strengthen their understanding and practice of co-production through training and support and encourage its use in developing services that respond to what communities need.
Funding is available to organisations of different sizes and stages of development, from grassroots community groups to established organisations delivering larger services.
Free support, guidance and training is also available to help organisations prepare strong applications and make the most of this opportunity.
Together, through strong partnership between the council, the VCFS, and our communities, we can build healthier, stronger and more connected communities across the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
VCFS Grant Programme 2027 to 2031
We are launching a new round of our 4-year grant programme to support voluntary, community and faith organisations in Royal Greenwich.
This is part of our investment programme for the VCFS through a suite of grants, commissioned contracts and partnerships arrangements.
The VCFS Grant Programme 2027 to 2031 will build on this by supporting organisations to:
deliver activities that meet local needs
work in partnership with other organisations
strengthen skills, capacity and sustainability
involve communities in shaping services
This funding will support organisations with activities, reach communities most in need, and help improve health and wellbeing across the borough.
What funding is available
There are different types of funding to support organisations at different stages of development and delivery.
This investment model has 4 strands:
- Strength in People
- Strength in Services
- Strength in Neighbourhoods
- Strength in Community Organisations
Strength in People
What: Themed grants supporting commissioning priorities
When: September 2026
Funding: £2.35 million per year over 4 years
Details
- Befriending and Social connection for vulnerable adults
- Carers (life course approach)
- Community centres activity
- Creative health and socially engaged arts and culture
- Homelessness and supporting people at risk of rough sleeping
- Information, guidance, advice and specialist support
- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), learning disabilities and autism (life course approach)
- Volunteering infrastructure
- Volunteering opportunities for families known to Children’s Social Care
Strength in Services
What: VCFS commissioned services supporting commissioning priorities
When: October 2026
Funding: £550,000 per year over the commissioning cycle
Details
- Domestic abuse
- Employment support
- Specific carers support
Strength in Neighbourhoods
What: Small neighbourhood-based grants addressing specific neighbourhood-based priorities
When: March 2027
Funding: £100,000 per year (combining with other funds to build 4 neighbourhood funds)
Details
- Neighbourhood-based priorities
- Ageing well
- Social connection
- Health, wellbeing and resilience
Strength in Community Organisations
What: Development grants supporting infrastructure costs
When: June 2027
Funding: £400,000 per year over 2 years
Details
- Supporting infrastructure costs
- Based on organisational needs
- Linked to Royal Borough of Greenwich commissioning priorities