The Small Grants Funding Program will be on a quarterly basis, please see here.
If you have any questions, or would like support with applying for funding, please contact: oumayma.tuijri@sobus.org.uk
Thank you to everyone who has expressed interest in our new Climate Action Fund.
Don’t think your project is a Climate Action project? You might be pleasantly surprised…
As a reminder, we are excited to see projects that also lead to many of the co-benefits of climate action – such as improved health and wellbeing, community resilience, reduced energy costs, or addressing cost of living concerns.
If you have a project that needs funding, but you’re unsure if it leads to carbon savings, we encourage you to get in touch and ask questions.
Or perhaps you already have a good idea, but you still want to ask us questions or find another organisation to partner with to deliver your project.
If either of these are the case, we’d love to see you at our upcoming Climate Action Fund Coffee Morning on Thursday 23 April, 10am to 11.30am in the Archives Room, Hammersmith Library.
Learn more about the types of projects you could deliver, details on applying, and an opportunity to meet other local organisations interested in applying or co-applying with you.
Deadline to apply for funding: 25th May 2026.
“NCVO chief executive Kate Lee has apologised to the umbrella body’s members over “uncertainty and confusion” caused by recent staff changes…” Read more here on the Civil Society website.
MS-UK are delighted to offer free MS awareness training sessions for professionals and volunteers.
Join us Friday 17 April at 10.00am
The recording will also be sent to you after the event, or other dates are also available later in the year if you cannot make this one.
If this session isn’t for you, please pass it onto colleagues or organisations you think will benefit from the training.
Why should your team attend this session?
MS is the most common disabling neurological condition in working-aged adults, affecting over 150,000 people in the UK. In addition to physical challenges like mobility, balance, and strength, many people with MS experience invisible symptoms such as fatigue, bladder or bowel issues, and cognitive difficulties. These can impact daily living, employment, and overall wellbeing.
Professionals play a crucial role in supporting those with MS. MS-UK is here to help increase your team’s understanding of the condition and the support available to the MS community.
What will you learn?
This session will be delivered by an MS-UK team member, alongside a volunteer with lived experience of MS.
- What is MS?
- Myths and preconceptions
- Symptoms that may impact on wellbeing
- A lived experience of MS
- Symptom management tips
- The kind of support that people with MS may need on their MS journey
Who should attend
- Health and social care workers
- Community based professionals
- Professionals that work for a charity or voluntary organisation supporting people with a disability
- Support workers or home care workers
- Professionals that work in health or social care
- Teams that support people living with MS
If you’re a care provider, social prescriber, or work in employment support (including the DWP), we recommend joining one of our specialised MS Awareness sessions tailored specifically for your role. Click the links above to find the session that’s right for you!
How to sign up
To join our free session click here.
eLearning
We have eLearning available for everyone and a variety of online training sessions on Zoom for professionals.
I hope you find the session valuable. If you have any questions or need more details, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Struggling to get your voice heard on social media? This article by Ben Wittenberg provides so helpful tips for those managing a charity’s social media account. Check it out here.
Community groups, grassroots organisations, small local and registered charities, and Community Interest Companies working with people aged 55 and over can apply for funding from the Home Instead Charities Grant Programme, delivered by Home Instead Charities. Grants are available for projects that enhance wellbeing or reduce social isolation, such as social clubs, day trips, exercise sessions, and community activities. Funding is aimed at small, local initiatives and cannot be used for salaries, core running costs, or capital projects. Applicants must demonstrate inclusivity and have a bank account in the organisation’s name. There is no fixed maximum grant publicly specified, and applications are made via local Home Instead offices. There is no set closing date. Funding to Improve the Lives of the Elderly (UK)
Senior Researcher Kalli Jayasuriya shares her expert advice on how to decode funding jargon. Take a look here.
The UK government introduced the Civil Society Covenant to strengthen partnerships with civil society. A new Civil Society Council has been formed to support this, meeting quarterly at Downing Street. Read more here.
The DPO Centre, a data protection consultancy firm, is inviting charities and not-for-profit organisations to apply to its Charity and Community Fund. The fund provides access to the Centre’s data protection consultancy services at an 80% reduced rate. Successful applicants will receive support from data protection specialists to help their organisation meet legal requirements and reduce the risk of data breaches. Organisations can apply for up to £10,000 towards consultancy services including data protection training, policy drafting and reviews, data sharing, impact assessments and gap analysis. The DPO Centre has allocated £50,000 for this funding round. Applications close on 31 May 2026. Funding Towards Data Protection Consultancy Services (UK)
Registered charities and not-for-profit organisations across the UK and Ireland can apply to the Rowntree’s Free the Fund Community Programme for grants of up to £10,000 to run summer activities that improve adult wellbeing.
Delivered in partnership with Groundwork, the programme will fund four projects that bring people aged 21 to 65 together through activities such as:
- Arts and crafts
- Dance
- Music
- Gardening
- Sports and fitness
Examples of project ideas could be:
- improving a community garden or transforming an outdoor space
- running a summer art festival
- funding to support a wheelchair basketball club
- equipment or space improvement for team sports
- arts, theatre and music equipment
Grants can be awarded to registered charities, social enterprises, not-for-profit organisations, hospices, sports clubs and social housing providers.
Previously supported projects include CWM TAF People First, which runs social activities for people with learning disabilities to reduce isolation, and Spectrum People’s Appletree Garden, where volunteers—many with lived experience of vulnerability—can come together.
Applications close at 5pm on 31 March 2026.
sobus
20 Dawes Road, London, SW6 7EN
Telephone 020 7952 1230
Email info@sobus.org.uk
Registered Charity No.1071089
and Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England No.03471416
Sobus is a new Community Development Agency for Hammersmith & Fulham. It has been created through the merger of the Community and Voluntary Sector Association Hammersmith & Fulham (CaVSA) and the Fulham Community Partnership Trust (FCPT). Building on the strengths of both organisations, sobus aims to provide a wider range of support services for local charities, community groups, social enterprises and start up businesses.