The Community Chest

Applications are welcome from any voluntary or community organisation that is based, or works in, our trading area across the south of England, from Devon to Sussex and in the north from Bristol to Twickenham. NB: Awards will only be considered for organisations with a total income of more than £200,000 in very special circumstances.

Grants or funds raised could be used to support the following:

• Youth work and activities
• Sports and social clubs
• Elderly and people with disabilities
• Health and social care
• Local arts and culture
• Conservation and the environment

Please note: Applications will not be considered from national organisations or those that are profit making or political.

Applications for the 2025 Community Chest are now closed.

Groups can apply for grants or fundraising support ranging from £300 and £3,000 to help achieve their aims. These grants or fundraising commitments could be used towards things such as equipment and furniture, training, transport, professional assistance, specific project resources or operational costs that will help your cause.

Top Tips for a Community Chest Application:

• Make sure that there is a real NEED for what you are applying for.
• Show the judges that your organisation has made its own effort to raise funds.
• Ensure that a Community Chest award will make a difference to your project in the immediate future.
• Be sure to check that the timing of your event/project fits with the Community Chest cycle (awards will be made in January).
• Please don’t apply if you are a fundraising charity that donates to other charities.
• The Community Chest is only open to local voluntary organisations, sadly we cannot help national charities.
• Please give a detailed breakdown of your project’s cost.
• Identify your local H&W pub, by visiting the ‘Our Pubs’ page on our website.

Each judge has their own criteria, but organisations should ask themselves the following questions:

Need
Is there a real need for this project?
Does your project or organisation really improve the lives of local residents or is it nice to have?

Own Efforts
What efforts have you made to help your own organisation?
How much money have you raised for your project or organisation?

Difference
How much more money is needed to make the project a reality?
Will a contribution of up to £3,000 enable the project to happen?

Applications for a Community Chest grant are reviewed by a panel of experienced judges who will agree a long list of the most suitable applications during the autumn. From this list the judges will debate which applications would benefit from a visit from one of the judges to aid their decision making and which applications can be judged on the basis of the merits of the written application only.  Judges’ visits can be expected to take place in October 2025.

Grant applications will be considered by the judging panel in the autumn, with funding to be issued at an awards evening in January 2026.