Applications open for £76m Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has launched a new Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund.

The fund is for organisations that support people and communities under severe pressure because of the increased cost of living.

The funding is part of a package of over £100m announced in the 2023 Spring Budget for charities and community organisations.

Delivered in partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF), the Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund will support organisations across England to deliver critical cost of living services.

Organisations will be able to apply for funding to maintain or expand these services from now until the end of March 2024.

Applicants to the fund must:

• offer critical services to low-income households and individuals. This must include one of the following.
  • Food and emergency supplies
  • Emergency shelter
  • Safe spaces
  • Warmth
  • Financial or housing advice
• be able to demonstrate increased demand and increased costs for these critical services
• be registered with the Charity Commission or an incorporated not-for-profit company
• provide services to a local community in England. The fund is focused on small and medium organisations, although national organisations can apply if they can demonstrate local impact.

You can apply and find out more on the NLCF website.

You can apply for between £10,000 and £75,000. If you need £10,000 or less you can try the National Lottery Awards for All fund.

The deadline for applications is midday on 16 October 2023. Decisions will be made on a rolling basis.

The NLCF will start funding organisations in October 2023, and finish in January 2024.

We’ve been campaigning tirelessly with other infrastructure bodies to get more support for charities struggling with rising delivery costs and demand.

Thank you to our members and partners who participated in meetings, surveys and offered us case studies. We know this has been an incredibly tough time for our members and the communities they support.

The crisis has continued into this summer and we expect a tough winter ahead. Particularly as the Energy Bill Relief Scheme came to an end earlier this year. This funding will be a lifeline for many organisations, helping them to continue operating and expand their services.

However, we know organisations of all sizes are still struggling, and many will not be eligible for this funding. We’re campaigning for changes that will help other charities. This includes uplifts to grants and contracts to cover the true cost of delivery, and improvements to energy support for charities.

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If you have any questions about our influencing work, please email policy@ncvo.org.uk.

If you’re struggling to find the information or support you need, contact our Small Charity Helpdesk.

• Email knowhow@ncvo.org.uk
• Call 0207 520 2552

We’re here to provide practical support and guidance on the issues you’re facing.

You can also use our online help and guidance covering key areas including:

• funding and income
• financial difficulty and insolvency
• governance.