Community in action

At SNG, we've seen how community-led events and activities can turn a good summer into a great one. Our Community In Action fund offers microgrants of up to £1,000 to support the delivery of these activities by community organisations who are powered by fantastic volunteers!

This fund continues the celebrations around Volunteers' Week , also drawing inspiration from the spirit of The Big Help Out campaign, a fantastic nationwide effort to encourage people to have a go at volunteering, lend a hand and make a difference in their communities. This fund aims to bring people together through small‑scale programmes that encourage volunteering, strengthen local connections, and build pride in place. Grants will support inclusive summer activities that provide an opportunity for people to give their time, work alongside neighbours, and make a positive difference in their communities.

Applications must be made between Monday 8 June and Monday 22 June 2026.

What are the priorities for the fund?

We encourage applications for projects that bring residents together to volunteer and improve their local environment. Activities such as community DIY, litter picking, community clean‑ups, planting projects and initiatives that encourage young people to volunteer, promote collective action, foster pride in where they live, and strengthen community connections, reflecting the values and momentum of The Big Help Out.

Who can apply?

Organisations must work within clearly defined SNG communities where we have homes, ensuring your activity directly benefits our customers. You should show how you will actively engage local residents and create positive impact at a neighbourhood/hyper local level.

All groups will be checked against the eligibility criteria below.

1. Eligible groups include:
   • Not-for-profit organisations
   • Registered charities
   • Charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs)
   • Community interest companies (CICs) limited by guarantee
   • Community and voluntary groups
   • Community benefit societies
   • Social enterprises (not-for-profit)
2. Groups must have a written constitution or governing document that includes the group’s aims/purpose, objectives, and a dissolution clause or asset lock (setting out what would happen to any remaining funds if the group closes).
3. Groups must be governed by a voluntary trustee or management committee with a minimum of three members, at least two of whom are unrelated.
4. Groups must have a bank account in the organisation’s name with at least two unrelated signatories.

What grants are available?

Grants of between £300 and £1,000 are available.

How many grants will we award?

£25,000 is available for the Community In Action Fund. We anticipate awarding approximately 25- 30 grants in this funding round.

Is my project in an SNG Community?

To be eligible, your project must take place in a community where we have homes and whose work will directly benefit SNG customers and you must be able to demonstrate how you will engage with and benefit SNG customers.

Click here to open an interactive map  which can help you demonstrate how you fit this criteria in your application i.e. what areas your participants come from and how these fall with SNG Communities. The search function on the right hand side can be used to enter the postcode of your project.

Before you apply

We will undertake core due diligence checks.

We will ask you to provide:

Your governing document (one of the following):

• A constitution (for unincorporated associations or charities)
• Articles of association (for CICs or companies limited by guarantee)
• A trust deed (for charitable trusts)
• Your most recent accounts

For more information about our due diligence process, see what we will ask for & why .

How do I apply?

This fund has now closed.

Budget- what can be funded and how much detail should I include?

We encourage applications for projects that bring residents together to volunteer and improve their local environment. Activities such as community DIY, litter picking, community clean‑ups, planting projects and initiatives that encourage young people to volunteer, promote collective action, foster pride in where they live, and strengthen community connections, reflecting the values and momentum of The Big Help Out.

Please note:

• We will fund equipment, and other costs needed to directly deliver the Community In Action activities. Staff costs may be included where they are directly attributable to the delivery of the activity. We expect the majority of the microgrant to be spent on activity delivery, materials, and community benefit, and staff costs should be proportionate to the overall budget. Refreshments can be included.
• Unfortunately, we cannot fund core costs (for example, rent and utilities). 

Please include as much detail as possible in your budget.

Making a grant decision

This is an open application programme. 

The fund is open from Monday 8 June to Monday 22 June 2026. We will aim to shortlist applications by 3 July 2026 and share funding decisions within two weeks.

If you are offered funding, it takes an average of two weeks to complete due diligence and transfer funds. Please monitor your emails (including your junk folder) for updates from ActionFunder. The sooner you accept the offer and provide the requested information; the sooner funding can be released.

Reporting requirements

If your application is successful and you receive funding, you will be required to meet our reporting requirements. You will be asked to complete a light-touch end-of-project report.

You will be notified of reporting requirements through the ActionFunder platform when funding is awarded.

We would also welcome updates throughout the project via ActionFunder, including what has gone well and any challenges. You will be able to post comments, videos and photos to keep us updated