Funding Opportunities for Rural Businesses, Charities & Schools – April 2025

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If you’re a rural business, charity, school or community group in Whittlesford, there’s a wide selection of grant schemes available this April to support your work—from building community infrastructure and restoring historic buildings to boosting local sports, music, and environmental efforts.

Here’s a breakdown of the key funding opportunities currently open for applications, grouped by theme:

🔌 Energy

Green Heat Network Fund – Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
Supports low-carbon heat networks across England. Available to public and private sector applicants aiming to decarbonise heating systems.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-heat-network-fund-ghnf

Energy Resilience Fund – Power to Change

Grants for community businesses to improve energy efficiency or implement renewable energy solutions.

​https://www.powertochange.org.uk/what-we-do/projects/energy-resilience-fund/

🌳 Environment

Community Tree Planting Fund – Network Rail

Grants for planting trees near rail lines to support biodiversity and community engagement. ​https://treecouncil.org.uk/grants-and-guidance/our-grants/network-rail-community-tree-planting-fund/

Forestry England Woodland Partnership
Supports large-scale woodland creation through partnerships with landowners and local groups. ​ www.forestryengland.uk/woodland-creation

Electricals Recycling Fund – Material Focus
Funds initiatives that boost electrical item recycling, reuse, and education.https://www.materialfocus.org.uk/partnerships-with-material-focus/electricals-recycling-fund/

🏛 Historic Buildings

Grants for Historic Church Interiors and Churchyard Structures – Church of England

Funding for the conservation of historic interiors and features in churchyards.. https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare/our-conservation-grants/grants-historic-church-interiors-and-churchyard-structures

Project Viability & Project Development Grants – The Architectural Heritage Fund
Supports early-stage work and project planning for historic building restoration. ​https://ahfund.org.uk/grants/england/

Small, Medium and Large Grants – National Churches Trust
​Grants for repairing and modernising church buildings. Available as small, medium, or large awards. https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/get-support/grants

 

💼 Business

Grants and business support for people using enterprise to solve social or environmental issues. ​ https://www.unltd.org.uk/awards

The UK Fund – The National Lottery Community Fund
Provides grants for projects that address societal challenges and improve communities, supporting initiatives that bring people together and build strong relationships. ​ https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/the-uk-fund

Rural England Prosperity Fund
Aims to support rural businesses and community infrastructure projects, enhancing economic growth and quality of life in rural areas. Funding is available for capital projects that improve productivity and strengthen rural communities. ​ https://www.scambs.gov.uk/grants-and-funding

⚽ Sports

The Big Bike Revival – Cycling UK
Grants for events and initiatives that get more people cycling and remove access barriers. https://www.cyclinguk.org/bigbikerevival/delivery-partners ​

Football Foundation Grants
Funding for improving pitches, facilities, floodlights, and more at grassroots level. Funding is available for clubs, schools, and local authorities. https://footballfoundation.org.uk/looking-for-funding

The Movement Fund – Sport England

Supports organisations that make it easier for people to be active, especially those underrepresented in sport. ​ https://www.sportengland.org/funding-and-campaigns/our-funding/movement-fund

🫶 Community Initiatives

Healthy Heart Grants – Heart Research UK
Funds community projects focused on improving heart health and preventing disease. https://heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-heart-grants/

Youth Music Trailblazer Fund
Supports music projects for children and young people facing barriers to participation. ​ https://www.youthmusic.org.uk/funding/i-need-funding/trailblazer-fund

Stobart Sustainability Fund
Provides grants for projects that deliver environmental and community benefits, supporting initiatives that promote sustainability and social responsibility. ​ https://eddiestobart.com/the-stobart-sustainability-fund/#enquires

Literacy Small Grants Scheme – JJ Charitable Trust
Offers funding for projects that improve literacy skills among children and adults, aiming to enhance educational outcomes and opportunities. ​ https://sfct.powerappsportals.com/jjapplication/

SUEZ Communities Fund
Supports community and environmental improvement projects, including public amenities, biodiversity initiatives, and recreation facilities. Funding is available for nonprofit organizations and community groups. https://grantscape.org.uk/fund/suez-communities-fund/suez-communities-fund-england/

💬 Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a small school looking to plant trees, a heritage group restoring a church, or a local entrepreneur making a difference—these grant schemes offer exciting opportunities to grow your work and impact. Be sure to check eligibility and deadlines for each scheme.

Care Together

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Cambridgeshire County Council has collaborated with a number of partners to produce an interactive app that can help people who are looking after others living in the community.
Posters are being prepared for South Cambridgeshire and I will be posting them out to community locations to display on their noticeboards and community spaces in the meantime, I have attached the pdf version for you to take a look.
Kind regards

Leneva Nwachukwu

Commissioner

 

Adults, Health & Commissioning

Cambridgeshire County Council

 

Commissioning Directorate

Adult Social Care

Stanton House, Stanton Way,

Huntingdon PE29 6XL

Telephone – 01954 286002

Weekly Food Waste Collections

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Some further detail has emerged on the plan to introduce weekly food waste collections in South Cambs. The proposed date of implementation is 1st April 2026. Every household in the District will be supplied with a 5 litre indoor cady for collecting food waste and a kerbside 23 litre caddy from which waste will be collected. There is no plan to supply residents with waste collection bags for the caddies.

At present there is a funding shortfall in the scheme and further work is taking place to fill the gap. The District will need 12 new food collection vehicles and around 70 new staff. The Council has been asked to indicate the difference in cost for the scheme on the basis that staff work 5 days a week vs the current ‘trial’ of a 4 day working week, as it seems likely more staff and vehicles will be needed to complete collections in 4 days than would be the case with a 5 day week.

New £295m for councils to introduce weekly food waste collections – GOV.UK

The Library Presents:

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We have been asked to share the library presents spring brochure of up coming events across Cambridgeshire.

There is also an opportunity to choose what you would like to see at your local library or chosen location this Autumn – selection closes 2nd May.

All information and box office for reasonable ticket options can be found at www.library.live/the-library-presents

Please get in touch with the LP team  if you have any questions.

Best wishes

Sarah

Sarah Freeman

Community Connector – South Cambridgeshire Place Team

Communities Service – Strategy and Partnerships

Cambridgeshire County Council

Tel: 07836 334843

Email: 

www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk

The Rural Services Network

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The Rural Services Network is funded by our members, and we’ve made some changes to the way we support those organisations with their weekly Rural Bulletin.

As a result, we’re changing the format of our newsletters to those that are not part of the Rural Services Network. Unfortunately, your organisation is not a member, but we will still be sharing a few highlights from the news with you each week as below.

  • England’s Homeless Children: A revealing look at the national crisis in temporary accommodation, with over 164,000 children affected. Dive deeper into the challenges and solutions proposed by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee to address this pressing issue.
  • Fixing NHS Dentistry: Uncover the unique challenges faced by rural communities in accessing NHS dental care. From workforce shortages to systemic inefficiencies, learn how these factors disproportionately impact rural areas and the call for urgent reforms.
  • Navigating the Shift to Digital Landlines: Discover the impending transition from analogue to digital communication systems and its implications for rural communities. Learn about the efforts to ensure seamless and reliable connectivity, especially for vulnerable populations.


You can read these articles here.

Additionally, we have an exciting opportunity for someone with a passion for rural communities! Learn more about our current vacancy here: Do you have a head for figures and a heart for rural communities?

For more detailed insights, including our weekly politics update, members’ news, and comprehensive data insights, consider joining us as a member.

Membership provides full access to our extensive rural bulletins packed with invaluable resources and updates tailored for rural communities. Members also receive access to our exclusive meetings and events.

Find out more about becoming a member here.

If you feel you’ve been sent this in error and your organisation is a member, please do not hesitate to contact us at 

Rural Services Network
Tel: 01822 851370

www.rsnonline.org.uk

Delivering for Rural – Unlocking rural prosperity

The Rural Services Network, as the national champion for rural services has put together a series of asks of the new Government which we want to see addressed. The challenges rural communities face cannot be tackled in isolation, our communities need homes they can afford, with good jobs, connectivity to enable businesses to grow and access to public services that are fairly funded. To find out more visit: https://www.rsnonline.org.uk/winning-the-rural-vote

The Rural Services Network seeks to provide a voice for rural communities by representing rural services, networking between rural service organisations and establishing and broadcasting best practice in rural service provision. It comprises SPARSE Rural, the Rural Assembly, the wider Rural Services Partnership and the Rural Market Town Group.

The organisation works with Rural England, a stand-alone CIC research group. The Rural Services Partnership Limited is a registered company (0696 0646) in England & Wales.