A NEW £250,000 capital grants programme will give charities and community groups across Yorkshire and Humber, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire the opportunity to secure funding for projects that aim to reduce poverty and promote healthy living.
Launched by social housing consortium Efficiency North, the Community Foundation Fund (CFF) will be delivered through its charity division EN:Communities, with funding from its member-based specialist procurement arm EN:Procure.
Grants of up to £5,000 will be awarded to support projects operating in communities supported by Efficiency North’s membership with equipment and items, with a limited number of awards up to £25,000 for those demonstrating greater need and wider impact.
The fund has been launched to mark EN:Communities’ 10th anniversary. The charity was created to improve the quality of life for social housing tenants and residents while creating vital construction jobs.
Image credit: EN:Communities
Image credit: EN:Communities
Ken Taylor, chair of EN:Communities, said: “We are proud to celebrate ten years of EN:Communities by establishing a fund that will have a tangible impact across the communities we serve. Over the last decade, we have seen first-hand the difference local organisations can make when they have the resources to deliver practical, community-led projects.
“The CFF enables organisations of all sizes to turn ideas into action, whether that is by providing essential equipment, expanding a project to reach more people, or developing new initiatives that promote wellbeing and tackle poverty. It is an investment not only in projects, but in the people and communities behind them.”
Efficiency North’s members are registered social housing providers who own and manage affordable homes, and as a not-for-profit consortium, it is owned and governed by these members to support communities across the region.
Over the past decade, EN:Communities has delivered significant impact across the region, awarding £1.4m in funding to small charities, supporting 127 community projects and helping almost 1,800 people into work. It has also secured £1.8m in additional funding to strengthen and expand its community initiatives.
The fund will support practical, community-led initiatives delivered by registered charities, voluntary groups, social enterprises, co-operatives and unincorporated associations, with priority given to inclusive projects that have clear outcomes, strengthen local resilience and deliver tangible impact across communities.
Ken added: “We want to ensure that local organisations with the passion and vision to make a difference have the practical support to do so. The CFF is about more than just funding; it is about enabling meaningful change in communities, giving charities and groups the tools to deliver projects that have lasting impact on people’s lives.
“This fund will also be a key focus for the charity going forward as it enters its second decade, guiding how we support and invest in communities across Yorkshire and Humber, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire over the coming years.”
Applications open on 13 April 2026 and close on 1 June 2026, with grants awarded in the week commencing 26 July 2026. To view the online application form and guidance notes, visit: https://www.efficiencynorth.org/community-foundation-fund/.
For more information on Efficiency North and its skills and sustainability initiatives, visit: www.efficiencynorth.org.
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