Apply for One Stop Community Partnership Programme (UK)

Deadline: 30-Sep-2026

The One Stop Community Partnership Programme provides grants and tailored support to local groups and organizations working to improve communities across the United Kingdom. Successful applicants can receive an initial grant of up to £500, followed by a tailored partnership that may include additional funding, volunteering, fundraising, and community awareness support. The programme is administered by Groundwork in collaboration with One Stop Stores Ltd and is designed to build longer-term relationships with community organizations addressing local needs. The programme supports organizations working on practical community issues and aims to develop partnerships that continue beyond the initial grant. Projects can address a range of local priorities, including: Food poverty, excluding direct food costs. Support for vulnerable people. Support for older people. Assistance for low-income families. Youth sports teams. Waste reduction and recycling. Local environmental improvement. Other activities that provide clear community benefit. The programme combines small-scale grant funding with longer-term partnership support. Applications are open to a broad range of community and not-for-profit organizations in the UK.

Eligible applicants can include:

Voluntary and community organizations. Registered charities. Schools. Health bodies. Parish councils. Town councils. Community councils. Social enterprises. Community Interest Companies (CICs). Local authorities. Housing organizations. Other not-for-profit organizations.

Community Interest Companies must:

Have operated for at least two years. Be limited by guarantee. Businesses and organizations operating for profit are not eligible. Organizations that have received funding from the One Stop Community Partnership Programme within the previous 12 months are also currently ineligible to apply. The programme is intended for projects that respond to genuine local community needs.

Relevant activities can include:

Helping people experiencing food poverty, excluding the direct purchase of food. Supporting vulnerable members of the community. Providing activities or services for older people. Supporting families on low incomes. Establishing or maintaining youth sports teams. Reducing waste. Encouraging recycling. Improving local environmental conditions. Other community-focused activities that create a clear local benefit. Applicants should clearly explain the problem their project addresses and how the proposed activities will benefit local residents. Successful applicants can receive an initial grant of up to £500. The initial funding is intended to help community groups start or develop their proposed project. Applicants should ensure that their proposed use of the grant is: Directly connected to the project. Clearly explained. Appropriate to the community need. Realistic within the available funding. The programme is not limited to providing a one-time grant. The initial award can form the starting point for a longer-term partnership. A key feature of the programme is the support provided after the initial grant. The One Stop Community Team and local Store team can work with successful organizations to develop a tailored partnership plan. Depending on the needs of the organization and project, additional support may include: Additional funding. Volunteer support. Fundraising assistance. Awareness-raising. Community engagement. Other forms of partnership support. The type and level of additional support can vary according to the individual partnership. Small community organizations often have a direct understanding of local problems but may have limited access to funding, volunteers, or promotional resources. The One Stop Community Partnership Programme combines a modest initial grant with potential longer-term assistance. This approach can help community organizations: Start or strengthen local projects. Address practical community needs. Access additional resources. Involve volunteers. Raise awareness of local issues. Build relationships with local partners. Develop sustainable community activities. The programme can be understood as a two-stage support model:

Application: An eligible community organization submits a proposal addressing a local need.

Initial grant: Successful applicants can receive up to £500.

Partnership development: The One Stop Community Team and Store team work with the successful organization.

Tailored support plan: The partners identify appropriate ways to support the project.

Ongoing assistance: Depending on the partnership, this may include additional funding, volunteering, fundraising, and awareness-raising.

Organizations preparing an application should focus on demonstrating a clear community need and a practical project response.

A useful preparation process is:

Confirm eligibility. Check that your organization is a qualifying voluntary, charitable, public, social enterprise, or other not-for-profit body. Check previous funding. Make sure your organization has not received funding from the programme within the previous 12 months. Identify the community need. Clearly describe the issue affecting local residents. Define the project. Explain what activities you will deliver and who will benefit. Explain the local impact. Describe how the project will improve the community or support the people you serve. Prepare the funding request. Explain how the initial grant of up to £500 will be used. Consider longer-term support. Identify areas where additional funding, volunteers, fundraising, or awareness could help the project. Submit the application. Ensure that all required information is complete and accurately reflects the proposed community activity. Applicants can strengthen their proposals by keeping the project practical and clearly connected to a local need.

Useful tips include:

Clearly identify the community problem. Explain who will benefit from the project. Describe specific activities rather than broad