Call for Applications: Wessex Water Community Fund (UK)

The Wessex Water Community Fund is a community grants programme delivered by Quartet Community Foundation to support charitable and community-based projects that address local needs in the West of England. It offers grants of up to £4,000 to eligible groups and organisations improving the lives of local people who are most in need of support. The application deadline is 19 October 2026 at 11:00 am (time zone not specified in the source). Opportunity at a Glance

- Funder / Programme owner: Quartet Community Foundation (Wessex Water Community Fund)

- Opportunity type: Grant programme for community and charitable activities/projects

- Funding amount: Up to £4,000 per grant (maximum grant awarded: £4,000)

- Eligible geography: West of England — Bath & North-East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire

- Eligible applicants: Voluntary/community groups with charitable aims, registered charities, Community Interest Companies, and parish councils (based and working in the West of England)

- Key eligibility requirement: Organisation/group must have been running for at least 12 months with a track record and financial record

- Income prioritisation: Applicants with annual income averaging under £500,000 over the last three years will be prioritised

- Opening date: 21 September 2026 at 9:00 am

- Closing date: 19 October 2026 at 11:00 am

- Decision turnaround: Applicants notified of decision outcomes in early December 2026

- Approx. number of awards expected: Programme expects to award about 25 grants (limited funds)

About the Opportunity

The Wessex Water Community Fund supports activities or projects that meet a local need and aim to improve the lives of local people who are most in need of support. The fund expects projects to be informed by the people or community they serve, and to deliver considerable reach and wide community benefit. Priority is given to work that fulfills one or more of the following: - Takes place in areas of multiple deprivation or rural isolation where people lack access to local services - Helps build stronger communities by enabling people to work together and create solutions to local challenges - Helps people take steps to manage or avoid debt and build financial capability, including awareness and take-up of utility affordability support (including Wessex Water schemes) Funding and Benefits

- Grant size: Grants of up to £4,000 are available.

- Maximum grant awarded: £4,000.

- Funding is limited: The funder states that applicants should expect that limited funds mean they will be able to award about 25 grants.

- No further grant terms specified in the source: Cost-sharing requirements and restrictions beyond the priorities and eligibility requirements are Not specified in the source. Who Is Eligible?

To apply, applicants must be:

- Based and working in the West of England, including: - Bath & North-East Somerset - Bristol - North Somerset - South Gloucestershire

Eligible applicant types include:

- Voluntary and community groups with charitable aims - Registered charities - Community Interest Companies - Parish councils

Additional eligibility requirement:

- The group/organisation must have been running for at least 12 months and have a track record of delivering work, as well as a financial record. Prioritisation (not stated as an absolute requirement): - The fund will prioritise applicants whose annual income has averaged under £500,000 over the last three years.

Additional eligibility criteria:

- “Further information on Quartet’s eligibility criteria” is referenced, but the details are Not specified in the source. Eligible Activities or Priority Areas Applications should align with the fund’s priority areas. Projects may be supported if they: - Address needs in areas of multiple deprivation or rural isolation with limited access to local services - Focus on community strength-building, enabling people to work together to create solutions to local challenges - Support people to manage or avoid debt and build financial capability, including work that raises awareness and take-up of utility affordability support (including Wessex Water schemes) The programme also expects projects to have: - Input from the community served (informed by the people/community) - Considerable reach and wide community benefit Why This Opportunity Matters This fund is designed for organisations delivering locally informed community work in the West of England, including areas facing multiple deprivation or rural isolation. It also targets practical support for people dealing with debt and financial capability, including improving access to utility affordability support. By requiring a track record and financial record (and prioritising lower annual income), the programme aims to support credible community-led efforts with measurable reach. How to Apply - Read the guide for applicants before preparing your application (the source instructs applicants to read the guidelines). - Submit an online application using the programme’s application form. The source states the online link will be available when the programme is open.

- Use the correct application method:

- The source states that there is a plain text version of the application form that can be viewed, but you cannot use this paper form to apply. - Applications must go through the online form.

- Meet the deadline: 19 October 2026 at 11:00 am (time zone not specified in the source).

Official pages referenced in the source:

- Apply online (programme landing page): https://quartetcf.org.uk/grants/wessex-water-community-fund/

- Download our guide for applicants: Linked from the same programme page (link not fully provided in the source text).

- Help & Guidance page: Mentioned in the source, but the specific URL is Not specified in the source.

- Plain text version of the application form: Mentioned as “viewed here,” but the specific URL is Not specified in the source. Application Tips or Common Mistakes - Do not use the paper/pl