CFAs: Great Yarmouth Community Investment Fund (United Kingdom)

The Great Yarmouth Community Investment Fund 2026 offers grants of up to £5,000 for Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations delivering projects that benefit residents of Great Yarmouth. Norfolk Community Foundation is administering the fund, which is made possible by Great Yarmouth Borough Council and Norfolk County Council Public Health via the Great Yarmouth Health and Wellbeing Partnership, with support from other local funders. The application deadline is 8 October 2026 at 12:00 midday (UK time), and the funder aims to confirm decisions by the end of 2026. Opportunity at a Glance

- Funding opportunity name: Great Yarmouth Community Investment Fund (2026)

- Funder/administrator: Norfolk Community Foundation

- Grant size: Up to £5,000

- Eligible applicants: Registered charities, constituted community groups, and other charitable organisations including Social Enterprises and CICs limited by guarantee (plus Voluntary/Community Groups and Faith organisations)

- Eligible location/area: Great Yarmouth

- Funding streams (two distinct streams):

- Stream 1: reduce isolation/loneliness and improve connection through community activity

- Stream 2: address health inequalities and improve wellbeing (healthy lifestyles, physical and mental health, and community support)

- Deadline: 8 October 2026, 12:00 midday (UK time)

- Decision timeframe: Funding decisions aimed to be confirmed by end of 2026

- Apply online: Yes (via Norfolk Community Foundation’s online application)

About the Opportunity

The Great Yarmouth Community Investment Fund supports VCSE-led community activity within the borough of Great Yarmouth. In 2026, the fund offers two funding streams shaped by local priorities connected to the Great Yarmouth Health and Wellbeing Partnership and related local strategy. Applicants are expected to deliver projects that clearly benefit Great Yarmouth residents, and to contribute to understanding the reach of funded activities through participation data reporting (details below). Funding and Benefits

- Maximum grant: Up to £5,000 per successful project (exact award levels are not specified in the source)

- Non-financial opportunities (for successful applicants): - Opportunity to join the Great Yarmouth Community Hub Partnership for collaboration opportunities - Access to a shared case management system - Note on funding streams: The fund contains two distinct streams, and applicants applying to both streams should contact the funder before submitting applications (as stated in the source). Who Is Eligible? The fund is for VCSE organisations clearly operating within the borough of Great Yarmouth and delivering projects benefiting Great Yarmouth residents.

Eligible applicant types include:

- Registered charities - Constituted community groups - Other charitable organisations, including: - Social Enterprises - Community Interest Companies (CICs) limited by guarantee - Voluntary/Community groups - Faith organisations Key eligibility expectations and requirements (as stated): - Applicants should check that they meet Norfolk Community Foundation’s general eligibility criteria before starting an application. - Organisations should have a track record of delivering relevant support within the Borough of Great Yarmouth. - Applicants should be working in partnership with, or have existing signposting relationships with other local organisations. - Applicants should be filling a gap in provision in Great Yarmouth. - Applicants must be able to record and report participation data, including (where possible) the postcodes of people accessing the funded project. The source states that shared data would be anonymous and used to help Great Yarmouth Borough Council understand reach.

Funding might not be right if:

- The project does not address one of the fund priorities outlined in the two streams. - The project is a capital (building) project, including kitchen/toilet and other refurbishments. - The organisation does not have an existing track record delivering relevant support in Great Yarmouth. Eligible Activities or Priority Areas The fund provides two distinct streams in 2026.

Stream 1: Reduce isolation and loneliness; improve connection and opportunities through community activity

Projects may support the following priority areas: - Promoting meaningful and impactful volunteering, including support for: - Volunteer expenses - Staff resource for volunteer management and recruitment - Thank-you events - Upskilling volunteers through professional development or volunteer sharing - Increasing resilience and providing safe youth spaces for young people, including projects designed by and for young people that support: - Development of skills and resilience (e.g., peer mentoring) - Safe youth spaces for children aged 11–18 - Particularly in geographical areas where youth opportunities are limited - Enabling intergenerational skills sharing opportunities, such as: - Life skills - Cooking - Digital skills - Running community spaces in rural areas that provide opportunities for connection, including support for: - Project costs - Costs related to ongoing development needs of the organisation The source also notes that successful applicants can access collaboration and case management support through the Great Yarmouth Community Hub Partnership.

Stream 2: Address health inequalities and improve wellbeing

Projects should align with one or more priorities of the Great Yarmouth Health and Wellbeing Partnership, including: - Healthy eating and weight management

Example: supporting low-income families to learn how to prepare healthy, affordable meals.

- Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions

Example: adding a seated exercise session to an existing coffee morning for people living with pain or mobility challenges.

- Reducing smoking and alcohol use

Example: community arts initiatives that create space to explore alcohol education creatively.

- Wider health and wellbeing and health literacy

Examples include: