Community Grants

Supporting small, practical projects that strengthen our local communities.

About our Community Grants

Our Community Grants provides small awards of £100 – £250 to local community groups, voluntary organisations, and grassroots initiatives that deliver visible benefit within ESLCU’s common bond. These grants are designed to be simple, accessible, and genuinely helpful, especially for small local projects.

Why we offer community grants

As a profit‑sharing credit union, we believe financial wellbeing isn’t just about money; it’s about strong, supported communities. Our grants help local groups create safer, healthier, more connected places to live.

Our grants are intentionally small and practical, designed to help local small groups who often struggle to access traditional funding. Typical awards range from £100–£250, depending on need and impact.

Who Can Apply

We welcome applications from a wide range of local organisations that make a positive difference in their communities. The scheme is designed to be simple, accessible, and supportive, especially for smaller groups who may struggle to access traditional funding.

Eligible applicants include:

Community groups

Voluntary organisations

Grassroots initiatives

Local projects

Your project must operate within ESLCU’s common bond area and show clear, practical benefit to local people.

What we fund

We support small, meaningful projects such as:

Community activities, like gardening or book clubs
Youth activities
Wellbeing or support groups
Local improvement projects
Financial education initiatives

If your project helps people feel safer, more connected, more supported, or more financially confident, it’s likely to be eligible.

How to Apply

Complete the short application form by telling us about your project, explaining the local benefit and how the grant will help your project, and include a bank statement for your group from the last three months.

You can post or email us your application.

Your Questions, Answered

Who can apply?

Any small community group, voluntary organisation, charity, CIC, social enterprise, or local initiative operating within ESLCU’s common bond can apply. Your project must show clear benefit to local people. Please Note: This means the counties of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, and North and Central Essex. This excludes the districts of Basildon, Castlepoint, Thurrock and Southend.

What can’t you fund?

To keep the scheme fair and focused, we cannot support:

Individuals seeking personal financial support
Projects outside our common bond
Activities that conflict with ESLCU values
Commercial or profit‑driven ventures

Do we have to be Members of the Credit Union?

No, grants are open to any eligible organisation within our common bond, whether or not you are members or have a community account with us.

How will our project be promoted?

We love celebrating local impact. Successful projects may be featured on our social media, newsletters, or Members Area to help raise awareness.

How much funding can we receive?

Grants are small typically between £100 and £250, designed to help groups who just need a little support to continue to make a difference in our local community.

When do applications close?

The fund opens on Monday 14^th September 2026 and closes for applications on 31^st December 2026.

We will not accept applications after this time, and reserve the right to close applications early, if sufficient applications are received.

What do I need to include in my application?

We would like to see applications that:

Clearly define in their application how the grant fund will improve or continue their involvement within the community
Work to improve inclusivity and wellbeing, either through new or existing projects
Outline in their applications how the funding will help the project meet its goals, and improve relations in the community
If for an existing project, outline how the grant money would help elevate, or continue the existing project
A bank statement from the past three months