Welcome to this edition of the Small Good Stuff newsletter.

We’re delighted to share the latest funding opportunities, support offers, training, resources, and useful updates to help community organisations, social enterprises, and grassroots groups thrive. We hope you find something of value to support your work, strengthen your impact, and connect you with new opportunities in your local community and beyond.
New Grant Opportunities
NEW – Blue Spark Small Grants

The charity provides grants for educational, cultural, sporting and related activities, with a particular interest in projects that build self-confidence, teamwork and future employability.
Eligible applicants include schools, community groups, clubs, societies and other not-for-profit organisations, while individuals may also apply in some cases. Projects must benefit children and young people in England aged between 5 and 22.
Grants are generally for relatively small projects. Many awards are under £2,000 and none exceed £5,000. Funding can be used for:
• Music, dance and singing
• Outdoor activities & teambuilding
• Sport
• Educational excursions
• Widening academic achievements
Applications can be submitted at any time.

Apply here: Blue Spark funding is offering small grants of £2000-£5000. – Funding 4 Sport

Groundwork Grassroots Grants

Unrestricted grants of between £500 and £2,000 can be accessed by voluntary or community organisations, including registered charities/companies, whose annual turnover is no more than £25,000.
‘We’re looking to support organisations that are making a positive difference in their local communities, particularly those working with vulnerable people. They will need to be delivering work in at least one of the following areas:
• Enabling participation in the arts
• Improving green spaces and increasing access to the outdoors
• Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty
• Providing support to improve mental health
• Supporting marginalised groups and/or tackling inequality’

Closing 30th September.
Apply here: Grassroots Grants – Groundwork

The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust is offering grants of £500–£8,000 to UK-registered charities delivering projects that increase access to opportunity through performing arts, creative health, and heritage crafts and skills. The Trust prioritises work supporting people who face barriers to participation, including community arts programmes, non-clinical wellbeing interventions, and initiatives that preserve traditional crafts while creating training and employment opportunities. Unrestricted funding may be available for smaller charities with incomes below £250,000. The fund is open to charities across the UK, with applications assessed on impact, inclusivity, organisational capacity, and safeguarding arrangements.
Apply here: The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust – The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust

NEW – Tesco Fruit & Veg Grants
Tesco is offering grants of up to £1,500 for not for profit organisations helping children access nutritious food. Successful applications go to a public vote in local stores.
They particularly welcome applications from:
• Breakfast or after school clubs providing fruit & veg
• Sports clubs offering healthy snacks or halftime boosts
• Growing projects or cooking classes using home grown produce
A great opportunity for community kitchens, youth groups, wellbeing projects, and family support enterprises.
Apply here: Tesco Fruit & Veg Grant

Personal Assistant Employment Status: A Guide to Support Good Practice
TLAP (Think Local Act Personal) has released a clear, practical guide to help individuals and small enterprises understand employment status for Personal Assistants (PAs).
The guide covers:
• When a PA is considered employed vs self employed
• What good practice looks like for small community enterprises
• How to stay compliant while keeping things simple
• Real world examples to help you make informed decisions
This is especially useful for CMEs offering support services, micro providers, and anyone employing or contracting PAs. You can read more here Think Local Act Personal
If you’d like a summary tailored to your enterprise, you can ask for a PA status breakdown.