What is the VCSE Community and Partnership Grant?
Coventry City Council is offering grant funding to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations to deliver community-based activity that helps Coventry residents become more financially resilient.
This VCSE Community and Partnership programme is part of the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) and is designed to support longer-term financial resilience, rather than direct crisis intervention. Coventry City Council is investing in activity that helps residents better manage their finances, withstand financial shocks, improve financial stability and reduce the likelihood of needing crisis support in the future.
What is financial resilience?
Financial resilience refers to the ability of individuals and households to withstand, adapt to, and recover from financial shocks, such as sudden income loss or unexpected expenses. Building financial resilience enables individuals to manage financial pressures more effectively, reduces the likelihood of future crisis, and supports long-term wellbeing.
What funding is available?
The Fund will offer 3 tiers of grants:
- Tier 1: up to £1,000
- Tier 2: £1,001 to £5,000
- Tier 3: £5,001 to £10,000
Grants must be spent within 12 months of award. Projects must start within three months of receiving funds and retrospective funding is not permitted. The level of funding applied for will determine the level of detail required at application stage and the associated monitoring requirements.
To ensure we can assess applications fairly and provide a balanced allocation of funding, we will operate a series of funding rounds throughout the duration of the fund.
The planned application windows are:
- Round 1: 1 October 2026 to 30 November 2026
- Round 2: 1 January 2027 to 28 February 2027
Who can apply for funding?
Funded activity must demonstrate a clear benefit to Coventry residents and should support individuals and communities to take practical steps to improve their financial resilience.
Projects funded through this programme must contribute to one or more of the following outcomes:
- reduced experience of material deprivation
- reduced reliance on emergency food provision
- increased access to appropriate and quality advice services
- increased financial resilience, including improved savings and budgeting capability
- reduction in household or priority debt
- maximisation of household income
- reduced need for crisis or emergency financial support, including crisis payments and housing payments
Eligible organisations must:
- be a voluntary, community or not-for-profit group based in or delivering services within Coventry
- have a management committee of at least 3 unrelated people
- have a signed constitution or governing document
- hold a bank account requiring 2 signatories and/or dual authorisation
Please see our VCSE Community and Partnership Grant Guide Documents for full information.