UK funds aim to strengthen community connections
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The UK government invited community groups across England to apply for funding through the Common Ground Award, offering up to £2.5 million for projects that bring people together.
The program will give money to organisations that improve spaces and equipment used for community activities, encouraging understanding and reducing tensions between people from different backgrounds. Individual applicants can request between £20,000 and £50,000, while groups working together may apply for up to £250,000.
The Common Ground Award first launched in 2025 and has already supported 211 projects. Previous recipients like Accrington Stanley Football in the Community used funding to purchase a minibus, expanding their reach to deliver health and wellbeing programs in Hyndburn and East Lancashire. Similarly, Footprints in the Community improved its café in Redcar and Cleveland, creating a more welcoming space for people to connect and find support.
Florence Eshamlomi, Minister for Communities, stated that strong communities are “built in the conversations between neighbours.” Eric Noi of Oldham Boxing & Personal Development Centre explained that the award empowered his centre to make sport inclusive for everyone. Applications will open on September 14, 2026, and close on October 12, 2026, with successful applicants notified in December 2026 and receiving payments in January 2027.
