Residents and community groups in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, can soon apply for funding to bring their local project ideas to life as a new community grant scheme prepares to open. The VOICES Gloucester Community Grant Programme will accept applications from 11 March 2026 until 15 April 2026 to support initiatives that celebrate the city’s unique history, culture, and local identity.
The programme offers grants of between £500 and £2,000 for projects using creative methods such as art, theatre, podcasts, or historical research to tell stories about the local area. This funding is specifically designed to support grassroots organisations and individual residents who want to improve their neighbourhoods but might not qualify for larger or more bureaucratic grant schemes managed by big institutions.
Organisers are particularly interested in hearing from people who are often underrepresented in community projects, including those who identify as deaf or disabled and neurodivergent individuals. The charity also encourages applications from people from low socio-economic backgrounds and Global Majority candidates to ensure that many different parts of the community are represented in the city’s heritage.
A Community Panel made up of local people will decide which projects receive the money, giving residents a direct say in how funding is spent. The scheme is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England, and it works alongside city partners like the Gloucester City Council.
The initiative is run by a registered charity and was originally developed with support from GUST, also known as the Gloucester Urban Stewardship Trust. Those interested in applying for a grant can find more details and updates online before the application window closes on 15 April 2026.
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