Topic

Funding

Where the money comes from and what the rules around it look like — banking, grants, gift aid, business rates relief, the basics of charity trading.

Banking

Community group bank account →
Co-op, Unity Trust, CAF Bank, Lloyds, Metro Bank and Virgin Money compared by eligibility, fees and payment controls. Plus which app-based banks accept CICs, and what to do if a bank refuses or closes your account.

Grants

The National Lottery Community Fund →
The four missions of It Starts With Community (2023-2030), Awards for All (£300-£20k), Reaching Communities, country variants.

Local businesses can also give goods, services or money towards a specific project; this guide to asking local businesses for donations covers choosing which businesses to approach, a short request email you can adapt, and how to follow up and record the answers.

Tax and reliefs

Gift Aid for community groups →
The 25p-per-£1 top-up most small charities under-claim. Donor-benefit rules, the GASDS small-donations scheme (£8,000 cap, 10x matching rule).
Business rates relief for community organisations →
80% mandatory plus up to 20% discretionary for charities; CICs get only the discretionary route.

Related setup decisions

UK community group legal structures compared →
The structure question determines what you can fundraise for, whether you can claim gift aid, and what trading rules apply.
Starting a community group in the UK →
First decisions about money — bank account, signatories, who holds the funds — are part of setup.
Community group treasurer guide →
The role that holds funding together — from the budget to the year-end cycle.

Funding question we should write about? Email the editor.