Current Fund

2025-27 Civic Pride Small Grants
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2025-27 Civic Pride Small Grants - Guidance and Criteria

Merton Giving, in collaboration with Merton Council, is proud to introduce the third annual round of the Civic Pride Small Grants, which is aimed at bolstering the Voluntary and Community Sector.

We are looking to support small voluntary and community sector groups to deliver information, advice and guidance, emergency support, and direct and group based local community services that are focused on improving the well-being of vulnerable adult residents and their families in Merton.

All grant applications must effectively evidence, how they can support adult residents and their families, who are negatively impacted by one or more of the following:

Emotional & mental health welling support needs.
Financial hardship.

FUNDING AVAILABLE

There are two types of grant available:
Pot One – Organisations can apply for up to £2,500 to deliver projects over a period up to six months. This pot will prioritise not-for-profit organisations with an annual turnover of less than £25,000.
Pot Two – Organisations can apply for up to £10,000 to deliver projects over a longer period of above six months and up to two years. This pot will prioritise not-for-profit organisations with an annual turnover of less than £50,000.

In certain cases where a compelling business case demonstrates clear and well-defined outcomes within the application, we may consider grant requests for slightly higher amounts.

We can accept one bid only per organisation for this round of funding.

TIMELINES

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 12 November 2025, 5pm.

Decisions will be communicated by 28 November 2025, with funding awarded in early December 2025, and projects can commence from 15 December 2025


MEET THE FUNDER EVENTS

We are holding two online Meet the Funder events for you to learn more about the fund. These will take place on:
Wednesday 22 October, 11am to 12pm
Thursday 23 October, 6pm to 7pm
Please register for these events here: Click here to register

WHAT WE WANT TO FUND

We are firstly looking for projects which will benefit the local community, in circumstances where vulnerable adult residents and their families are impacted by mental health and emotional well-being needs at the very early stages.

Key findings from a Community insight report: ‘Understanding barriers and facilitators to physical and social activity, January 2024’ (South West London ICS) highlighted that being physically active not only improved physical health but had mental health benefits, that can alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety, and improve overall wellbeing.

Engaging in social activities also provides emotional support, mitigating feelings of loneliness and stress. Being part of a social network fosters a sense of belonging and purpose, contributing to positive mental and emotional wellbeing.

We would welcome applications that prioritise positive emotional and mental health wellbeing support needs of residents.

We would secondly welcome bids for projects that support adult residents and their families who are experiencing financial hardship.
In July 2022 Merton Council announced a cost-of-living emergency and has provided ongoing support to residents hardest hit.

All grant applications must effectively evidence how they can support either:
  1. adult residents and their families with emotional and mental health wellbeing support needs, through:
    • Increasing physical and social connectedness
    • Tackling inequalities and increasing awareness of and access to/uptake of self-care and mental health services
    • Connecting people who are experiencing both mental health and alcohol and drugs needs with the right support
    • Making suicide prevention everyone’s business and increasing awareness of suicide prevention support
OR
  1. adult residents and their families experiencing financial hardship, through:
    • short-term, emergency support to residents in crisis
    • provision of information, advice and guidance

All projects must deliver one or more of the following:

  • Emergency assistance
  • Information, advice and guidance
  • Direct support
  • Group based support
  • Community transport
  • Tackling digital exclusion
  • Volunteer support

Examples of the types of projects we could consider funding:

  • Volunteers connecting isolated residents to preventative support services in their communities.
  • Targeted advice and information to enable residents to better manage debt.
  • Raising awareness and reducing the stigma associated with mental health.
  • Provision of short-term, emergency support to residents in crisis over the winter period, such as food or provisions and additional information and support.
  • Residents and/or carers peer-to-peer support groups who are impacted by early signs of mental health issues.
  • Targeted advice and support for residents focused on income maximisation and access to benefits they are entitled to.
  • Group support that is targeted at addressing loneliness, especially isolated male residents (e.g. Men in Sheds).

Who can apply?

To be eligible to apply for the 2025-27 Civic Pride Small Grants, your organisation must meet the following criteria:

  • Be based in or have a track record of delivering services in Merton, for the benefit of Merton residents

  • Have a Trustee or Management Board which consists of at least three non-related members

  • Have the training, experience, qualifications, and knowledge to deliver the service requirements outlined

If your organisation is a branch of a larger organisation, you must be able to confirm that you operate independently of them and support Merton residents.

If you are applying for Pot One (projects up to six months), your organisation’s annual turnover should be below £25,000. If you are applying for Pot Two (projects up to two years), your organisation’s annual turnover should be below £50,000. You can apply for either Pot if your turnover exceeds the respective criteria, but your application will not be prioritised.

The following organisation types are eligible:

  • Registered Charity
  • Registered Charity - Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
  • Registered Charity - Charitable Company (limited by guarantee)
  • Registered Charity - Unincorporated Organisation
  • Registered Charity - Trust
  • Community Interest Company
  • Constituted, non-registered Group/Club/Society

The following organisation types are not eligible:

  • Individuals
  • Schools and Colleges
  • Statutory Agencies e.g., Local Authorities, Health Authorities
  • Corporations and profit-making organisations

FURTHER INFORMATION

  • Merton mental health and wellbeing services – NHS South West London Integrated Care Board: click here
  • The Merton Story 2024–25: Snapshot of health and wellbeing needs: click here
  • Community insight report: Understanding barriers and facilitators to physical and social activity, January 2024 – South West London ICS: click here

AI STATEMENT

We recognise that AI tools can be useful for efficiency and saving time. However, we encourage applicants to use their own words where possible when completing this application. The true value of your organisation’s work is best captured through your unique language, experiences and perspectives, which help us gain a deeper understanding of your impact.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for the 2025–27 Civic Pride Small Grants programme, please click here .

You can see a PDF of the application form click here .