News article

Community Action Microgrants is now open for applications!

The Community Action Microgrants, in memory of Louie Ward Herbert, aim to continue his passion and legacy in community building and organising. Grants will support citizen-led projects and community development activity aimed at promoting equality, inclusion, and community cohesion.

The programme will focus on newer and smaller community groups and organisations. As well as applying yourself, please pass on the programme information to any groups you work with that could benefit from this funding, and think about how you might support them to apply.

Key information

• We actively welcome more applications from and/or benefitting people under-represented in our grant making, for example LGBTQIA+, racially minoritised, d/Deaf or disabled people
• Grants of up to £500 are available for informal, unconstituted groups
• Grants of up to £2,500 are available for formally constituted organisations
• Organisations must have an income under £75,000 in the most recent financial year to be eligible
• Activity must be based in Leeds, and applicants must be based in, or have a demonstrable connection to, Leeds communities
• Only one application per organisation/group can be considered per round
• Priority for funding will be given to organisations established in the last 5 years

Examples of activity that can be funded

Citizen-led projects and community development activity aimed at:

• Promoting equality, equity and inclusion
• Directly supporting disadvantaged groups
• Working to reduce poverty
• Increasing connections between people at a neighbourhood level

One-off projects or extensions of existing work that build on the assets and skills of communities in order to achieve shared aims and benefits.

We recognise that you will know best what is needed for you to support and nurture your communities, and we welcome applications for a wide range of activities and approaches.

Grant size for constituted groups: up to £2,500

Grant size for unconstituted groups: up to £500

Location: Leeds

Duration: up to 1 year

Deadline: 04/06/2026 at 12 noon

Decisions: August 2026

Read more and apply here