About the fund
Meaningful relationships help people feel part of their community. Yet across Buckinghamshire, people of all ages can find themselves cut off from others. For some, the challenge is a lack of opportunities nearby. For others, it is the cost or difficulty of travel, caring responsibilities, limited mobility, or the confidence to walk into a group for the first time.
The Director of Public Health Annual Report states ‘feeling lonely increases the risk of dying early by around 16% and being socially isolated or living alone increases this risk to 29–32%.’
Heart of Bucks is inviting expressions of interest for a £180,000 fund over two years to help residents build lasting social connections. We want to support work that understands who is experiencing isolation, what is keeping them from connecting with others, and what would make a difference in their lives.
Areas of interest
We are open to different approaches. These could include helping people find and feel welcome in existing community activities, offering personal support to take a first step, improving referral routes, or addressing practical barriers such as transport and accessibility. An approach might focus on a particular community, life stage or place in Buckinghamshire.
We are especially interested in work that reaches people before isolation becomes entrenched and helps them develop relationships that matter to them. Creating more activities may be part of the answer, but we also want to understand how people will be supported to access and enjoy them.
We welcome a new approach, an expansion of an existing model, or the continuation of effective work where current funding is ending. We will not duplicate funding already in place for the same service.
The grant
We expect to make no more than three grants totalling £90,000 per year, for two years. A single organisation or a consortium may apply; we have no preference for either.
Express your interest:
Our short expression of interest will ask what you would like to do and the impact it could have, who you intend to support, the outcomes you expect, and the area of Buckinghamshire you will focus on. At this stage, we are looking for a clear idea of the need and your proposed response.
Please visit our funding portal to start your Expression of Interest. You may find it helpful to follow this guidance when using the portal for the first time.
Deadline for expression of interest: 11th November 2026 (midday)
