About the fund
The Financial Wellbeing Community Fund (FWCF) supported by the Government’s Crisis and Resilience Fund provides support for local charities and community groups who are working with Buckinghamshire residents to build financial resilience, reduce the risk of crisis, and to access early, preventative support. The desired outcome from the programme is that individuals will be supported to move away from the need for short-term crisis interventions, including food parcels and will be better able to manage future financial shocks.
How much can we apply for?
You can apply for funding up to £9,999 (one year grant). If you wish to apply for more funding, please apply to the large grants programme instead. You will not be able to hold grants from both funds.
Who can apply?
To be eligible Organisations must be a constituted not-for profit organisation (Registered charities, community groups, social enterprises, Charitable Incorporated Organisations, Community Interest companies (limited by guarantee), Community Benefit Societies or other not for profit organisations including Town and Parish Councils.
- Faith groups may apply if the relevant project is open to all. If the faith group is not a registered charity additional checks on governance and financial controls will be put in place. In some cases, funding may be issued via a lead or umbrella organisation.
- If your group is not one of the above types or organisation, additional checks on governance and financial controls will be put in place. In some cases, funding may be issued via a lead or umbrella organisation.
- Be based in or operate for the benefit of residents in the area administered by Buckinghamshire Council.
- Have at least three unrelated trustees or directors
- Be able to demonstrate appropriate financial controls (usually clear segregation of duties)
- Have a bank account in the organisation’s name
Priority:
- Priority will be given to projects which support residents in the Opportunity Bucks areas
- Applications that can demonstrate contributory funding are particularly welcomed.
What can we apply for?
Applications must support either:
Resilience Services: Services, programmes or activities which enhance the ability of individuals to withstand and recover from financial shocks (sudden, unexpected expense or drop in income). OR
Community Coordination: Joined-up,visible, local support networks which strengthen resilience networks within local communities. Coordination will ensure that clear referral pathways exist between services to ensure that those seeking crisis support are appropriately referred to services that can help to build financial resilience, employing a “no wrong door” approach.
Fundable projects include (click on the '+' for specific examples)
Money management and budgeting support, benefit advice and support.
Credit Union partnerships delivering affordable credit and savings schemes.
Training for frontline staff and volunteers to ensure that residents accessing services including crisis services, receive skilled wrap-around support.
Budgeting, financial confidence or benefits navigation training.
Cooking on a budget workshops
Digital skills support linked to benefits or household budgeting.
Transition from traditional food banks into Community Fridges, larders and social supermarkets or which support transition away from repeat food bank use.
Community hub advice services
Peer support or mentoring initiatives that strengthen financial wellbeing.
Targeted/ Outreach support for groups at higher risk of financial vulnerability including those with long-term or complex financial needs.
Applications can include project or small capital equipment costs that relate to the delivery of eligible services or activities for spend starting from August 2026. This could include:
- Project set-up and running costs
- Infrastructure /small capital equipment costs
- Relevant training for staff or volunteers
- Costs of Community Coordination/network development work
- Relevant single events, such as money-themed community event
- Direct purchase of food for ongoing food bank operations.
- Core organisational costs (rent, utilities, general salaries not linked to Financial Resilience projects).
- Activities that are not linked to financial resilience or crisis prevention.
- Activities that do not specifically benefit low-income households
- Duplication of statutory services or initiatives already fully funded elsewhere.
- Capital projects or large asset purchases (e.g., building works, vehicles).
- Food vouchers for schools/ colleges early years settings
IMPORTANT
We recognise that your work may include a range of different activities and/or services and therefore we will ask you to break down your total funding request into individual elements using the spreadsheet provided.
For example, if your organisation delivers a range of services such as charitable food aid, debt and money advice, or housing and employment support, each of these should be listed as a separate element within the budget sheet.
This approach gives funders the flexibility to contribute to specific aspects of your work if they are unable to fund the full project.
Applications will be assessed on how clearly they:
- Evidence the need for the activity or service
- Explain what the expected impact will be for individuals, for example:
- increased savings, reduced priority debt, reduced need for emergency food parcels, reduced material deprivation, maximised income, fewer repeat crisis applications and increased access to appropriate and quality advice services.
- Explain what the expected impact will be for your organisation, for example:
- Skills, confidence or knowledge gained by residents, staff or volunteers. Improved co-ordination or joined up working in your local area, stronger referral pathways or partnerships with other organisations.
- Show how the project will reach low-income households, and how household need will be assessed.
Please visit our new funding portal to start your application. You may find it helpful to follow this guidance when using the portal for the first time.
Application closing date: 10/06/2026. Decisions are expected to be notified in July 2026
We anticipate there will be a further round of funding, further information will be shared in Autumn.
You can find data that may be helpful to inform your application at the free-to-use Bucks Data Exchange here: https://bucksdataexchange.org/
Project spend must usually be completed by 31 July 2027.
Management Information data reports must be submitted by 07/10/2026 and 07/04/2027. Details of the data to be collected will be provided on award of a grant.
An End of Grant report must be submitted by 31 August 2027 to include evidence of the grant spend and impact measurements on the outcomes you aim to achieve.
Projects must acknowledge Buckinghamshire Council as the source of funding and must utilise the “Funded by UK Government” brand resources that will be shared on award.
Projects should be open to visits by panel members from the funding group.
