£34.5m Fund to Boost Volunteering and Tackle Loneliness
The UK Government has extended its Know Your Neighbourhood Fund, increasing total investment to £34.5 million to support volunteering and reduce chronic loneliness in deprived communities.
Funding is targeted at 27 local authority areas, including Sandwell and Wolverhampton. Eligible organisations are those creating opportunities for people with little or no volunteering experience, or those at risk of isolation.
Funding is distributed via UK Community Foundations, Arts Council England, and Historic England. Activities include:
- Creative programmes (choirs, puppetry, art trails, storytelling)
- Social connection initiatives (Chatty Cafés, friendship and language groups)
- Volunteer training (literacy coaching, arts engagement)
- Community projects for specific groups, such as families with additional needs or LGBTQ+ communities
Examples of funded projects
- Bideford Library’s Chatty Café – tackling loneliness
- Read Easy Fenland – volunteer literacy coaching
- Electric Pink Voices (Blackpool) – choirs and book clubs for LGBTQ+ communities
- Cambridge Community Arts – expanded arts engagement under Creative Fenland
The programme runs until March 2026.
Full details and the list of eligible areas are available on the fund by clicking here.