2026 CVS Funding Fair Online
Hear the latest news from local and national funders and get details on how to apply.
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Bedfordshire funders on Wednesday 18 March
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National funders on Tuesday 17 March
Each different funder will have an online session to explain what funding they have and also how their application process works. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions. You will need to book separately for each session you wish to attend. You can attend as many or as few as you would like to.
CVS Beds: Local Funding Fair Wednesday 18 March
10:00 – Central Bedfordshire Council
Local grant opportunities managed by the council for central Bedfordshire.
Local Bedford borough funder prioritising education, relief of poverty, sickness & distress and recreation with a social welfare purpose. Supporting the local community through their grants programme, awarding more than £1 million a year in grants and provide essential funding to charities and community groups, which run projects to help improve the lives of others in Bedford borough.
11:30 – Bedford Borough Council
Local grant opportunities managed by the council for Bedford borough.
12:15 – The Connolly Foundation
Local countywide funder prioritising opportunities for young people and supporting older people to live in comfort & dignity. The Connolly Foundation is a major charity In Bedfordshire that has given more than £13 million to local organisations and causes that support young and older people in the county.
Local countywide funder keen to support projects promoting physical activity. Be Active is Bedfordshire's Active Partnership, established in 2005, with a mission to address inequalities in access to physical activity across Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, and Luton. They are dedicated to inspiring the community and encouraging Bedfordshire to move more.
14:00 – Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation
Local countywide funder offering a range of grants to make a positive difference to people in the community. Grants available throughout the year include the Community Trust Fund, Greener Future Fund, Near Neighbours Fund, Small Grants Fund, and Whitbread Plc. Chairman’s Fund.
Local grant opportunities managed by the council for Luton borough. As part of Luton Borough Council’s groundbreaking Fairness Taskforce, and thanks to funding received from the National Lottery Community Fund, the council are working with local partners to offer a new fund to deliver actions of Luton’s Fairness Taskforce., including Innovation & Collaboration funding. Hear also about their new grant search platform embedded in their Fairness Taskforce website.
National funder offering a range of opportunities to create resilient communities that are more inclusive and environmentally sustainable. The National Lottery are focussing on: tackling health inequalities; environmental injustice and access to quality nature; inclusive places and activities, prioritising communities least able to help people come together and supporting babies, children, young people and their families to navigate key transitions in their lives.
16:15 – Bedfordshire Police & Crime Commissioner
Local countywide funder focussing on innovative approaches to tackle crime and promote community safety. The Police and Crime Plan aims to create a safer and fairer Bedfordshire by delivering seven key missions: preventing crime; victims at the heart of criminal justice system; protecting women & children; building an excellent criminal justice system; delivering an excellent police service; reinvigorating local policing and tackling serious crime.
Tuesday 17th March – National Funders
09:00am – 09:50am Key Fund: Session 1 of CM Funding Fair 17th March 2026
The Key Fund offers flexible loans and grant/loan packages to help the community and social enterprises to start up, become sustainable, or grow.
10:00am – 10:50am Bernard Sunley: Session 2 of CM Funding Fair 17th March 2026
A family grant making foundation which supports charities in England and Wales working to raise the quality of life and provide greater opportunities for the young, the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged.
11:00am – 11:50am easyfundraising: Session 3 of CM Funding Fair 17th March 2026
easyfundraising is the UK’s biggest charity shopping site where you can raise money for your good cause when your supporters shop on line. easyfundraising turns everyday online shopping into free donations for your cause – your supporters shop as normal (but start on your easyfundraising cause page), and then retailers will make a small donation to say “thank you”.
If you would like to set up your free easyfundraising page before the session, you can do that here
12:00pm – 12:50pm National Lottery Community Fund: Session 4 of CM Funding Fair 17th March 2026
The National Lottery Community Fund aims to support ideas and projects that matter to people and communities. Using funding and relationships to help create stronger, more connected communities, the National Lottery Community Fund distributes over £600m a year to communities across the UK, raised by players of The National Lottery.
13:00pm – 13:50pm CareTech Foundation: Session 5 of CM Funding Fair 17th March 2026
CareTech Charitable Foundation supports and champions the social care sector, care workers and those living in care through a number of grant streams including: Community Grants, Partnership Grants and Match Funding Grants.
14:00pm – 14:50pm Heritage Lottery Fund: Session 6 of CM Funding Fair 17th March 2026
We believe that understanding, valuing and sharing our heritage brings people together, inspires pride in communities and boosts investment in local economies. We distribute National Lottery grants from £10,000 to £5million and over, funding projects that sustain and transform the UK’s heritage Increasing resilience.
