Community funding

Most funders will require the applying group to be a ‘not for profit’ organisation and have a governing document or constitution, and a bank account.

The NK Partnerships team is able to offer support to communities who wish to apply for funding.  They can help with setting up a group or committee, recommend the type of people who would need to be involved, and advise on setting up a constitution. Advice can also be offered on completing application forms. 

Email the partnerships team or call them on 01529 414155.

There is also funding advice and support available from Voluntary Centre Services and Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Centre Services. Visit  Lincolnshire Volunteering & Funding.

What is the Sleaford REP Community Power Fund?

Schroders Greencoat (the owners of the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant) in partnership with North Kesteven District Council makes funding available via the Community Power Fund to support community projects within a 5 mile radius of the plant.

Taking into account any parish that falls wholly or partly within this range, the locations eligible to apply for funding are Anwick, Asgarby & Howell, Ashby de la Launde, Aswarby & Swarby, Aunsby & Dembledy, Burton Pedwardine, Cranwell, Culverthorpe & Kelby, Dorrington, Ewerby & Evedon, Great Hale, Heckington, Helpringham, Kirkby la Thorpe, Leasingham & Roxholm, Little Hale, North Kyme, North Rauceby,  Osbournby, Ruskington, Scredington, Silk Willoughby, Sleaford, South Kyme, South Rauceby, Swaton, Threekingham and Wilsford.

The Sleaford REP Community Power Fund Panel will consider applications on a quarterly basis. Representatives of the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant, the local community and NKDC councillors are members of the Community Power Fund Panel. 

Funding Available

• We have an allocation of £125,000 to distribute over a 5 year period. We aim to distribute £25,000 per year.

• Grants are available up to a maximum of £5,000 in any one year.

• There are two application forms available. One for grants for up to £1,000 and another for grants from £1,001 to £5,000. Please ensure you complete the correct form.

Objectives

For a project to be supported by the Community Power Fund it must meet the following objectives:

• Cover one of the following: the environment, sport, wellbeing and education.

• Encourage community cohesion to build stronger communities.

• Benefit the community/group by supporting activities and projects that bring wider community benefit.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, groups must have:

• A constitution, or governing document, and

• A bank or building society account

Groups must be not-for-profit and based and operate within 5 miles of the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant.

Tickets are available online for the North Kesteven Community Lottery, which offers the chance to win a £25,000 jackpot and help local good causes. 

The North Kesteven Community Lottery is a weekly lottery that will raise money for good causes in the local area. 

Each draw takes place on a Saturday, with 60p from every £1 ticket going to local charities and good causes.

Players have a 50 to one chance of winning one of the prizes, which range from the £25,000 jackpot to three extra tickets.

Good causes are encouraged to register for free as a beneficiary of the lottery.  To be eligible, good causes must operate within North Kesteven and be a charity, group with a constitution or set of rules, or a community interest company. They cannot be individuals, religious or political, or be profit-making.

For more details on buying tickets or registering as a good cause, please visit North Kesteven lottery.

The North Kesteven Lottery Community Fund is made up of the income from lottery ticket sales. Launched in December 2021, the lottery offers players the opportunity to win up to £25,000 from a £1 ticket.

When buying a ticket at https://www.nklottery.co.uk/ players can choose to nominate one of the 78 good causes currently signed up to receive a 50p share of the £1 stake. A further 10p goes into a general good causes fund, or 60p if no specific cause is nominated. It is that general good causes fund that forms the grant scheme for redistribution to eligible community groups.

The proceeds for this year have now been distributed. The scheme will reopen again in early 2026.
 

North Kesteven Community Lottery Grant Scheme- Grant Awards

Funds distributed: £6,738.94

North Kesteven Community Lottery Grant Scheme- Grant Awards

Funds distributed: £6,290.15

Total Value of Bids: £6,290.15

This year the UK will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, with Victory in Europe (VE) Day on 8 May 1945 and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day on 15 August 1945. 
To mark these events we are opening a small grants fund to encourage the local community to get involved in the celebrations.

Community and voluntary groups, charities and social enterprises with financial resources of less than £10,000 can apply for a grant of up to £500 to deliver events that benefit communities. 

This fund will close for applications for VE Day Events on 14 April 2025 and 21 July for VJ Day Events. Early application is advised to avoid disappointment.

Please see downloads on the right for guidance notes and an application form.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Partnerships Team via e-mail to partnershipsteam@n-kesteven.gov.uk, or call 01529 414155.