Grants
Community Grants application process 2026/2027
The Parish Council awards small grants to local voluntary groups and charities who need financial assistance and who provide services which directly aim to improve the quality of life of residents in our Parish. Priority is given in line with the Council’s Action Plan. We aim to support a range of projects, with a focus on supporting groups who provide services aimed at the most vulnerable and those who are socially or economically disadvantaged. Applications should provide details of the project/activity and specifically how Parish residents are expected to benefit.
What we will not fund:
- Grants to individuals – we cannot pay into personal bank accounts.
- Private organisations operating as a business to make a profit or surplus.
- Activities promoting party political activities or religious beliefs.
- Core education, health, or social service activities, where Central Government, the Health Authority or County Council hold the budget and are the most appropriate funder.
Applications for grants are considered by the Community Engagement Committee at their meetings, the dates for which are laid out below. Please ensure you have read the further information for each type of grant and that you use the correct application form. All grant applications must be received two weeks before the Committee date, if you require any support with your application, please contact the Parish Office to discuss your needs.
You can see more information about previous organisations and projects we have supported here:
Community Engagement Committee meeting dates and application deadlines 2026/27
| Date of Meeting | Deadline for Applications to be received |
|---|---|
| 9th April 2026 | 26th March 2026 |
| 11th June 2026 | 28th May 2026 |
| 10th September 2026 | 27th August 2026 |
| 19th November 2026 | 5th November 2026 |
| 11th February 2027 | 28th January 2027 |
Any grant applications received after the cut-off date will be deferred to the next Community Engagement Meeting.
Outcomes and publicity:
The Community Engagement committee gift grants on the agreement of receiving written and photographic feedback which may be used in newsletters, Hurst Life articles, social media or on the Parish Council website. Grant recipients must also acknowledge the Parish Council’s support in annual reports and publicity such as newsletters, websites, and social media.
For 2026/27 the grants budget has been split into the following categories, please ensure you apply using the correct form and guidance:
Small Grants 2026/27 Total budget: £4500
Small grants of between £50 and £500 can be awarded to local voluntary groups and charities. The group must be a local charity, voluntary or community organisation or a local branch of a national organisation to qualify for support. The Parish Council defines a voluntary group as a “not-for-profit’ organisation, set up and run by a voluntary, unpaid management committee.
In the year 2025/2026, grants were given to a range of organisations including Hurst Gymnastics Club, Cycling without Age and Hurstpierpoint Pre-school.
The application form and supporting information for applicants can be found by clicking the buttons below:
Health and Wellbeing Grants 2026/27 Total budget: £1000
The Parish Council introduced a Health and Wellbeing Grants budget for the Community Engagement Committee in the year 2020/21. Small grants of between £50 and £500 can be awarded to local voluntary groups and charities whose focus is on health and/or wellbeing. The group must be a local charity, voluntary or community organisation or a local branch of a national organisation to qualify for support. The Parish Council defines a voluntary group as a “not-for-profit’ organisation, set up and run by a voluntary, unpaid management committee.
The Committee in 2026/2026 awarded £500 to 4Sight Vision Support and St Peter & St James Hospice.
The application form and supporting information for applicants can be found by clicking the buttons below:
Community Events Grants 2026/27 Total budget: £4500
The Parish Council aims to support a range of inclusive community events, these should be free at point of access and available to all residents of the Parish. Events should not be run for profit, unless those profits are fully reinvested into future events. The grant must not be indirectly re-distributed e.g. to another charity as this is not permissible within the rules of local government. In some cases, the Committee may consider community events grant applications over £500, particularly where an event is well-established and consistently popular, but we ask that organisations are mindful of the overall budget and the needs of other community events.
In 2025/2026 grants were awarded towards Hurst Festival Super Sunday, St Lawrence Fair, Santa Fun Sunday and to HURSTfolk Festival.
The application form and supporting information for applicants can be found by clicking the buttons below:
Sustainable Communities Grants 2026/27 Total budget: £1500
These grants were new for 2024/2025 and aim to support projects in the Parish which are aimed at meeting one or more of the Key Objectives in the Parish Council’s Sustainability Strategy i.e.
- Help nature to recover
- Reduce waste.
- Increase access to green spaces.
- Reduce carbon emissions.
- Build resilience.
Small grants of between £50 and £500 can be awarded to local voluntary groups and charities whose focus is on community efforts to address the climate and/or biodiversity crisis. The group must be a local charity, voluntary or community organisation or a local branch of a national organisation to qualify for support. The Parish Council defines a voluntary group as a “not-for-profit’ organisation, set up and run by a voluntary, unpaid management committee.
Last year successful applicants included The Monday Group for their continuing work in maintaining public rights of way, and Hurstpierpoint Allotment Association towards their community plot project.
The application form and supporting information for applicants can be found by clicking the buttons below:
Health and Wellbeing Projects 2026/27 Total budget: £1000
The budget for Health and Wellbeing projects will be spent directly on projects to benefit our community and some may be awarded in grants. We very much welcome your ideas and suggestions with regards to projects – please do get in touch with us via the Parish Office.
In 2025/26 the Parish Council awarded funds towards the free Befriended tea parties which run montly at Court Bushes Community Hub.