So Plinth is launching a mini-foundation to do things differently. Their mission is to unlock the potential of charities through technology - funding not just projects, but capacity across entire operations. Plinth will do this by:

• Providing free access to their premium AI tools

• Offering pro bono consulting to build tech capability

• Giving £100–£1,000 in completely unrestricted funding

You can join Plinth for their online webinar on 7 October 11.00-12.00 - Booking link here. (Please note there is a direct clash with the Online AI Bid Writing Workshop with Plinth - see under Hart Voluntary Action News).

Revive Community Fund - Up to £4,000 per project. Surrey. The Fund aims to improve community life and support the people and environment of Surrey, with a focus on community, health and wellbeing, and environmental improvement.

Deadline: 20/10/2025

Thames Water Community Fund - Up to £5000 per project - Thames Water supply area (Water and/or Waste). This fund focuses on water-related projects - eg provide access to water sports, improve the environment around water bodies, provide accessible toilet facilities in community spaces, or support nature with water-related projects. Deadline: 28/02/2026. (Applications reviewed & awarded in Nov '25 & Mar '26)

Thriving Communities Fund - Strengthening Place Up to £7,500 per project Custom location (South & South East England) projects that directly benefit SNG customers, especially those in underserved or vulnerable groups. It supports initiatives that improve community safety, promote environmental sustainability, and boost health, wellbeing, and social inclusion. Deadline: 30/01/2026

Thriving Communities Fund - Skills & Learning - Up to £5000 per project Custom location (South & South East England) This fund focuses on projects that enhance digital access, family learning, financial skills and resilience, and food education to improve overall community wellbeing. Deadline: 30/01/2026

To get started on ActionFunder, you will need to register your community organisation/charity - https://actionfunder.org/

The Green Community Grants Programme offers one-year flexible funding for not-for-profit groups in England, Scotland and Wales with an annual income between £10,000 and £1 million. Grants of up to £25,000 are available.

To be eligible for funding, you must have been operating for a minimum of 12 months, and your organisation's main aims and objectives must fit with one of the two funding themes: 

1. Contributing to nature recovery and responding to the climate emergency

2. Improving nature-rich spaces and access to them

Whilst your organisation's aims and objectives should fit one of these two themes, funding can also be used for a wider range of sustainable activities, including recycling, litter picking, beach cleans or sustainable transport. 

Priority will be given to organisations: 

• that have an income of £250,000 or below

• that work in communities located in the top 15% of the Index of Multiple Deprivation

• whose main activities are focused on supporting marginalised groups. This could include, but is not limited to, disabled people, communities experiencing racial inequity, and LGBT+ people. 

The deadline for applications is 8 October 2025. More detail here.

Or you can buy tickets on:

• Saturday 11 October in Gurkha Square

• Saturday 18 October in the Hart Shopping Centre

10.00 - 15.00. Payment in cash or card and E-tickets will be sent to you. 

Part-time: 8 hours per week (Monday mornings 4 hours + 4 hours on Wednesday or Thursday afternoons)

Salary: £12.65 per hour. Annual salary – £5,253. Monthly salary £438.

Main work location: Hart Voluntary Action Offices, Fleet, GU51 4AE

Contract: Fixed term initially for 12 months.

Application closing date: 12 October 2025.

Interviews: 20 October 2025

Hart Voluntary Action is recruiting someone to provide administrative support to its Hart’s Community Garden Service. We are looking for someone with good IT and communication skills to join and support the Hart’s Community Garden Team.

This role is not suitable for remote or hybrid working.

Job description and application form at this link.

• Do you have an idea that could improve the health and wellbeing of your community? Apply for funding and you could be eligible for a small community fund from £500 up to £2,500.  

• Closing date to apply - 2 November 2025.

• Full details at this link along with information about similar funding pots across the rest of the NHS Frimley Health and Care area.

• Projects must focus on support for residents who are served by Fleet, Yateley, Aldershot and Farnborough GP practices.

• Please note that details about a separate fund for Children, Young People and Families health projects will be announced shortly by Rushmoor Voluntary Services, so please keep checking their online media.

Date: Sunday, 14 December

Time: 11.00 start

Location: The Key, Elvetham Heath

Sponsorship: All participants are encouraged to get sponsored to complete this fun run, helping Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice to raise the £25,000 they need every day to provide their vital services.

Early Bird Registration: Adult - £12 (£15 as of 1 Nov), Child £5 (£7 as of 1 Nov).

As part of your registration, you will also be given a festive Santa Fun Run t-shirt to wear on the day. The event is being run in partnership with the Rotary Club of Hart and supported by Elvetham Heath Parish Council. Registration link here.

The training session covered topics including saving money on energy bills, preventing damp and condensation, support for households experiencing fuel poverty, carbon monoxide safety,etc. By attending the training, we were automatically able to access Action Hampshire’s online Resources Toolkit with guides, leaflets, quizzes, presentations and handouts to share with our community members to help with energy awareness and gas safety in their homes. With the £500 grant we were also able to receive free resources to help deliver the project, including carbon monoxide detectors and leaflets covering key aspects of energy awareness. These are available to pick up from the Hart Eco Hub.

If you think your organisation could benefit from getting involved then book onto one of the upcoming online workshops here:

If you do decide to apply for the funded aspect of the project after the ‘Energy Awareness Workshop’, please select Hart Voluntary Action from the referral drop down list. In doing so Hart Voluntary Action receive an additional £50 of funding for helping spread the word about this fantastic project. So not only will you be getting £500 unrestricted funding for taking part in the project, you will be helping support our organisation and you will also have the opportunity to top-up your grant by making referrals like this. Do contact us if you would like to know more.

Nominations are now open for public servants, volunteers, charities, individuals and community organisations whose work is making a real difference.

 In 2026, the Awards will shine a particular spotlight on individual volunteers and community groups who are supporting the criminal justice system through creative, inspiring, and impactful work – including initiatives that focus on prevention, rehabilitation, and positive social change.

Previous winners have included: Voluntary Police Community Support Officers, Community First Responders, Scout leaders, Foster parents, Local charities working to strengthen community safety and cohesion.

• Nominations close: 5pm, 19 December 2025

• Awards ceremony: early Spring 2026, presented by the High Sheriff of Hampshire

• Activities for those nominated must be in Hampshire (including Portsmouth and Southampton).

Details of how to nominate at this link.

Some of the session topics are:

• Crisis? Sorted! A trustee’s toolkit for tough times

• New to the board? How to make an impact from day one

• Young trustees wanted: unlocking the next generation

• How to not be a prat on a board

Early bird prices finish on 30 September, with the option to buy a pass for the week for £20 and individual workshops costing £12. For the full line-up of events, please go to this link.

Full details at this link. To put forward a project proposal, you will need to register with the BizGive online platform. Application deadline 2 November.

One-Day: at least 4 hours of outdoor learning activity and a hot meal.
One-night residential: at least 8 hours of outdoor learning activities and full board accommodation.
Two-night residential: at least 12 hours of outdoor learning activities and full board accommodation.

Please note only groups can apply, not individuals.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, until all available funding has been allocated. Successful applications will be confirmed within 2 weeks of an application being received. Full details at this link.

Salary: £32-34.5k FTE (pro rata for part time hours)

Hours: 28 per week

Closing date: Midday, 14 October

Interview date: 20 or 22 October

Duties include:

• Delivery of Home-Start Hampshire services in Rushmoor & Hart.

• Nominated designated safeguarding person within area.

• Identify the demand for services and oversee service delivery, risks, referrals numbers and waitlists across the area.

• Manage a team of Project Coordinators, ensuring any local projects are on target.

• Recruit, coach, develop and supervise a team of volunteers to undertake their volunteer role across all areas of service delivery, including home-visiting, group support, and community team ambassadors.

Full details at this link.

Rushmoor and partner councils have put forward a proposal to government (26 September), and this change will affect how services are run, funded, and supported. For community groups, this could mean changes to:

•  Your name and/or constitution if Rushmoor is currently identified geographically

• The services you provide

• How you’re funded, including grants and contracts

• Working relationships with statutory organisation partnerships

• How you feel about your ‘place’

Workshop details: Monday 13th October in the Concorde Room, Rushmoor Borough Council Offices, Farnborough, GU14 7JU

Morning session: 10.00 – 12.00

Evening session: 6.00 – 8.00pm

 👉Register here: https://forms.office.com/e/fxnW2UWtWh

📩Queries or further information please email: tony.mcgovern@rushmoor.gov.uk

Further information about the Local Government Reorganisation proposal that Hart District Council and the other 11 local authorities will be submitting to central government at this link.