If you run a village hall, a sports club, a local charity, or a community group anywhere in East Lindsey, there’s a decent amount of funding on the table right now. It doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, so here’s a plain-English guide to what’s out there and how to go about it.
The GRASSroots Grant Scheme
The ELIF GRASSroots scheme is probably the most directly useful pot of money for grassroots community projects in East Lindsey. It’s administered by Lincolnshire Community Foundation on behalf of East Lindsey District Council, and it offers grants of up to £24,999 for not-for-profit groups, registered charities, town and parish councils, village halls, sports clubs, and social enterprises.
The aim is straightforward: to restore and invest in community spaces, strengthen local connections, and improve access to services for residents. Capital projects are eligible, things like play equipment, outdoor gym equipment, new facilities, and community buildings.
In the first round alone, nearly £290,000 was awarded to 21 local projects across the district. Since the scheme launched in July 2023, more than 60 projects have received funding, with close to £1 million in grants awarded and a total community investment of over £1.6 million when match funding is included.
The scheme is currently closed pending the next round, so if you’ve got a project in mind, it’s worth keeping an eye on the Lincolnshire Community Foundation website so you’re ready to move when it reopens.
One thing worth noting: any awards made in the next round must be spent and delivered by the end of August 2026, so projects that are ready to go will be at an advantage.
Source: Lincolnshire Community Foundation
Guidelines PDF via Louth Town Council
Councillors’ Community Grants
Worth knowing about for smaller asks: every East Lindsey District councillor has £4,000 to award to not-for-profit organisations in their ward for 2025/26, doubled from the previous year’s £2,000. They can give it all to one project or split it across several. It can cover revenue costs too, so things like salaries, events costs, rent, and training fees are all eligible. If you’ve got a project that just needs a small injection to get moving, a conversation with your local councillor is worth having.
Source: East Lindsey
Pride in Place grants
Two newer grant schemes funded through the East Lindsey Investment Fund have a combined value of £950,000 and focus specifically on the environment, public spaces, and community projects. These sit above the GRASSroots threshold, aimed at bigger improvements that benefit multiple wards. Details are on the ELDC website.
Source: East Lindsey
What kind of projects get funded?
Across these schemes, the types of projects that have already received money include sports club improvements, village hall refurbishments, play areas, community events, heritage projects, and accessibility improvements. The common thread is projects that are genuinely community-led, that have local support, and that make a visible difference to a specific area.
If you’re not sure which scheme fits your idea, the ELDC Local Growth and Grant Funding page is a good starting point, it lists all the active schemes in one place.
Source: East Lindsey Grants and Funding.