Common Ground Award 2026-2027
The Common Ground Award 2026 to 2027 will invest capital funding into VCSE sector organisations that bring people from different backgrounds together to build community cohesion and resilience. It will support the cost of constructing or renovating facilities, spaces, and equipment to deliver services. Applicants should read the full Common Ground Award prospectus and scoring criteria before making an application: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/common-ground-award-2026-to-2027-prospectus
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Contents
Summary
Strong, connected communities are fundamental to a cohesive and resilient society. Voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations play a vital role in bringing people together, building understanding between different communities, and creating meaningful social connection. Through this work they help reduce divisions and build cohesion and resilience in our communities.
The UK government’s Common Ground Award aims to recognise good practice across England, in promoting community cohesion and resilience, by directly investing in organisations making a positive impact.
As part of the overarching Common Ground Resilience Fund, the Common Ground Award grant will continue to support VCSE organisations to invest in the physical facilities, spaces and equipment that allows people from different backgrounds to come together.
Organisations will be assessed based on how their objectives and activities seek to build social connections across and between different communities.
For example, applicants can work to build cohesion and resilience across and between communities from different faiths and beliefs, ethnicities, ages, geographies, cultures, and nationalities.
Applicants must have building social connections across and between different communities and people from different backgrounds as a core focus of their work.
To be eligible for the Common Ground Award, organisations and consortiums applying to this grant scheme must therefore directly work on at least one of the following core themes:
encouraging and enabling social mixing, promoting understanding and reducing divisions between different communities and people from different backgrounds
reducing prejudice, discrimination and hatred directed toward individuals and communities because of their background
resolving conflict and addressing tensions across and between communities
We will not assess applications from organisations where building social connections across and between different communities is not the primary purpose of their work. Therefore, organisations must ensure they align with one or more of the themes above.
Organisations who receive the award will also be invited to participate in a community of practice, to enable knowledge sharing between organisations, and contribute to a wider discussion on building social cohesion across the country, with government stakeholders.
Eligibility
To apply for this grant, your organisation must be a VCSE organisation with a base and operating in England, with charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes. This includes:
an organisation registered as a charity with the Charity Commission
a charitable incorporated organisation registered with Companies House and with the Charity Commission
a company limited by guarantee registered with Companies House, that is established for charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes
a community interest company registered with Companies House
a community benefit society registered by the Financial Conduct Authority
an unincorporated community group or organisation, or an unincorporated association that is:
established for charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes
has a governing body with at least 3 members
has an inclusive membership policy
has a governing document
can provide accounts for the last two financial years
has its own UK business bank account
can hold land or property and enter into contracts either by itself or via trustees
VCSE organisations can also apply as part of a consortium where collaboration is key to maximising an organisation’s impact and building sustainability, networks and innovation.
Your organisation must have an annual turnover or income below £5 million. Where you are applying as a consortium, each individual organisation within the consortium must have an annual turnover or income below £5 million. This refers to the turnover or income figure reported in your organisation’s submitted accounts for its last financial year.
You can apply individually or as part of a consortium even if you previously applied to the 2025 to 2026 Common Ground Award, regardless of the outcome of your application.
If your organisation is applying as part of a consortium, you are not eligible to make a separate individual application. If your organisation is applying individually, you are not eligible to make a separate application as part of a consortium.
Those who are not eligible to apply include:
local authorities and other public sector organisations
profit distributing organisations
Individuals
regulated education sector organisations (e.g. schools, further and higher education institutions, universities)
Objectives
The Common Ground Award aims to:
identify and reward good practice in building social connections across and between different communities and people from different backgrounds
invest in the shared physical facilities, spaces and equipment that builds cohesion and resilience through enabling people from different backgrounds to come together
build a community of practice, for knowledge sharing across the voluntary and community sector and with government
Organisations will be assessed based on how their objectives and activities seek to build social connections across and between different communities. To apply for the Common Ground Award, organisations and consortiums must therefore directly work on one of the following core themes:
encouraging and enabling social mixing, promoting understanding and reducing divisions between different communities and people from different backgrounds
reducing prejudice, discrimination and hatred directed toward individuals and communities because of their background
resolving conflict and addressing tensions across and between communities
Dates
Prospectus published: 28 August 2026
Application window opens: 14 September 2026
Deadline for applications: 12 October 2026
Notification of application outcomes: December 2026
Likely payment to successful applicants: January 2027
How to apply
Applications should be made via the Common Ground Award Application Form: https://funding.communities.gov.uk/access/grant/common-ground-award-2026-to-2027/application.
The deadline for applications is 2PM on 12 October 2026.
Supporting information
Link to Common Ground Award prospectus and scoring criteria: Common Ground Award 2026 to 2027: prospectus - GOV.UK
Contact CGA@communities.gov.uk for any questions about the grant.