Windrush Day Grant Scheme 2025

Aims/priorities: 

The Windrush Day Grant Scheme is part of the Government's work to create more resilient communities, where different religions, cultures and opinions are celebrated, underpinned by a shared set of values that champion tolerance, freedom and equality of opportunity.

For 2025, the focus is on bringing communities together – across different ages and ethnic backgrounds – to commemorate, celebrate, and educate their local area about the contribution of the Windrush generation and their descendants across the United Kingdom.

Funding for unique and exciting proposals that engage with the Windrush story and Windrush communities in powerful, enterprising, and thoughtful ways. Groups should demonstrate how their project will work with local community partners.

Projects should primarily focus on at least one of the following overarching aims of the scheme:

  • To educate people about the Windrush story.
  • To foster a greater sense of national pride and recognition of the historic and ongoing contributions made by the Windrush generation and their descendants to UK society.
  • To develop the skills and entrepreneurial ambitions of young people.
  • To celebrate and commemorate the continued contributions of the Windrush generation to the UK.

Who can apply:

Organisations are eligible to apply if they fit into one of the following three categories:

They are registered

  • Charities
  • Exempt charities
  • Community interest companies/Community Interest Organisation
  • Social enterprises
  • Community benefit societies

They meet all the following criteria as demonstrated by submitting additional supporting documents:

  • They are established for charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes
  • They have a governing body with at least three members
  • They have a governing document which they can produce
  • They can provide accounts demonstrating good financial health across both of the last two financial years
  • They are a local authority.

Grant amount:

The budget for 2025 is £500,000.

The following grants are available:

  • Tier 1: smaller projects between £5,000 and £24,999.
  • Tier 2: larger projects between £25,000 and £50,000.

There is a limited budget for Tier 2 projects. Proposals seeking more than £25,000 may be invited to present on their projects to the grants committee. 

Application process:

Bidders workshops will take place on the following dates:

  • 14 October 2024 (12:00 - 13:00) - Online.
  • 15 October 2024 (10:30 - 12:00) - The Foundry, 17 Oval Way, London (SE11 5RR).
  • 16 October 2024 (18:30 - 19:30) - Online.
  • 22 October 2024 (18:30 - 19:30) - Online.
  • 24 October 2024 (12:30 - 13:30) - Online.

Applicants will be notified of any decisions made in March 2025.

Guidance notes are available from the MHCLG website

An online application form is available from the Near Neighbours website

Deadline: 25 November 2024 (23:59).  

Contact information: For more information, please email: windrush@nearneighbours.org.uk