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Grassroots Neighbourhood Fund: final months to commit your allocation

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Find out more about important upcoming deadline dates for the Grassroots Neighbourhood Fund.

The Councillor-led Grassroots Neighbourhood Fund (GNF) has seen excellent engagement, with over two thirds of the available funding now allocated by County Councillors. 

Councillors who have not yet committed their allocation are encouraged to identify and endorse suitable projects as soon as possible. Every Councillor will receive any update on their remaining balance in September.  

The fund has already supported a range of community led initiatives and groups across the county. You can read more about some of the projects funded so far on the GNF web pages: News | Gloucestershire County Council. 

Important deadlines 

The scheme is now entering its final six months. Please note the following deadlines: 

  • Friday 15 January 2027 – closing date for projects to submit new pre-applications for Cllr endorsement. 

  • Monday 1 February 2027 – final date for Cllr endorsement of pre-applications.  

  • Monday 15 March 2027 – closing date for projects to submit full applications. 

Applications received after these dates cannot be considered. 

Organisations invited to submit a full application must be able to show that they are ready to deliver their project, including having the necessary permissions, or other supporting evidence in place. 

Don’t delay allocating your funds  

Successful grant awards cannot be promoted during the pre-election period ahead of the May elections. To give applications the best chance of being approved before this period begins, Councillors are encouraged to endorse pre-applications by November 2026 wherever possible.  Please be aware that pre-applications endorsed close to the final February deadline are unlikely to receive approval before the pre-election period. 

A reminder about the application process  

To help support applicants and the GNF team, please familiarise yourself with the application process by visiting the How to Apply webpage: How to apply | Gloucestershire County Council. 

As a reminder: 

  • Councillor endorsement does not guarantee funding approval as applications must first complete the necessary eligibility and assurance checks. 

  • Applicants are encouraged to apply well in advance of their project start date. Applications are assessed in the order they are received, and processing times can vary depending on the nature of the application. At busy times, applications could take up to 12–14 weeks to complete. The GNF team will continue to progress applications as quickly as possible wherever it can. 

  • Expenditure incurred before formal funding approval cannot be guaranteed for reimbursement, and retrospective applications will require supporting evidence of costs. 

  • The GNF team is aware that issues with the new SAP system are causing some delays at the payment stage, and appreciates your patience while applications continue to progress. 

 

If you are unsure about the status of your allocation or need any further advice, please contact the GNF team as early as possible: GNF@gloucestershire.gov.uk.