Local communities

One in five people in the UK live in poverty.

Poverty in the UK today is much more complex than simply being a measure of homelessness or unemployment; it can affect the old and young, families and single people, and many whole communities face deprivation. People living in disadvantaged communities face a range of issues such as poor employment opportunities and reduced levels of physical and mental health.

Comic Relief has made a longstanding pledge to fund disadvantaged communities. We believe that local people should have a say in the decisions that are made about where they live, and are often best placed to know what is needed to bring about change.

We want to enable groups to create strong, thriving communities; this could involve helping people of all ages feel more included in their community, providing more accessible services, or supporting people to build new skills. We also want to make sure that communities are equipped to respond to challenging economic, social and cultural trends. Whether it is unemployment or older people living in isolation, many individuals need help coping with challenging times.

How to apply

The funding for our communities programme is devolved to the UK Community Foundations. Please contact them directly for details of their funding application procedures: www.communityfoundations.org.uk/community_foundations/looking_for_funding/comic_relief/