Cambridge Opens Resettlement Community Grants for 2026

Key Points:

• Resettlement Community Grants are available for qualified organisations running sustainable initiatives in Cambridge.
• The Tier 2 scheme provides grants from £5,001 up to £30,000.
• The deadline for applications is 10am on 1 September 2026 and applications are now open from 21 July 2026.
• Projects must run between six months and two years.
• These grants help people who have been displaced due to war, conflicts and persecution.
• Beneficiaries include persons with Ukraine visas, refugees under resettlement schemes, and asylum seekers from Cambridge.
• Only existing groups or organisations with relevant connection with the local community or constituted not-for-profit organisations are eligible.
• A minimum of 5% of the cost of each project must be funded from elsewhere by match funding.
• The programme focuses on welcoming and resettlement, community cohesion, skill building, specialist services and wellbeing.
• The decision of funding is typically taken within 10 weeks, if any additional information is not needed.
• The application deadline is 10am on 1 September 2026.

Cambridge (Cambridge Tribune) August 12, 2026 – uk/local/cambridge-city-council/">Cambridge City Council is accepting applications for Tier 2 Resettlement Community Grants, offering between £5,001 and £30,000 for long-term projects supporting people displaced by war, conflict and persecution. Applications opened on 21 July 2026 and must be submitted through the council’s grants portal by 10am on 1 September 2026.

The funding opportunity was highlighted by FundsforNGOs in its report, “Applications open for Resettlement Community Grants – Tier 2 (UK)”. The listing gives the deadline as 1 September 2026 and describes the programme as funding community projects that support people displaced by war, conflict and persecution. The accessible listing does not identify an individual author, so the opportunity is attributed to FundsforNGOs as the publishing outlet rather than to a named journalist.

The official information is provided by Cambridge City Council, which states that the Tier 2 fund is designed for projects operating over a period of six to 24 months. The grant is not intended for individuals. Applicants must apply through an eligible organisation or form a partnership with one.

The council has established two tiers within its wider Resettlement Community Grant programme. Tier 1 provides up to £5,000 for shorter projects and one-off events, while Tier 2 is aimed at more substantial and longer-term activity. The current deadline applies to Tier 2 applications.

Who can apply for the funding?

The Tier 2 grant is open to several categories of organisation. According to Cambridge City Council, applicants may include an established group with a good track record of working with refugees and asylum seekers. Groups with a connection to refugees or asylum seekers living in the local area may also apply.

An organisation that does not already have a local connection may still be eligible, but it must submit an outreach plan with its application. This requirement is intended to show how the applicant will reach and involve the communities the grant is designed to support.

Applications may also be submitted by constituted not-for-profit organisations. The council lists several possible legal structures, including:

• Registered charities.
• Companies limited by guarantee.
• Unincorporated associations or clubs.
• Community interest companies.
• Charitable incorporated organisations.

The funding guidance also encourages partnerships and collaborations. A lead organisation can apply on behalf of a partnership involving individuals and organisations, while consortia and cross-sector collaborations may also be considered.

Potential partners could come from areas such as arts, sport, health, education or social care, provided the proposed activity meets the grant priorities and benefits eligible communities. The council says collaboration can strengthen delivery, broaden reach and improve the impact of funded activities.

What projects will the grants support?

Projects must meet at least one of five stated priorities. These priorities cover practical assistance, social inclusion, education, specialist services and wellbeing.

Welcoming and resettlement

The first priority covers support and advice for people who have recently arrived in Cambridge. This could include activities designed to help new arrivals understand local services, navigate their surroundings and establish connections within the community.

Integration and community cohesion

The second priority focuses on relationships between different groups. Eligible activity may promote understanding of customs and cultures, help build relationships, reduce social division and celebrate diversity.

Projects under this priority may include other city residents as direct beneficiaries, provided the activity also supports the programme’s wider integration and community cohesion objectives.

Skills development

The third priority covers learning and training opportunities relevant to personal and professional life. The council specifically identifies English language classes, volunteering, employment and entrepreneurship as examples of possible areas of work.

The guidance also recognises that displacement can interrupt career paths and professional development. Projects may therefore support people seeking to re-enter employment, develop new skills or pursue opportunities connected to their previous experience.

Access to specialist and targeted support

The fourth priority is intended to address gaps in existing services and reduce barriers faced by particular groups. Examples listed by the council include women-only activities and support for people who have experienced trauma.

Applicants will need to explain the specific need their project is addressing and how the proposed activities will respond to that need.

Wellbeing

The fifth priority includes activities designed to support physical, emotional and social wellbeing. Examples include arts and cultural projects, community crafts, cooking and food activities, gardening, contact with nature, sport and other opportunities that help participants experience enjoyment and connection.

The council’s published guidance includes feedback from people who took part in previously funded activities. One Ukrainian attendee said meetings helped maintain their mental health and provided a way to take their mind off the war. Other feedback referred to improved community belonging, children making new friends and English lessons helping a participant read bills, attend an interview and apply for a job.

Who must benefit from the projects?

Applicants must demonstrate that their proposed activity will meet the needs of at least one eligible beneficiary group.

The council identifies the following groups:

• Ukraine visa holders living in Cambridge.
• Residents of Cambridge or South Cambridgeshire taking part in the Afghan Resettlement Programme or the UK Resettlement Scheme.
• Other refugees receiving support from the council’s resettlement team.
• Cambridge residents who are waiting for a decision on an asylum application.

Applications should explain how the project has been designed around the needs of the intended participants. The council states that it is the applicant’s responsibility to provide this evidence.

Projects that focus on integration and community cohesion may involve other city residents as direct beneficiaries. However, the application must still demonstrate how the activity contributes to the programme’s stated purpose.

What are the Tier 2 financial requirements?

Tier 2 grants range from £5,001 to £30,000. The funding is intended for projects lasting between six and 24 months, meaning applicants must present a clear delivery plan for a sustained programme rather than a single event.

The grant includes a match-funding requirement. At least 5% of the total project costs must be covered by another source. The council says this contribution may come from participant contributions, other grants or donations.

In-kind contributions and organisational reserves cannot be used to meet the match-funding requirement. Applicants should therefore identify an eligible external contribution before submitting their proposals.

The guidance does not state that every successful applicant will receive the maximum £30,000. The amount awarded will depend on the strength of the proposal, the eligible costs, the available funding and the assessment of the application.

What documents must applicants provide?

Applicants must upload supporting documents with their application so the council can assess the organisation and the proposed project.

The required documents include:

• A bank statement dated within the previous three months for the account into which the grant would be paid.
• The organisation’s latest accounts.
• An organisational budget or up-to-date management accounts.
• Governing documents.
• Insurance certificates.
• A project risk assessment.
• Complaints, data protection, environmental impact, equality and diversity, health and safety and safeguarding policies.

The council may request further information or invite applicants to discuss parts of their proposal. Applicants are expected to respond promptly to such requests.

If an application is approved, the organisation will receive a grant agreement. Any conditions in that agreement must be met before the funding is released.

How will partnerships be assessed?

Cambridge City Council says it welcomes applications from partnerships and collaborations. Partnership bids should explain the role of each participating organisation and show how responsibilities will be shared.

Applicants should include:

• The roles and contributions of each partner.
• How the partnership will be managed.
• How the partnership will be sustained.
• Evidence of community need.
• The intended outcomes for participants.
• How success and impact will be measured.

A simple partnership agreement will be required before an award can be made. The agreement should state which organisation is accountable for the grant, whose insurance covers the activity and whose accounts will receive and administer the money.

The council also states that groups with an open Tier 2 award may enter a partnership with another organisation and access further funding from the fund. However, groups can be part of only one live partnership award at a time.

When will applicants receive a decision?

Cambridge City Council says it will decide whether to award a Tier 2 grant within 10 weeks of receiving an application, provided it does not need further information.

Applications must be submitted by 10am on 1 September 2026. Organisations considering an application should allow enough time to collect financial documents, check policies, confirm match funding and obtain information from project partners.

There is no right of appeal if an application is unsuccessful, according to the council’s published guidance. Applicants should therefore ensure that their proposals clearly address the eligibility conditions, funding priorities and needs of the intended beneficiaries before submission.

Why has the grant programme been introduced?

The Resettlement Community Grant extends the previous United with Ukraine grant fund, which has now closed to new applications. Cambridge City Council says Ukrainian community members can continue to benefit from the new resettlement fund.

The wider policy context includes the UK’s resettlement schemes, which are intended to provide protection and support for refugees identified as being in need of resettlement. The Home Office’s 2026 to 2027 funding instruction states that the UK Resettlement Scheme began in March 2021 and is intended to resettle vulnerable refugees from regions affected by conflict and instability.

The Home Office document also states that the Community Sponsorship Scheme enables approved community sponsors to provide wraparound support to refugees for two years following their arrival in the UK. It describes the wider resettlement arrangements as placing the wellbeing of vulnerable people and welcoming communities at the centre of decision-making, while also seeking value for money for the taxpayer.

The Cambridge grant programme operates at community level, supporting local organisations that can deliver activities directly to eligible residents and refugees.

What should eligible organisations do before applying?

Eligible organisations should first check whether their proposed activity meets at least one of the five grant priorities. They should then identify the specific beneficiary group or groups that will benefit and provide evidence of local need.

Applicants should also confirm that:

• The project will last between six and 24 months.
• The organisation is an eligible constituted not-for-profit body or an appropriate established group.
• At least 5% of the project costs can be met through eligible match funding.
• The required policies and insurance are in place.
• The organisation has a suitable bank account and recent financial records.
• Any partnership roles and financial responsibilities are clearly documented.

The application must be submitted through the council’s grants portal before the 10am deadline on 1 September 2026.

Background: What is the wider resettlement context?

The Resettlement Community Grants programme is part of a broader network of local and national arrangements supporting refugees and people displaced by conflict and persecution.

Cambridge City Council’s grant fund is focused on local activity, including language learning, community participation, specialist support, cultural projects and wellbeing services. Its published beneficiary groups include Ukraine visa holders, people supported through Afghan and UK resettlement schemes, other refugees receiving help from the resettlement team and Cambridge residents awaiting asylum decisions.

At national level, the Home Office’s 2026 to 2027 funding instruction covers support for refugees arriving through specified humanitarian resettlement schemes. It refers to the UK Resettlement Scheme, the former Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, the Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme and the Gateway Protection Programme.

The Cambridge fund also builds on the previous United with Ukraine grant programme. By offering a separate Tier 2 stream for longer projects, the council is providing a route for eligible organisations to seek support for structured activities extending beyond one-off events.

Prediction: How could the grants affect local organisations and beneficiaries?

The grants are likely to create additional opportunities for established community organisations to provide longer-term support to refugees and people awaiting asylum decisions in Cambridge. Projects focused on English language learning, employment, skills, specialist support, sport, arts and wellbeing could help participants access services, develop confidence and build relationships with other residents.

For local charities and community groups, the main effect may be the opportunity to plan activity over six to 24 months rather than relying only on short-term events. However, organisations will need to meet the 5% match-funding requirement, maintain the requested documentation and respond to council enquiries during the assessment process.

The deadline may also encourage potential applicants to formalise partnerships with groups that already have links to refugee and asylum-seeking communities. If successful, such partnerships could broaden the reach of funded projects and help organisations demonstrate stronger evidence of local need.

The impact will depend on the number and quality of applications, the funding available and the ability of successful organisations to deliver their projects. The council’s published guidance does not guarantee that all eligible applications will receive funding, and it does not specify the total amount available through the current Tier 2 round.