Leeds City Council has launched a new round of ABCD Pathfinder grants, offering funding for organisations to lead community-led change in Leeds.
Two new Pathfinder sites will be funded in:
• Chapeltown
• Hyde Park
• Little London
What funding is available
Successful organisations will receive £50,000 per site over 24 months, with the potential for extension subject to further funding.
An Expression of Interest form will need to be sent in to the ABCD team by 22nd April 2026, at 12 noon.
The expected start date for the work is July 2026.
What is ABCD
Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) is a way of building community that starts with local people. It’s based on the idea that when small groups of people have the right tools and opportunities, they can make the changes their community needs, better than anyone else.
Rather than focusing on needs and deficits, ABCD supports people to take the lead in making changes in their neighbourhoods, building local relationships and creating sustainable community action.
What projects will do
Funded organisations will support delivery through an ABCD Community Builder, working at neighbourhood level to:
• build and strengthen community connections
• identify local strengths and assets
• create opportunities for people to come together
• support communities to take action on issues that matter to them
The approach is rooted in five principles: citizen-led, relationship-focused, asset-based, place-based and inclusive.
The grant will need to include:
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Employment of an ‘ABCD Community Builder’, who will work in the local neighbourhood to help people create a shared vision and plan.
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£2000 per year of ‘Small Sparks’ funding, that can be used to start ideas based on what people in the area care about.
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Other costs related to delivering the ABCD Pathfinder project.
Who can apply
Applications are open to:
• place-based, not-for-profit organisations in the target areas
• communities of interest (for example, people with lived experience such as homelessness or learning disability), with support available through Forum Central
Organisations will need to demonstrate a commitment to embedding an asset-based approach in their work.
How to apply
Further details and the application pack are available at:
www.abcdinleeds.com
Expression of interest deadline:
Wednesday 22 April 2026 at 12 noon
For questions, contact:
[email protected]
If you are interested in applying for this grant, but would like some extra advice or support, you can contact mary.halsey@
