Funding is now available for organisations working with Windrush communities to deliver short-term engagement activity.
The Home Office has launched the Community Engagement Fund (CEF) 2026 to 2027, a £150,000 fund supporting grassroots organisations to raise awareness of Windrush-related schemes and engage communities directly.
What Is It?
The Community Engagement Fund supports short, targeted community engagement projects.
Funding is focused on activities that:
- Raises awareness of the Windrush Compensation Scheme and Windrush Documentation Scheme
- Addresses misinformation
- Encourages eligible individuals to apply
- Builds trust and engagement with communities
Projects must include at least one in-person event and be delivered within the 2026 to 2027 financial year.
Why It Matters
For the VCSE sector, this is a targeted opportunity to support communities who may not be accessing schemes they are entitled to.
Organisations with experience working with Windrush communities are well placed to:
- Share accurate information
- Reach people who may not engage with formal channels
- Build trust through local relationships
This fund also aims to gather insight into why people are not applying and how engagement can be improved.
Who Can Apply
You can apply if you are:
- A grassroots organisation
- A registered charity
- A community interest company or organisation with a charitable purpose
- A consortium or partnership (with a lead organisation)
Organisations must have at least two years’ experience delivering Windrush-related engagement activity within the last three years.
Local authorities, individuals and private companies are not eligible.
What You Can Use Funding For
Funding can support:
- Community events (venue, refreshments, delivery costs)
- Communications activity (leaflets, campaigns, local media)
- Outreach and engagement work
- Staff time is directly linked to delivery
Projects should be simple, focused and deliverable within a short timeframe.
Next Step
If your organisation has experience working with Windrush communities, review the guidance and consider whether you can deliver a short engagement project within the funding period.
Key Dates
- Opens: 14 April 2026, 12:00
- Deadline: 12 May 2026, 16:00
- Clarification questions close: 5 May 2026, 16:00
- Decisions expected: July 2026
- Delivery period: August 2026 to 31 March 2027
Date check: This deadline is mid-May. If included in a Thursday bulletin close to the deadline, it may become outdated by the following week. Prioritise early promotion.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted via the Find a Grant service.
Full details and application documents.
You will need to review the guidance and complete the online application form.
Additional Support
Information sessions are available for organisations interested in applying.
To register, email:
[email protected]
