Submit Applications for Capacity Building Fund (United Kingdom)

By supporting and empowering grassroots organisations and fostering collaboration within the sector and between the sector and external organisations, their funding addresses challenges that are preventing the growth and sustainability of services.

Their funding can make a real difference to small organisations, whose capacity-related pressures can have a direct impact on the people they support. Staff shortages, high energy costs, and limitations in physical space are just a few of the many obstacles causing interrupted service provision, and even permanent closure.

In addition, they know that many vision impaired people in parts of the UK are facing a postcode lottery, and don’t have access to the essential support they need. All of this is affected by sustainability challenges within their sector, which have been exacerbated by the cost of living crisis and an uncertain economic climate.

Focus Areas 

• The Capacity Building grants will focus on two key areas:
  • Collaboration between organisations within the sight loss sector and between the sight loss sector and external organisations.
  • Small charities and grassroots organisations.
• By investing in these specific areas, they believe their funding will help the wider sector become more sustainable, resilient and better able to respond the needs of those with vision loss.
• They know that service provision differs across the country, for this round they’d encourage applications from organisations who are collaborating to share best practice, deliver at scale or meet a previously unmet need.

Funding Information

• Grant Amounts: Between £10,000 and £20,000.

Uses of the Fund

• This fund is designed to support organisations to overcome barriers to increasing their capacity. This could include (but is not limited to):
  • Contributions to core costs.
  • A merger of organisations.
  • Strengthening of systems and processes.

Eligibility Criteria

• Fight for Sight funds organisations whose proposed activities will offer services to blind and partially sighted people directly. The following types of organisations are eligible:
  • UK Registered Charities.
  • Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO).
  • Charitable companies, limited by guarantee.
  • Community Interest Companies (CIC), limited by guarantee.
  • Exempt charities (e.g. educational establishments).
• Their funding is open to organisations across the UK (including Northern Ireland).
• Please note that only organisations whose primary purpose is supporting those living with or at risk of sight loss are eligible. They do not fund individuals.

For more information, visit Fight for Sight.