Aims/priorities: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is launching the second round of the Common Ground Award for 2026 to 2027 to continue supporting the cost of constructing or renovating facilities, spaces, and equipment, that enables organisations to deliver services that brings people from different backgrounds together to build community cohesion and resilience. Applications open on 14 September 2026.
The Common Ground Award aims to:
- identify and reward good practice in building social connections across and between different communities and people from different backgrounds
- invest in the shared physical facilities, spaces and equipment that builds cohesion and resilience through enabling people from different backgrounds to come together
- build a community of practice, for knowledge sharing across the voluntary and community sector and with government
Who can apply? To apply for this grant, your organisation must be a VCSE organisation with a base and operating in England, with charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes. This includes:
- an organisation registered as a charity with the Charity Commission
- a charitable incorporated organisation registered with Companies House and with the Charity Commission
- a company limited by guarantee registered with Companies House, that is established for charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes
- a community interest company registered with Companies House
- a community benefit society registered by the Financial Conduct Authority
- an unincorporated community group or organisation, or an unincorporated association that is:
- established for charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes
- has a governing body with at least 3 members
- has an inclusive membership policy
- has a governing document
- can provide accounts for the last two financial years
- has its own UK business bank account
- can hold land or property and enter into contracts either by itself or via trustees
Your organisation must have an annual turnover or income below £5 million. Where you are applying as a consortium, each individual organisation within the consortium must have an annual turnover or income below £5 million.
Grant amount: Individual applicants can apply for a grant between £20,000 and £50,000. Individual applicants can set out how capital investment could be scaled up to a maximum of £100,000, which may be considered in exceptional cases.
Consortia may apply for a grant between £100,000 and £250,000 as a capital grant.
Application process: Prospectus published: 28 August 2026. Application window opens on 14 September 2026.
Deadline: Monday 12 October 2026.
Contact information: Email: CGA@communities.gov.uk