Aims/priorities: Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June 2026) is a time to say thank you for the fantastic contribution volunteers make. During another difficult year, people from all walks of life have taken the time to volunteer and made a huge difference to people and their communities. Action Together is inviting local voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise groups across Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside to apply for one of our Volunteer Celebration Fund grants to support an activity during 2026.
Our Volunteering Strategy sets out our 'Vision for Volunteering' across each of our boroughs. A key strand of the Strategy is focused on Awareness & Appreciation; ensuring that the impact of volunteers is recognised, and that the public is aware of the volunteering opportunities available to them and how they can get involved.
Through the Volunteer Celebration Fund, we hope to give groups the opportunity to say thank you to their volunteers, recognising the importance of their contribution and commitment. The fund may also be an opportunity for groups to focus on recruitment of new volunteers, and in particular to consider how they might look to diversify their team of volunteers by engaging with underrepresented communities.
When thanking your volunteers, take a moment to remember each and every one of them. From trustees and campaigners to carers and fundraisers, this is a great time to think about the fantastic contribution all your volunteers make. It’s also a chance to think about what volunteering means to you. How can you celebrate people from every walk of life who are getting involved in volunteering? It might also be an opportunity to recruit new volunteers within your organisation.
Grants of up to £500 are available for events and activities that include one or more of the following priorities:
- Recruit - Involving new volunteers to help run your group or support your organisation, which are inclusive and flexible to meet the diverse communities across Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside
- Retain - Creating opportunities for your volunteers to feel connected, valued and supported
- Recognise - Celebrating your volunteers, their achievements, and the difference they make within communities across Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside – particularly during the Cost-of-Living crisis.
Who can apply? Formally constituted voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise groups who are members of Action Together or informal social action or mutual aid groups. If you are not a member of Action Together, click here - it's free!
You may apply for this grant if you applied and were successful in the last round in 2025; the panel will give priority to groups that did not receive funding in that round when making a decision.
Grant amount: You can apply for a grant up to:
- £500 if you are formally constituted and are a member of Action Together, or
- £200 if you are an informal social action or mutual aid activity
Application process: Please read the guidance notes carefully before starting to fill in an application form:
Deadline: The application window will be open for two weeks from Tuesday, 21 April 2026, to Tuesday, 5 May 2026. Following this, the fund will close temporarily to allow for a full review of all applications submitted. Should any funding remain unallocated, the fund may be reopened
Contact information: Email: funding@actiontogether.org.uk