£1.67 million available for charities in 2026 from Social Investment Fund
- The Social Investment Fund announces £1.67 million available for charities in 2026.
- The allocation has increased by 19% from 2025.
- Two rounds of Small Grants and one round of Major Grants will be offered this year.
- Applications are open to registered charities and non-profit organisations benefiting the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
- Recent recipients include Guernsey Street Festival and the Guernsey Sports Commission.
The Social Investment Fund has announced that it will provide up to £1.67 million for distribution to the charitable sector in 2026, reflecting a 19% increase from the previous year.
The fund aims to assist charities and non-profit organisations (NPOs) that support residents of the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
This year, SIF will manage two rounds of Small Grants and one round of Major Grants applications. Currently, applications for Major Grants and the first round of Small Grants are open.
Since the inception of these programmes in 2021, SIF has awarded over £8 million to diverse organisations across the sector.
The Small Grants Programme invites applications focused on arts, culture, heritage, and sport during the first round.
A second round, scheduled for September, will accept applications from all sectors. Organisations can request grants of up to £15,000 for one-off projects, capital expenses, or operational costs up to one year.
Funding for specific project salary costs may also be considered.
Recent beneficiaries of Small Grants include the Guernsey Street Festival, which received £5,000 for the 2026 event, the Guernsey Arts Commission, awarded £5,700 for a 'Year of the Normans 2027' artistic project, and the Guernsey Sailing Trust, which received £7,500 for their Sailability programme’s annual costs.
The Major Grants Programme focuses on ensuring the financial sustainability of the Bailiwick’s charitable sector.
In 2026, SIF will accept one round of Major Grants applications, allowing for a systematic evaluation of all submissions to invest funds where they are most needed in the community.
Grants exceeding £15,000 are available, and organisations must demonstrate measurable impacts. Funding can apply to operational and capital costs, as well as multi-year projects, encouraging long-term strategic planning.
Applications should support one of the following outcomes: improving lives of individuals with specific needs, providing employment and training opportunities, protecting the environment, promoting health and wellbeing, and fostering inclusive communities that challenge discrimination.
SIF is willing to meet with organisations interested in applying for a Major Grant to discuss funding needs and community impact.
Recent recipients of Major Grants include Independence, awarded £46,524 towards a service for at-risk gamblers, and the Guernsey Sports Commission, which received £103,102 for their 'On Your Marks' school sports programme over three years.
Chair of SIF, Tim Barker, stated, “SIF is delighted to be able to distribute significantly more money this year to benefit local charities, as we know that funding continues to be a serious challenge in the current economic climate.”
Barker further noted that “for Small Grants, we know that there is high demand for funding for arts, culture, heritage and sports activities so we have chosen to focus on this area for our first round.”
He encouraged all charities across the Bailiwick to apply for support.
Charities are advised to review application guidelines before submitting online via the SIF grant application portal.
Deadlines for applications are 12pm on Wednesday 1st April for Small Grants and Friday 15th May for Major Grants.
For inquiries, organisations may contact Sadie Siviter de Paucar for Major Grants or Caroline Barby for Small Grants.
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