COVID-19 & Changes to our Services

South Derbyshire CVS premises are currently closed to the public and visitors, and staff are working from home. All our group activities and most community based face to face services have stopped for the time being.

Stronger South Derbyshire is our dedicated website set up to support the local community response to COVID-19, which is updated regularly. If you are a community group looking for funding, or if you’re just looking for links to reliable information, visit www.strongersouthderbyshire.org.

Support for local voluntary and community groups: Whether it's information, guidance, resources, funding or just a listening ear, the Development Team are still here and can provide support remotely via phone or email. Contact them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For any other enquiries email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 07458 304316.

South Derbyshire CVS Funding Advice Service

What We Offer

Whatever your funding need, large or small, don’t forget that we can help you. It might be to develop a funding strategy or project idea, carry out a funding search to find out what funding and resources are available, and support you to write an application or bid for a contract.  We also manage a number of small grant funds to support local projects - see below for details of current funds and how to apply.

Who can use the service?

Any person, community group or voluntary organisation based or working within South Derbyshire.

When is the service available?

Our normal office hours are Monday to Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm (4pm on Fridays).

How much will it cost?

Nothing, all information, advice and support is free.

Contact the Community Development Team on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Funding Available

Small Grant Funds

South Derbyshire CVS manages the following small grants to support local voluntary, community and not-for-profit groups and activities:

A) Improving Health & Wellbeing Grant

Up to £1,000 for projects or activities anywhere in South Derbyshire that reduce health inequalities, support people with dementia and other long term conditions and their carers and/or; support people to make choices in their lifestyles that improve their physical wellbeing.

B) Improving Mental Health & Wellbeing Grant

Up to £1,000 for activities that improve people's mental health and wellbeing in South Derbyshire by meeting the '5 Ways to Wellbeing' programme, which includes: Connecting; Being active; Keeping learning; Giving to others and; Taking notice.

C) Self-Help Grant

Up to £1,000 to support the activities of health and wellbeing related self-help groups that support adults (18+) in South Derbyshire. You can apply for up to £2,000 in total by combining funds A & C or B & C (you can't apply for A & B together). However you only need to fill in one application form. There is no deadline for bids. Your application will be assessed at regular Grants Panel meetings and you will be notified of the outcome of your application within 10 days of the meeting.

Download the Small Grant Funds Flyer here. 

How to Apply

Guidelines and an application form can be found below. We would encourage you to talk to one of the Community Development Team before submitting your application.  Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• Small Grant Funds Application Guidelines
• Small Grant Funds Application Form

The Commissioner’s Vulnerability Fund

The recently launched 'Vulnerability Fund' has been set up by Derbyshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Hardyal Dhindsa. The focus of the PCC’s Vulnerability Fund is on policing and crime, community safety and helping to create safer and stronger communities. Applications should consider alignment to the Police and Crime Plan priorities and broader community safety objectives in local communities. Consideration may be given to contributing to broader health and social care programmes but only where match funding is already agreed from other partners and there are linked crime and policing-related outcomes which make individuals or communities safer and stronger.

The Commissioner will be looking for projects:

• which help individuals to live safely and without fear of crime in their homes;
• which empower the local community to tackle problems in their neighbourhood areas;
• are organised by (and involving) community/neighbourhood groups;
• can demonstrate that they can make a difference to local communities;
• that take a new and sustainable approach to tackling long term problems;
• that foster good relations between partner agencies and communities and do not work in isolation

Micro-grants from £50 to £1,000 can be applied for from South Derbyshire CVS. For more details on the fund and to get an application form please email Development Officer Liz Gumbley: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Other Funding Opportunities

We send out regular funding information in our ebulletin - sign up HERE.

You can also find more funding information on our Stronger South Derbyshire website, including our Small Grants for COVID-19 Community Support at strongersouthderbyshire.org/funding-for-groups.

Funding Events

Visit our Events Page for forthcoming events.