Community Chest Grants

Community Chest is a grant programme that has been running since 2023. It funds small- to medium-sized community groups to deliver ‘social prescribing’ services and activities aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of Waltham Forest residents.

We work closely with partners from the health, care, community, and voluntary sectors to support residents with specific needs linked to health inequalities identified across the borough.

Any constituted voluntary, community, or recreational group working within Waltham Forest can bid for between £1,000 and £9,999 to deliver projects addressing one or more of the programme priorities:

• cost of living emergency;
• mental wellbeing and loneliness;
• digital exclusion;
• learning disabilities; and
• increasing community access to health services and health information.

The grant scheme is designed to support activities taking place in Waltham Forest between June 2025 and February 2026. Applications must be submitted by Tuesday 8 April 2025.

A panel of representatives from the health sector, council, and voluntary and community organisations will assess applications and award a total of £70,000 in Community Chest grants for 2025.

To apply you will need to complete an application form (Word file) presenting your proposal in full.

Please read through the guidance document (PDF) for information on the funding criteria, key dates and other application guidance notes. 

The applications need to be submitted by e-mail. If you would prefer to submit your application in another format, or need to flag any accessibility issues you are experiencing, please e-mail: social.prescribing@walthamforest.gov.uk 

Timeline

We are hosting a live launch and networking event at Leytonstone Library on Tuesday, 25 February, from 12 noon and 3pm.

We will also be running drop-in sessions at local libraries, where applicants can speak with us about their applications. All sessions will take place between 12pm and 3pm on the dates below.

We will be also hosting two online information sessions to give a programme overview and to answer any questions on the application process. You can choose one of the following dates:

Information sessions

Monday 10 March information session (Join on Microsoft Teams) (Start time 6pm)

Meeting ID: 358 529 547 969 

Passcode: 84ZJ6JR9

Wednesday 19 March information session (Join on Microsoft Teams) (Start time 2pm)

Meeting ID: 379 921 914 619 

Passcode: ER27gU2L

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by email within 8 weeks of the closing date. 

It is recommended that you check your junk email or contact us at the email address below if you have not heard from us after this date.

If you have any queries about eligibility or making a submission, please email social.prescribing@walthamforest.gov.uk