Future Places Fund Opens for Leeds Community Projects

New funding opportunity invites Leeds communities to shape their future

The Future Places Fund has opened for applications, offering financial support to community-led projects across Leeds. The initiative, delivered in partnership by Leeds Community Foundation and Leeds Civic Trust, aims to encourage local groups to envision and influence the future of the places they care about over the next several decades.

About the Future Places Fund

The fund provides a fixed grant of £20,000, paid over two years (£10,000 per year), to support projects that engage communities in creative and meaningful ways. The goal is to produce tangible outputs that can inspire action, influence decision-making, and create a lasting legacy within Leeds.

Applications are open until 7 December 2026 at 12 noon, with funding decisions expected by March 2027. Projects must be based in Leeds and have a duration of two years.

Eligibility and Application Criteria

• Applicants must be incorporated not-for-profit organisations registered for at least two years with the Charity Commission, Companies House, or FCA, with an income under £750,000 in their latest accounts.
• Only one application per organisation will be considered.
• Projects must benefit Leeds communities and can focus on defined geographic areas or communities of interest with a strong connection to place or identity.
• Organisations must have a minimum of three unrelated trustees or directors, a governing document with a dissolution clause or asset lock, a bank account with at least two unrelated signatories, and appropriate financial accounts.
• Relevant safeguarding policies are required if working with children or vulnerable adults.
• Grants are not available to small unincorporated or unregistered groups, for-profit entities, overseas organisations, or statutory bodies such as schools and hospitals.

Priority Groups and Focus Areas

The fund particularly welcomes applications from, or benefiting, under-represented groups including LGBTQIA+ individuals, racially minoritised communities, and d/Deaf or disabled people.

Funding can support projects that explore the future of a place with the aim of influencing local action, planning, or decision-making.

Examples of Funded Activities

• Community workshops or creative engagement activities to develop a shared long-term vision.
• Street surveys, pop-up events, or walking tours to explore and document potential changes in neighbourhoods or local sites.
• Collaborative work with local partners to establish clear next steps for influencing future decisions.
• Creation of tangible outputs or “future artefacts” such as reports, maps, models, exhibitions, or films.

Further Information and Application

Organisations interested in applying or seeking more information can visit the Doing Good Leeds website.

Source: Doing Good Leeds