Last updated 4th August 2025

Useful help when fundraising for new roles

Hi, I am Sarah Noke. I am the Community Development Funding Officer for the Diocese.

It is my job to assist parishes in securing further grants and investment to ensure that these roles can be funded in the longer term.

I can help you find grants, support you with making a grant application and identify/develop more sustainable funding ideas, such as social enterprise, major donors and other fundraising opportunities. 

I am here to help ...

• ...if you don't know where to start to find funding suitable for your project.
• ...if you are thinking of looking at sustainable ways of funding.
• ...and if your parish would benefit from receiving training on any fundraising related matters.

Reach me on 07484 073115 or email: sarah.noke@blackburn.anglican.org

Funding news, new funding opportunities, upcoming closing dates, training

Million Hours Fund - National Lottery fund to provide extra hours of youth work in areas with high anti social behaviour

https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/million-hours

McCarthy Stone Foundation - reducing loneliness and isolation in over 65's 

https://mccarthystonefoundation.org/our-grant-programmes/

Greggs Community Fund - PRESTON CITY COUNCIL AREA ONLY - upto £20,000 for core funding

https://www.greggsfoundation.org.uk/grants/community-funding

Lancashire Environment Fund - round closes December 2025

https://www.lancsenvfund.org.uk/apply.html

Music 4 All - including Choral groups

https://www.musicforall.org.uk/apply-for-funding/application-process/

Better Youth Spaces - Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool ONLY

https://www.sibgroup.org.uk/funds/better-youth-spaces/

Arnold Clark Community Fund, open for applications....

https://www.arnoldclark.com/community-fund

Charles Hayward Foundation - Older people's activities

https://charleshaywardfoundation.org.uk/grants/older-people/

Matthew Good Foundation - Grants for Good

https://www.matthewgoodfoundation.org/amplify-fund-grants-for-good/#ready-to-apply

Open4 Community funding database (Idox)

Blackburn Diocese, in partnership with Idox and the diocese of Manchester, Leeds and Chester, offer all our parishes a free grant finding database. 

Idox are 'the' funding database specialists in the UK who have been supporting churches and other organisations with this real time data and access to grant information for 40 years.

Some of the key features include

• Grant information that is updated and maintained in real time by a dedicated team of specialist research professionals.
• An easy intuitive user interface, making identifying the right funding streams for your projects exceptionally simple.
• A curated view containing all the information you could possibly need from the grant funders.
•  A weekly automated funding newsletter sent by email.
• Saveable search criteria to ensure you are identifying the correct grants for single of multiple projects.
• Email alerts of any new grants for your projects.
• Online training provided by the Account Manager at Idox, plus user guides and online tutorials.

Open4Community is not only available for churches to use, your local church school can also use the service along any community groups that use your church or church hall. Click the link above to register and access the database.

How to use Idox - an online demonstration (recorded webinar)

Useful websites

• Benefact Community Impact Grants
• National Lottery Awards for All
• Charity Excellence Framework
• Church Urban Fund
• Church Fundraising Hub - Ecclesiastical