Warm and Welcoming Spaces Grant 2025
Following the success of last winter’s scheme, Derbyshire County Council will once again provide funds to Derbyshire Voluntary Action for Warm and Welcoming Spaces.
Derbyshire County Council understands there are increasing concerns that vulnerable residents may find it increasingly difficult to heat their homes, and therefore the likely impact on physical and mental health over the winter months. In response to this, the Council has developed a Derbyshire Warm and Welcoming Spaces initiative.
A Derbyshire Warm and Welcoming Space is a free and warm space for people across Derbyshire who are struggling to heat their homes this winter.
These grants will be for a minimum of £1000 and maximum of £3000
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Who can apply?
We want to encourage charities and community venues to apply for this funding.
Anyone can sign up to the warm and welcoming spaces pledge, including NHS
partners, cafes or hospitality venues.
Application Process
from start to finish
Before you apply:
- Please read through the Warm and Welcoming Spaces grant funding supporting information. This will help you to answer each question appropriately.
- Please check that your organisation can meet the Derbyshire Warm and Welcoming Space pledges.
This programme is unable to support projects or activities that are taking place in Derby City
In addition to providing details about your group you will also need to supply the dates and times your Warm Space will be open and a full breakdown of the costs.
Please ensure all questions are fully answered, as incomplete applications may result in delays.
Closing Date: 30th September 2025
For assistance, contact Kim Gosling at grants@dva.org.uk / 07546 023161.
- The guidance notes can be found HERE to ensure your project is eligible.
- Download an application form HERE or apply online
- Complete and email your application to us at grants@dva.org.uk
Eligibility criteria
Funding is available to voluntary and community organisations that are formally
constituted and sign up to the Warm Spaces pledge. All applicant groups/organisations must be formally constituted. Formally constituted means you must have a bank account with at least 2 independent signatories, a governing document or list of governing members, a purpose, and a set of rules. All successful applicant groups/ organisations must have the appropriate insurance in place for their activities.
All organisations applying to the Derbyshire Voluntary Action, Warm and Welcoming
Spaces Grant Programme need to be able to fulfil the following eligibility criteria:
- Derbyshire Warm and Welcoming Spaces will be inclusive, non-judgmental spaces where everyone can expect to be treated equally, with dignity and respect and receive a warm welcome from staff and volunteers.
- Derbyshire Warm and Welcoming Spaces are heated and may provide basic refreshments such as a warm drink and a biscuit. Derbyshire Warm and Welcoming Spaces will be free with no hidden costs to those using them.
- All Derbyshire Warm and Welcoming Spaces will have seating and may have Wi-Fi and power points available.
- All Derbyshire Warm and Welcoming Spaces will follow their own food hygiene procedures (contact your local environmental health team for help and advice)
- Each Derbyshire Warm and Welcoming Space will have their own clear safeguarding and fire safety policies to adhere to.
- Each Warm and Welcoming Space will go to the Warm Welcome website and register their venue so that it can be found on the national online map.
- All Derbyshire Warm and Welcoming Spaces will aim to run through the winter
months.
Grants will be made available to Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations and community-led groups in Derbyshire for the creation or improvement of Warm and Welcoming Spaces for local communities. These grants will be for a minimum of £1000 and maximum of £3000 and this could be spent on a variety of project costs including:
- Additional energy costs
- Furniture and improvement to facilities
- Additional staffing costs to cover extended hours
- Additional cleaning costs to ensure compliance with health protection guidance
- Activities and refreshments
- Additional activity costs.
The funding amount you can apply for depends on factors such as your venue capacity, expected attendance, hours of operation, and how long you can offer your Warm Space.
Please consider these when deciding your request. Based on previous funding rounds, we will prioritise applications that show:
- Extended or flexible opening hours
- A welcoming, inclusive environment
- A variety of activities or services
- Strong community engagement
- A clear focus on social connection
From 1st September, with a closing date of 30th September 2025.
Only one Warm and Welcoming Space grant is available per organisation. You will be notified of the outcome of your application as soon as possible after a decision has been taken.
Project Approval process and selection criteria:
- Application form and guidelines issued to organisation
- Application completed and returned by organisation
- Applications will be reviewed by the panel after the closing date against the eligibility criteria as stated above
- Announcement of award of grant to successful bidder
- Warm Spaces provision to commence
Conditions of grant funding:
- The grant is available to support a Warm and Welcoming Space provision between 1st November 2025 – 28th February 2026 – Application deadline is
30th September, but the grant can support delivery until end of February. - Funding must be used for the specific purpose for which it is granted.
- Funding will be paid in full in advance.
- Derbyshire Voluntary Action retains the right to reclaim, at any time, all or part of the awarded money if it is not spent for the purpose it was awarded.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Successful organizations awarded the Warm and Welcoming Spaces grant funding must submit evaluation information, as outlined in the application form, to Derbyshire Voluntary Action.