Registered charities and CIC groups in the Boston area are being encouraged to apply for a major new funding opportunity aimed at improving shared spaces at the heart of local life.
The grant, delivered by the Asda Foundation, offers funding from £10,000 up to £20,000 per application as part of its higher value funding stream. Designed to support grassroots organisations, the initiative focuses on creating and improving safe, welcoming environments where people can come together.
In total, up to £1.2 million will be made available to community groups. The funding can be used for a wide range of improvements, from essential repairs to larger-scale developments. Projects could include renovating kitchens and bathrooms, repairing roofs and flooring, installing new boilers and heating systems, upgrading windows & doors, necessary refurbishments like replacing worn carpets to maintain a safe and welcoming environment, upgrading security, improving accessibility for all, upgrading facilities to make them fit for purpose, or reconfiguring areas to accommodate more users and activities within the existing footprint. and improving disabled access in community buildings.
The aim is to ensure community spaces are safe, accessible, and fit for purpose by supporting essential repairs, maintenance, and improvements. This funding will help community spaces expand their capacity, enhance facilities, and provide inclusive environments that meet the diverse needs of local communities.
Stephen Bromby, community champion at Asda Boston, highlighted the importance of such funding for local groups: “At Asda, we know community organisations play a vital role in the neighbourhood around our store, making positive change and improving people’s lives every day,” he said. “However, one of the biggest challenges many face is having a suitable space to bring people together and deliver this fantastic work.
“We know accessible community spaces can be a lifeline for local people, and many of these spaces require funding to repair, renovate and develop them so that they can continue delivering vital activities and services. In addition, loneliness and isolation continue to be highlighted through our Community Insight Survey as top areas of concern for local communities throughout the UK.
“Through our Local Community Spaces Fund, we will continue playing our part in helping to fund safe and welcoming community spaces that bring people together, connect communities and address loneliness and isolation. We have already pledged £3.84 million through this funding stream over the past four years, and for 2026, will commit up to £1.2 million in grant funding support to help carry out essential repairs to keep a space operational, renovating existing facilities to accommodate more users or activities, creating entirely new community spaces, or improving accessibility both to and within buildings.”
The grant programme is open to registered charities and CIC groups with an annual income between £40,000 and £400,00, ensuring that support is directed towards established, community-led initiatives with good governance.
Applications will be assessed based on how well projects meet the scheme’s funding priorities. These include community centres or spaces which host a variety of established community groups catering for a wide range of ages, demographics and needs and which offer a variety of activities throughout the week. Youth centres offering targeted support to youths in areas of high deprivation in a space that offers a variety of activities, making a positive difference to health, wellbeing and the lives of young people, and centres which support the most vulnerable, in areas of high deprivation. Such as homeless shelters, foodbanks, dementia and elderly support, community cafes.
By focusing on these priorities, the fund aims to strengthen community infrastructure and ensure that local groups can continue to provide inclusive, accessible services.
Full details of the eligibility criteria are now available on the Asda Foundation’s website, https://asdafoundation.org. Groups can also seek guidance and ask questions by contacting the Boston store’s community team directly via email community_boston@asda.uk.
The application window will open at 10am on Tuesday, April 14, and closes at 10am on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Organisations are being encouraged to review the guidance carefully and prepare their applications in advance to ensure they are ready to submit once the window opens – and to select Asda Boston as the local store when submitting their funding request.
However, applicants are advised not to delay. Due to high demand for funding in previous rounds, the programme may close early if the number of submissions exceeds the available budget.
The Asda Foundation has a history spanning more than 30 years of supporting communities across the UK. Funded through a profit-related annual donation from Asda, the charity provides grants to grassroots organisations, helping to build resilience and offer support where it is needed most.
Through initiatives like this, the Asda Foundation continues to play a key role in strengthening local communities—ensuring that vital spaces remain open, accessible and fit for the future.
