Family First Neighbourhood Grants Programme
Posted on: July 27, 2026
The Essex Alliance is sharing this funding opportunity on behalf of Essex County Council.
The Families First Neighbourhood Grants Programme (FFNGP) is a £2.5 million grant programme which will fund targeted early intervention support for children, young people and families. The programme is funded through the Department for Education’s Families First Partnership Policy.
Eligible organisations can apply for a grant from £15,000 up to £60,000.
All funding projects and programmes will run for 30 months (two and a half years). They are required to start 1 October 2026 and finish 31 March 2029.
Who Can Apply
Applications are invited from voluntary and community organisations and not-for-profit organisations, including:
- voluntary and community sector enterprise (VCSE) organisations
- registered charities
- community interest companies (CICs)
- not-for-profit organisations limited by guarantee
- charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs)
- community benefit societies or co-operative societies
What It Can Fund
The FFNGP will fund targeted early intervention projects and programmes that enable children and families to:
- address challenges early
- build resilience
- achieve positive and sustainable outcomes
Applications can be focused on direct work with children (five years plus), young people, parents and carers or a combination of those through whole family support.
We will fund projects and programmes that are already active, or have recently been delivered, and are known to achieve good outcomes.
Where It Covers
The grants programme covers the 12 districts within our administrative area (excluding Southend and Thurrock).
For the purpose of the FFNGP, a neighbourhood means a clearly defined local area within Essex. This includes a:
- housing estate
- ward
- village
- town
Applicants must explain why a neighbourhood has been chosen and how the proposed activity responds to local need. Prioritisation will be given to applications which target areas where need and demand levels are greatest.
How to Apply
The application window is open from Thursday 9 July 2026 until Monday 17 August 2026.
To apply to the FFNGP, you must:
- read the grant prospectus in full (PDF, 525.73KB)
- fill out the budget template (XLS, 13.71KB) – you will need to upload a copy of this to your online application
- complete the online application form
Get Help with Your Application
We are running two online workshops to support organisations applying to the FFNGP. They will be on:
- Wednesday 22 July, 2pm to 3.30pm
- Thursday 30 July, 10.30am to 12pm
To book a place on one of the workshops, or for any other FFNGP queries, email candfcommissioning@essex.gov.uk.
Funding Decisions
Applications will be assessed against the criteria set out in the grants prospectus.
All applicants will be notified of the outcome by Friday 11 September 2026.
Successful applicants will need to sign a grant agreement (PDF, 283.9KB).
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