Community CVS
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Community CVS's small grants suit volunteer-led groups working in Blackburn with Darwen, and the Community Fund is aimed at small grassroots organisations.
- Its stated programme sizes are up to £1,000 for the Blackburn with Darwen Community Fund and £500 to £2,000 for the Community Asset Fund, so a modest request in those ranges fits.
- The Community Fund excludes statutory bodies and private-sector organisations, and groups that directly employ paid staff, so those should not apply to it.
- Each programme has its own application form and eligibility rules, and the Community Fund also requires a bank account with two signatories or another organisation to hold the funds for you, so check the programme before applying.
- The charity says it decides within a month of the deadline, so allow about four weeks.
Overview
Community CVS is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1008190).
Community CVS is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. It exists to promote charitable purposes for the public, principally in Blackburn with Darwen, Lancashire and its environs, and to build the capacity of third sector organisations through support, information and services. It paid out £85,977 in its most recent annual report. It distributes small grants on behalf of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and other funding bodies, including the Brian Mercer Trust, through programmes such as the Blackburn with Darwen Community Fund and the Community Asset Fund.
What they fund
Priority Areas
Community CVS distributes small grants on behalf of the Borough Council and other funding bodies. Its programmes are governed by the guidance and rules of those partners and support eligible voluntary, community and faith sector organisations undertaking charitable activities in line with the charity’s objects. Published schemes include grants for volunteer-led groups carrying out activities in Blackburn with Darwen, with the Community Fund aimed at small grassroots organisations, and the Community Asset Fund for volunteer-led community organisations with ideas that support recovery and enhance wellbeing. Applicants use programme-specific application forms, and eligibility conditions are set for each scheme.
Geographic Focus
Blackburn with Darwen.
What they don't fund
- Blackburn with Darwen Community Fund only: must not be a statutory body or private sector organisation (i.e. it must be set up on a ‘not for private profit’ basis – not privately owned or be able to distribute dividends to individuals and must be able to undertake activities of a charitable purpose); your group must not directly employ any paid members of staff and must be run by volunteers and use volunteers to deliver its activities (i.e. to ensure the funds go to small grassroots organisations rather than large charities or social enterprises)
How to apply
Groups seeking a Blackburn with Darwen Community Fund grant download the application form.
Who can apply:
- Blackburn with Darwen Community Fund
- Your group has to have: a constitution or governing document and a committee made up of 3 or more people who are not related
- Your own bank, building society or credit union account or credit union account which requires two signatories or have the agreement of another organisation to hold the funds on your behalf (who have an account requiring two signatories)
- Must not be a statutory body or private sector organisation (i.e. it must be set up on a ‘not for private profit’ basis – not privately owned or be able to distribute dividends to individuals and must be able to undertake activities of a charitable purpose)
- Your group must not directly employ any paid members of staff and must be run by volunteers and use volunteers to deliver its activities (i.e. to ensure the funds go to small grassroots organisations rather than large charities or social enterprises)
- Recovery Collaborative – Community Asset Fund: Do you run a volunteer-led community organisation with a great idea which can support recovery in the community and enhance people’s wellbeing?
What to send:
- Blackburn with Darwen Community Fund
- A constitution or governing document
- Your own bank, building society or credit union account or credit union account which requires two signatories or have the agreement of another organisation to hold the funds on your behalf (who have an account requiring two signatories)
- Recovery Collaborative – Community Asset Fund: Check list
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to Community CVS.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 March 2021 | £953,795 | £879,139 | £6,848 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2021 |
| year to 31 March 2022 | £1,489,181 | £1,394,747 | £88,341 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2022 |
| year to 31 March 2023 | £2,021,006 | £2,742,409 | £75,751 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2023 |
| year to 31 March 2024 | £1,709,651 | £1,515,374 | £50,761 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2024 |
| year to 31 March 2025 | £1,090,404 | £1,313,258 | £85,977 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2025 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 March 2021; year to 31 March 2022; year to 31 March 2023; year to 31 March 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 March 2025: grants paid out in the year.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- communitycvs.org.uk
- communitycvs.org.uk/resource/funding-resources · read on 30 October 2026
- communitycvs.org.uk/resource/funding-resources/blackburn-with-darwen-community-fund · read on 30 October 2026
- communitycvs.org.uk/resource/funding-resources/recovery-collaborative-community-asset-fund · read on 30 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 March 2025)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 30 October 2026.
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to Community CVS?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Applying to Community CVS?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required