Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL)

Registered charity 509300 · since 1979valonline.org.uk·Leicester, Leicestershire·Updated 30 October 2026

At a glance

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

A small charity or community group in Leicester or Leicestershire with annual income under £100,000 and a need for accredited training, such as first aid or food hygiene, is the funder's target applicant.
The VALidate Training Grants Fund gives up to £100 per training place and up to £200 per organisation, so a request should be for a modest amount within that cap.
Applicants download the application form, send a copy of their constitution with a dissolution clause and a bank statement dated within the last 3 months, and explain how the training will benefit the organisation and the communities it supports, why it cannot be funded from other sources, and why it represents good value for money.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Organisations with income of £100,000 or more, those outside Leicester and Leicestershire, those seeking training VAL already provides, conferences or networking events, qualifications needing ongoing funding, and training already completed before approval should not apply.

Overview

Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL) is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 509300).

Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL) is a charity originally formed as the Leicester Council for Social Services, and it exists to support, strengthen and provide services for people and communities to achieve social change. Its published grant support includes the VALidate Training Grants Fund, which helps small voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations across Leicester and Leicestershire access accredited training. The fund gives a maximum contribution of £100 per place, with a maximum award of £200 per organisation. VAL has also managed Population Health management grants for organisations in Leicester City, aimed at reducing health inequalities.

What they fund

Priority Areas

Voluntary Action LeicesterShire’s published grant support includes its VALidate Training Grants Fund. It supports small VCSE organisations across Leicester and Leicestershire to access accredited training that strengthens their skills, knowledge and capacity and provides validation to the delivery of their projects, services and activities. It is open to charities and community groups operating within Leicester and/or Leicestershire, with annual income below the fund’s threshold and able to demonstrate how training benefits their organisation and the communities they support. The fund supports specific accredited operational courses, such as first aid or food hygiene, and is designed to complement rather than duplicate training already offered by VAL. VAL has also managed Population Health management grants for established voluntary, community, social enterprise and faith-based organisations in Leicester City, supporting projects aimed at reducing health inequalities.

Themes

Accredited training
Health inequalities

Geographic Focus

Leicester; Leicestershire.

What they don't fund

VALidate Training Grants Fund only:
- Training already provided by VAL
- Conferences or networking events
- Qualifications requiring ongoing or substantial funding
- Retrospective applications for training already completed before approval

How to apply

Applicants download the VALidate Training Grants Fund application form.

Who can apply:

VALidate Training Grants Fund
- Be a charity or community group.
- Operate within Leicester and/or Leicestershire.
- Have an annual income of less than £100,000.
- Be able to demonstrate how the training will benefit their organisation and the communities they support.

What to send:

VALidate Training Grants Fund
- A copy of your constitution/governing document that includes a dissolution clause.
- Copy of a recent bank statement dated within the last 3 months.

Application success factors

What the charity says:

The panel assesses organisational need.
The panel considers benefit to the organisation and its beneficiaries.
The panel considers value for money.
The panel assesses alignment with the aims of the fund.
Applicants should demonstrate the need for funding support and why they cannot fund this from other sources.

Where they fund

Where it says it funds

Leicester
Leicestershire

Similar funders

Funders supporting work similar to Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL).

Leicestershire & Rutland Community FoundationMixed deadlinesGave £239k The David Wilson FoundationInvitation onlyGave £480k Diocese of LeicesterNo public processGave £596k Charity LinkInvitation onlyGave £910 RccFixed deadlinesGave £67,433 The Florence Turner TrustNo public processGave £159k Derbyshire Voluntary ActionFixed deadlinesGave £236k The Ian & Clare Mattioli Charitable TrustRollingGave £173k The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha FoundationInvitation onlyGave £292k Voluntary Action SheffieldRollingGave £107k

Five years of accounts

Financial year	Income	Expenditure	Grants paid	Accounts document
year to 31 March 2021	£2,576,368	£2,473,481	—	Accounts for year to 31 March 2021
year to 31 March 2022	£2,805,976	£2,686,156	—	Accounts for year to 31 March 2022
year to 31 March 2023	£3,234,207	£3,189,717	—	Accounts for year to 31 March 2023
year to 31 March 2024	£1,936,329	£2,201,495	—	Accounts for year to 31 March 2024
year to 31 March 2025	£2,028,274	£2,080,781	—	Accounts for year to 31 March 2025

— No grants figure for those years.

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.