New North East Micro Grant Scheme Supports Grassroots Community Events

Got an idea for a community event? We're offering £250 micro-grants to help make it happen.

FIRST has launched a new monthly funding initiative for charities and grassroots groups across the North East, inspired by the impact of a small grant that helped a group of women in Newcastle take their first steps into starting a social business. 

Our Community Micro Grant Scheme offers £250 to local charities and grassroots groups to deliver a community event that brings people together and creates positive local impact. 

The initiative builds on a recent partnership with the Angelou Centre in Newcastle, where women accessing the Centre took part in our North East Combined Authority-funded course, which supports participants to explore self-employment and grow their business skills. 

During the workshops, the women began shaping a community-led enterprise called Inner Beauty Queens, focused on empowering other women through beauty services, training and support. 

Recognising the potential of the idea, we awarded a £250 grant via the Angelou Centre to help the group take their next step. A coffee morning was organised, showcasing Inner Beauty Queens’ services and bringing new people to the Centre who could benefit from its support. 

The experience demonstrated how small, accessible funding can unlock meaningful opportunities at a grassroots level, particularly for communities often excluded from traditional support. 

Building on this, we have created a simple, inclusive micro-grant programme to support local organisations delivering activities such as coffee mornings, workshops, wellbeing sessions, skills activities and celebration events. 

The scheme has been designed to be easy to access, with a short application process and support from our team. We will also help promote successful events and attend on the day. 

At FIRST, we specialise in supporting adults who may feel unsure about their next step, helping them build confidence, develop skills and explore routes into work, further education or self-employment through inclusive, fully funded programmes. 

Billie Jenkins, Research and Development Lead at FIRST, said: “We’ve seen first-hand the difference a small amount of funding can make when it’s in the hands of people who understand their communities. This is about supporting organisations to create opportunities and connection.” 

The scheme is open to organisations and groups based in a North East postcode who have not previously partnered with us and are hosting an event for adults. 

Find out more and apply here. 

  

About Inner Beauty Queens 

Inner Beauty Queens is a community-led enterprise developed by women at the Angelou Centre, offering services such as hair braiding and beauty products. The initiative focuses on empowerment, confidence and peer support, helping women build skills, create income and support others in their community.