Half a million pounds up for grabs for Lincolnshire community projects
By Clara Voss · 8 June 2026
Community groups across Lincolnshire could soon benefit from a new half-million-pound fund designed to back local projects and grassroots organisations. If approved, the money will be handed out through your local councillor, giving residents a direct route to securing cash for schemes that matter in their area.
Lincolnshire County Council is proposing to set up a one-off Councillor Community Grant Fund worth £500,000 for the 2026/27 financial year.
The fund will be split into two streams. Every county electoral division will receive £3,000 for its councillor to identify small community projects. That money must be spent within a year of being awarded.
The second stream is a larger strategic fund of £290,000. Councillors can use this to back bigger bids from between £3,001 and £15,000. Council officers will assess each application against an eligibility criteria before any money is released.
Councillors broadly backed the plans at a scrutiny meeting on 28 May. Coun Danny Brookes (Reform UK, Ingoldmells Rural) said the fund would help residents in the areas that benefit. Coun Brenda Collier (Reform UK, Birchwood) called it "brilliant" for local communities.
Not everyone was entirely comfortable, though. Coun Ian Carrington (Conservative, Potterhanworth and Coleby) said he supported the principle but was uneasy about giving councillors a direct role in deciding who gets the money. He said the setup risked creating allegations of political bias, however unfair those allegations might be, because large sums were involved and communities would be competing for them.
Council communications chief Christopher O'Rourke said publishing all grant details online would keep the process as open as possible. He added that the committee would be able to flag any areas missing out and take steps to address gaps in funding.
The budget was agreed by full council in February 2026. The proposals now go to executive councillor for community engagement Coun Robert Gibson (Reform), who will make the final decision.