About the grant, how to apply, get help with your application and application resources
About the grant
Bristol City Council recognises that access to timely, free, high-quality advice is essential to:
- tackle poverty
- promote equity
- support healthier, more resilient communities
Each year, we invest £560,000 into Bristol's advice sector to help people address complex financial, legal, and social challenges.
This 4-year grant, running from April 2026 to March 2030, builds on the strength of our existing advice infrastructure and will support:
- a good-quality, accessible and equitable advice offer
- stronger collaboration and partnerships with community organisations
- improved referral pathways into advice services
Key community development principles
All applicants must align with the following principles:
- Equity and inclusion: Ensuring fair access for all
- Place-based: Embedding support in communities
- Asset-based: Building on local strengths
- Citizen-led: Shaping services with those who use them
- Relational: Fostering trust and collaboration
Grant applicants are expected to work together to deliver a joined-up, responsive, and people-centred advice system reflective of the diversity of Bristol's communities.
They must take proactive steps to address barriers to access and commit to a culture of learning, improvement, and collaboration.
The current grant arrangement comes to an end on 31 March 2026.
The new grant will begin on 1 April 2026 and run for 4 years with the potential for a one-year extension. Read more about the pdf Advice Grant funding approach(336 KB) .
How to apply
Applications are now open.
You can apply using the application forms below.
All applicants must complete Part 1 of the application. Only the Lead Partner in a consortium is required to complete Part 2.
This is to make sure that every organisation involved meets the baseline eligibility and governance standards, while the Lead Partner provides the strategic and operational overview for the joint proposal.
Completed application forms must be submitted by email to investmentandgrants@bristol.gov.uk by midday on 14 October 2025.
What happens next
We'll assess all applications between October and November 2025. We'll tell all applicants our decisions in December 2025.
The grant funding period will begin on 1 April 2026.
Get help with your application
If you have any queries, questions or requests for information about the grant application process, email investmentandgrants@bristol.gov.uk.
You must email your questions by 4pm on Tuesday 7 October.
We want to make sure that every organisation gets the same information and advice, so we'll regularly update and upload a questions and answers (Q&A) document which will be published under the application resources section during the application window. We won't name the organisations who ask questions.
Application resources
- pdf Advice Grant funding approach(336 KB)
- pdf Advice Grant application guidance(223 KB)
- spreadsheet Advice Grant budget template (Section D value)(295 KB)
- document Template Advice Grant partnership memorandum of understanding(29 KB)
Information sessions
To find out more about applying for the Advice Grant, you can attend a free online information session, run by our Community Resources team. These sessions will give you more information about:
- the fund priorities
- the application process
The sessions are on:
Baseline standards
We have a set of baseline standards to:
- protect our investment in the voluntary and community sector
- make sure that all council funded organisations are well managed and provide good quality services
All funded organisations must meet these standards.
We're updating the baseline standards (pdf, 312 KB). Successful organisations must meet the updated standards as part of the conditions of their grant agreement.