Thriving Together Grant Fund
Applications for the 2025/26 fund of £60,000 were opened at the end of 2025 and awarded in March 2026.
About the Thriving Together Grant Fund
In 2025 Adur & Worthing Councils launched the Thriving Together Grant Fund to enable community groups to work together to support residents with the cost of living and building connections.
Grants between £5,000 and £15,000 are available to community groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprises, based or working in Adur and Worthing that are working together to:
- make life easier for residents during the cost of living crisis
- build connection and belonging across different communities
- offer earlier support so problems don't grow
- develop community skills across groups
Groups are able to use the money to fund activities or events, as well as staff time and volunteer expenses, training, shared tools and resources, as well as practical costs including venue hire, insurance or equipment.
They are also required to create something practical that others can use or repeat, such as physical resources, shared spaces or joint support models.
What is Thriving Together?
The fund builds on learnings from our Kitchen Table fund, regular conversations with community leaders and the Thriving Together programme.
Since launching in May 2025, our Thriving Together programme has brought hundreds of people together to share ideas and develop priorities.
The process produced a People's Vision with seven aims and 21 actions covering priorities that include keeping decisions local, investing in community and culture, creating better places, and focusing on young people.
These outcomes have already helped shape big changes - from the local government reorganisation (LGR) submission in September 2025 to the creation of our new corporate strategy, called Fair, Green & Local - and now, the way we support community action.
Successful projects
Nearly 50 applications were received from a wide-range of community groups for the 2025/26 funding round, with five projects successfully receiving grants of between £10,000 and £15,000.
Adur Voluntary Action and Community Works have been awarded £15,000 to strengthen the local voluntary sector by helping groups work together, build inclusive practice and support communities facing division or discrimination. Read more:
Sight Support Worthing (SSW) will also be working with other organisations, using its £10,000 grant to deliver free training sessions to give employers and community groups across Adur and Worthing the skills to support visually impaired people and improve accessibility to more buildings and venues. Read more:
The organisers of Worthing Festival have been given a £12,500 grant to increase inclusion by working with residents, artist and community groups to develop a new wayfinding trail and an expanded sound installation. Read more:
Shoreham-based youth charity Esteem has been awarded £10,000 to help deliver a project that supports young people in Adur aged between 14 and 26 who face additional barriers to build confidence, feel they belong and get early help before problems grow. Read more:
And Community People has been awarded £12,500 to connect people and communities in Fishersgate by having real conversations with residents on their doorsteps and in local spaces, rather than relying on formal consultations. Read more:
We'll keep you updated about the progress of the projects via our social media channels.
Page last updated: 02 June 2026