£4 million grant awarded to strengthen community belonging
Lloyds Bank Foundation has launched its first major grant of our In a Good Place strategy in partnership with Belong and The National Lottery Community Fund (TNLCF).
16 October 2026
We’re investing £4 million in a new national programme to build stronger, more resilient and thriving communities. The programme is called Common Ground and is delivered by Belong. This is part of our Community Belonging strategic pillar.
The public launch of the programme took place in partnership with Middlesbrough Council on Wednesday 14 October 2026 at Middlesbrough Town Hall.
Over three years, Common Ground will support up to 40 local authorities across England and Wales. The programme will draw and expand on the evidence from Belong’s work and national guidance on social cohesion. It uses practical support to strengthen connections.
Watch the launch video here Common Ground https://lnkd.in/p/e4njT5tw
In addition to the funding, Lloyds Bank Foundation will work with partner community organisations to build their capacities and capabilities.
We’ll be administering grants as part of the third stage of this programme. Before then, this is a great opportunity for us to engage with the 40 places. We will build relationships and develop our own knowledge and understanding of what brings people from different backgrounds, races, classes, religions and ages together. Our ambition is to build tolerance and acceptance so that everyone can say, “I’m in a community that’s a good place to belong to.”
Our investment is matched by the local authorities so community organisations in each place will receive £200,000 in total to co-develop a community cohesion strategy.
In time, this programme could link into our work to power community-led change in 100 places.