Love Essex Fund - June 2026

Applications open on Monday 1 June 2026.

In the form, you will have to provide:

• your project name
• what your project will involve
• how your project will help reduce household food waste
• a breakdown of costs (how you plan to spend the micro-grant)
• how much money you are asking for
• the impact you expect the funding will have on your project (e.g., how much food waste you will save, the skills you will teach, and the social impact)
• how this impact will be sustained long-term

See the 'Example answer for breakdown of costs' tab below for further information.

Applications close on Sunday 28 June 2026, at 23:59pm.

This year, we are only focusing on projects that help to reduce household food waste. Your project is eligible for funding if it: 

• provides opportunities for the community to reduce their household food waste 
• provides skills and knowledge to the community to help reduce their household food waste
• is based in Essex (excluding Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock) 

You can apply with a new project or an existing project. Previous Love Essex Fund recipients can apply again, either with a new project or to fund the continuation and expansion of a previously funded project.

The micro-grant cannot fund:

• personal, home-based projects. Your project must benefit the community, particularly families
• projects that focus on business waste
• projects that pose a hygiene concern
• ongoing running costs and pre-existing day-to-day activities. One-off costs are acceptable
• activities that promote or are run by politically-motivated organisations
• projects where the applicant cannot demonstrate compliance with all relevant legislation

Projects can receive a micro-grant of up to £500. Please outline what you need the money for in your application, with the exact amount next to the item. 

If your application is successful but you include ongoing running costs in your breakdown of costs, these will be removed. This means you will only be able to receive funding for the remaining items.

The below is an example breakdown of costs. Please use this format but make your answer relevant to your own project. Projects can apply for up to £500. Please state the exact amount of money you are asking for.

• Tote bags to take leftover food home, 6 x £18.49 = £110.94
• Recipe card print-outs, 100 x £0.50 = £50
• Tupperware, 20 x £5 = £100
• Spatula, £5
• Wooden spoon, £3
• Plates, 20 x £4 = £80
• Total estimated cost = £348.94

 Providing links to the items you plan to purchase will strengthen your answer.

Successful applicants will be contacted from Monday 3 July 2026. If you do not receive an email that week, please check your junk mail. If you have not heard from us by Monday 20 July 2026, your application will not have been successful. 

The micro-grant will be transferred to the bank account associated with the project around one month after the application round has closed. 

Six months after receiving the micro-grant, applicants will have to provide a short report (one to two pages) about how they've used the micro-grant and how it has helped to encourage food waste reduction within the community.

In line with the Waste Strategy for Essex, we have committed to support activities that promote food waste reduction and encourage skill-sharing within local communities.

If you're thinking of starting a project, take a look at projects we have previously funded for inspiration. Please note that only food waste reduction projects are eligible this year.

There is no word limit. For guidance, answers to questions 9 and 10 are expected to be between 150 and 400 words.

A maximum of 40 micro-grants are available.