Grants for Good 2026: First Five Small Charity Grants Awarded by John Good Group

The John Good Group has awarded £15,000 in small charity grants to five exceptional UK non-profits through the first round of Grants for Good in 2026. Discover the inspiring projects making a real impact in local communities.
Small Charity Grants 2026 - winners of first Grants for Good Round

The Matthew Good Foundation is proud to announce the winners of the first Grants for Good funding round of 2026, awarding £15,000 to five outstanding small charities and community groups across the UK.

This latest round marks another major milestone for the programme, which has now provided more than £250,000 in funding to over 100 grassroots charities, voluntary groups, and social enterprises since its launch.

Originally created through the John Good Group, Grants for Good was designed to make funding accessible for small non-profits with an annual income under £50,000 – organisations that often face significant barriers when applying for traditional grants.

Through a simple application process, charities share their mission and impact, before employees vote to determine how funding is distributed among shortlisted finalists. This unique model combines social and environmental impact with employee engagement, ensuring funding reaches causes that resonate deeply with people while delivering meaningful local change.

As the Matthew Good Foundation continues to grow, the programme has also recently expanded beyond the John Good Group, enabling more businesses to offer Grants for Good as part of their own social impact strategies.

Small grants can create significant change. Whether supporting mental health, tackling poverty, protecting the environment, or strengthening communities, these funds help grassroots organisations deliver immediate and lasting impact.

This round’s recipients are:

🥇Emmie’s Kitchen – £5,000
🥈Kinship Carers – £3,500
🥉Breaker Breaker £2,500
🏅Billy & Beyond – £2,000
🏅Wild Plant Paper – £2,000

To read more about these five fantastic causes, please see the descriptions below and click the links to learn more about them.

What Our Winners Are Saying

“I wasn’t a hospital parent the day before my daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia. I had no idea how hard hospital life is for parents of children undergoing life-changing treatments. I have met families who have spent years in hospital, not knowing where their next meal was coming from, losing jobs, being miles from home, separated from their other children. Emmie’s Kitchen attempts to fill some of those gaps, providing meals and snacks, but also being a friendly face in what can often feel like a hostile environment. Helping parents to know how valuable and important they are to their child’s recovery, and to wider society.”

Eve Naraynsingh
Founder, Emmie’s Kitchen

Apply for Future Funding

If you’re part of a small charity, volunteer group, or Community Interest Company (CIC) with an annual income under £50,000, we encourage you to apply for the next round of Grants for Good. Funding is available all year round to support charities and community groups delivering clear social or environmental impact.

To check eligibility and learn more, visit the Grants for Good page today.

Become a Business Partner

We’re about to open up the Grants for Good programme to other businesses who are looking to develop their community support initiates. Through a fully managed, completely free programme, businesses can benefit from expert-led grant-making with no fees or administrative costs, ensuring 100% of funding reaches vetted grassroots charities. Get in touch with us today if you are interested this high-impact, low-risk opportunity. Read more here

March 2026

Emmie's Kitchen supports parents and carers of seriously ill children at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. Founded from lived experience, the charity provides free meals, snack bags, and wellbeing sessions to families facing some of the hardest moments of their lives. With around 100 meals and 80 snack bags delivered every week, Emmie's Kitchen ensures parents feel seen, nourished, and cared for, because a child's recovery depends on their parents too.

March 2026

Kinship Carers is a national charity supporting families where children are raised by relatives or close family friends instead of their parents. Operating UK-wide, the charity provides practical advice, emotional support, advocacy and peer connection to kinship carers navigating complex legal, financial and social care systems. Kinship care is the most common form of alternative care in the UK, yet carers often receive little recognition or support. Kinship Carers UK is working to change that.

March 2026

Lorry drivers and transport workers keep the country moving, yet for many the road is hard and lonely, and too often they reach crisis point before asking for help. Breaker Breaker is a mental health charity in Northern Ireland dedicated to the haulage industry, founded after Leanne Lyons lost her husband David to suicide. It provides a 24/7 confidential helpline, face-to-face wellbeing support, and a mobile welfare hub visiting truck shows, depots, and rest stops across the UK and Ireland. Since March 2024, it has funded over 200 counselling sessions, and demand is still growing.

March 2026

Billy & Beyond CIC delivers free drug education workshops in schools, youth groups, and community settings. Founded after the tragic loss of Billy Mullin in 2020, the organisation educates young people about the real risks of recreational drug use. Through interactive sessions, real-life stories, and a powerful animated film, Billy & Beyond helps young people make safer, more informed choices, and gives families the tools to have honest conversations that could save lives.

March 2026

Wild Plant Paper CIC is a Wales-based social enterprise making handmade paper. Founded by botanist Dr Bryan Collis, they turn invasive weeds and waste materials into beautiful handmade paper, while creating flexible, inclusive work and volunteering opportunities for people excluded from traditional employment. From their converted shipping container studio to their outdoor Himalayan Balsam clearances, their work connects creativity, conservation, and community in equal measure.