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May 8, 2026

Active Ageing Grants – Now open!

Profile image for Jenni Scott

Communications and Relationships Manager

Leeds is committed to creating the conditions for healthy, active ageing. We know that the most effective approaches are those that are locally led, flexible, and rooted in trusted relationships. The Active Ageing grant programme, funded by Leeds Public Health and Active Leeds, is led by Leeds Older People’s Forum (LOPF). The programme provides investment and seed funding to help third-sector organisations in Leeds build sustainable, community-based approaches that help people stay active as they get older.

Summary

  • Total grant funding available: £100,000
  • 2 grant pots of £50,000 each
  • Duration of grant: 12 months
  • Your organisation can apply for: £500 – £20,000 
  • You can apply for both pots of funding
  • Applications open: Friday, 8 May 2026 
  • Applications close: 5 pm on Friday, 29 May 2026
  • Grant panel meeting and the outcome communicated to applicants: June 2026
  • All funding must be spent by: 30 June 2027
  • End-of-grant monitoring report: on or before 31 July 2027

How to apply

Online via LOPF’s grant application form

Alternatively, you can download the application form, type your answers and email it to grants@opforum.org.uk. You can also print out the application form and handwrite your answers. Please call 0113 244 1697 or email grants@opforum.org.uk to request an application pack to be posted to you, or to request an accessible format (e.g. large print). Post your completed applications to:

Grants team, Suite E1 Joseph’s Well, Hanover Walk, Leeds LS3 1AB

Why Active Ageing matters

Physical activity provides people with a foundation for healthier and happier lives. It brings people together to enjoy shared activities and contributes to building strong communities. We know that later in life, people are more likely to become inactive. This can be for a range of reasons, not just because of ageing or health conditions. It can be work, greater family and caring commitments or even social attitudes about the ‘right time’ to start getting active. 

The UK Chief Medical Officer’s Physical Activity Guidelines suggest that older adults should participate in daily physical activity to improve their physical and mental health and wellbeing. Some physical activity is better than none. Even light activity brings some health benefits, while more daily physical activity provides greater health and social benefits. By investing in community activity and workforce development, Leeds is building a stronger, more confident, and more connected system that supports people to stay well for longer.

Background and Context

Active Ageing references and builds on the work of the Barnsley Older People Physical Activity Alliance (BOPPA) in developing a range of activities for older people across Leeds. The aim of the Active Ageing grant programme is to develop a wider community offer to encourage more older people to take up physical exercise.

This grant fund also references and learns from the Creative Healthy Ageing programme – a partnership between third sector organisations,  LOPF and Leeds Public Health – to disseminate public health messaging in creative ways. Creative Healthy Ageing delivery partners shared their ideas for future programmes. These included the following points:

  • “Consider how future funding could better support the sustainability and depth of healthy ageing programmes”,
  • “Work with older adults relies on continuity, trust and relationship-building, which are difficult to establish within short-term funding cycles”
  •  “Proportionate and accessible application and reporting processes”

In response to this insight, the Active Ageing programme:

  • Contains two grant types, one to provide community-based sessions relating to active ageing and the other to enable staff and volunteers to develop their skills, knowledge and/or experience to enable these active ageing sessions to continue longer term. 
  • Uses a new grant application form, available in a variety of formats, to enable organisations to apply for one or both grants on a single application form 
  • Has an end-of-grant monitoring form which is proportionate to the amount awarded 

About this grant programme

Active Ageing is a 12-month programme with a focus on workforce development and sustainability. There are two grant types:

  • Embedding Active Ageing in Communities 
  • Workforce Development to Support Active Ageing

Organisations may apply for one or both grants.

We are looking for applications that:

  • Evidence a gap in provision. For example, funding could be used for a new project or to adapt an existing project to meet the aims of Active Ageing, but both must aim for sustainability after the grant ends. Funding could also be used to increase engagement and participation in physical activity from underserved communities.
  • Support the Chief Medical Officer / NHS guidelines on physical activity and enable active ageing in a sustainable way
  • Focus on the 20% most deprived population and specific vulnerable groups
  • Reflect the needs and wants of local older adults
  • Strengthen community relationships 
  • Demonstrate how applicants will continue to provide opportunities for physical activity beyond the 12-month grant period.

Who can apply?

Any third sector organisation working with older adults in Leeds, including Neighbourhood Networks, community groups, charities, social enterprises, faith organisations and small grassroots organisations. 

Third sector organisations working in partnership with freelance practitioners can apply, provided that the third sector organisation is the lead applicant.

Grant 1: Embedding Active Ageing in Communities

Funding for groups to design and deliver activities that help adults aged 40+ to stay active, connected, and independent. This includes:

  • Activities that help people to meet the Chief Medical Officer guidelines on physical activity, strength, and balance. This may include (but is not limited to): strength and balance activity, walking groups, dancing, gardening, exercise, swimming, or cultural activities that encourage people to get out and about.
  • Activities linked to active travel, helping older adults move more in their daily lives. This may include peer support, confidence building, and accessing green and blue spaces. 
  • Projects that allow people to move more (and safely) around their home and locality.

Successful grants should adopt a holistic/making every contact count approach to supporting people to age well. This includes conversations, advice, signposting and referrals in relation to healthy living, early identification of risk factors for physical and mental health, housing, travel, financial wellbeing, employment/learning, social connections and the impact of adverse weather on older people. Sustainability must be considered from the outset so that the activities can continue longer-term. Working in partnership and creative approaches are encouraged to support sustainability.

Grant 2: Workforce Development to Support Active Ageing

Funding to invest in local people and organisations, helping staff and volunteers feel confident and capable in supporting adults aged 50+ to stay active, connected, and independent.
Funding can be used for:

  • Accreditation for physical activity instructor training.
  • Training to deliver physical activity programmes, e.g. walk leaders. 
  • Occupational Therapy-related courses to help staff recognise early signs of decline, adjust equipment safely, and promote independence.
  • Health coaching and behaviour change courses.
  • Any other relevant training that supports healthy, active ageing.

The grant can cover course fees, staff backfill, and travel costs, making training accessible for organisations of all sizes.

Amount of funding available:

  • Small grants: up to £1,000
  • Medium grants: up to £5,000
  • Large grants: up to £10,000

Organisations can apply for one or both grant types. If applying for both, you can select a mix of grant amounts. For example, you can apply for a medium-sized grant of £4000 for ‘Embedding Active Ageing in Communities’ and a small grant of £800 for ‘Workforce Development to Support Active Ageing’. You use a single grant application form to apply for both grants.

If you have any questions about this grant programme, please email grants@opforum.org.uk

We would encourage applicants to consider

  • The 2023 Director of Public Health Annual Report on Ageing Well has evidence and insight from over 900 local people, which may support an application: Director of Public Health Annual Report 2023 | Leeds.gov.uk
  • The newly launched Public Health dashboard provides up to date information across Leeds, by topic area and demographic. This information would support any application for the grant to demonstrate demand: Microsoft Power BI
  • The National Centre for Creative Health has evidence and examples of creativity in health, which may spark ideas for grant applications: National Centre for Creative Health
  • Consider partnership working with existing organisations, to strengthen community relationships and enable active ageing in a sustainable way: Find ways to exercise in Leeds – MindWell
  • Workforce development as part of Team Leeds: consider pathways and partnership working with existing programmes, such as Active Leeds for Health and Home Plus (Leeds). Connecting with other organisations will make training opportunities more accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

We know there will be questions about this fund, so we encourage you to ask your questions via email to grants@opforum.org.uk. We’ll post the questions and answers in this Q&A section regularly, so please check this page whilst planning your application.