Resources | Finding funding for Meals on Wheels services: where to start
Developed by the Meals on Wheels UK project, University of Bristol.
Why this matters
Many Meals on Wheels providers operate under significant financial pressure, with limited capacity to identify and apply for funding opportunities.
At the same time, a range of funding sources exist that may be relevant to services supporting:
- older people
- community wellbeing
- health and prevention
- social care and inclusion
This guide provides a simple starting point to help providers identify potential sources of funding.
Types of funding to consider
Funding opportunities for Meals on Wheels services often fall into the following categories:
- Charitable trusts and foundations
Many trusts fund work supporting older people, health, and community services.
Examples include:
- AB Charitable Trust (supports work promoting dignity and inclusion)
- Allen Lane Foundation (funds projects supporting older people and disadvantaged groups)
2. Community and local funding
Some funds are region-specific and support local community services.
These may include:
- local authority funds
- regional trusts
- community or environmental funds
3. Social enterprise and innovation funding
Some programmes support new ideas, service development, or scaling activity.
Examples include:
- UnLtd (supports social entrepreneurs at different stages)
4. National and large-scale funding programmes
Larger funders may support research, innovation, or service development linked to policy priorities.
Examples include:
- The National Lottery Community Fund (supports community-based projects addressing social need)
Getting started
Meals on Wheels providers may wish to:
- identify funders aligned with their service (e.g. older people, health, community support)
- start with smaller grants before applying for larger funding
- build partnerships where appropriate (e.g. with local authorities or charities)
- use existing evidence (including service impact) to strengthen applications
A note on capacity
We recognise that applying for funding can be time-consuming.
Providers may wish to:
- focus on opportunities that are a strong fit
- reuse application content where appropriate
- collaborate with partners where possible
Learning from others
Many providers have experience of:
- applying for funding
- securing grants or contracts
- working with commissioners or partners
We encourage providers to share:
- funding opportunities they have found useful
- tips for preparing applications
- examples of successful approaches
Final note
Funding opportunities change regularly, and eligibility criteria vary.
This guide is intended as a starting point rather than a comprehensive list.