Windrush Day 2026 Grant Scheme open for applications

Grants of up to £25,000 available for Windrush Day 2026 projects celebrating the legacy of the Windrush Generation

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is offering grants of £5,000 to £25,000 to support creative and ambitious projects marking Windrush Day 2026.

The Windrush Day Grant Scheme 2026, administered by Near Neighbours, aims to bring communities together to celebrate the contributions of the Windrush Generation and their descendants.

Grants are open to community groups, not-for-profit organisations and Local Authorities to deliver events and activities ahead of and on Windrush Day (22 June) and up to the end of July 2026.

Projects must focus on one of the following aims.

  • Raise awareness: of the historical facts of the Windrush story. This includes the pioneers who arrived on the MV Empire Windrush in 1948, and those who came on vessels and aircraft in the decades after WW2.

  • Foster pride: To foster a greater sense of national pride and recognition of the historic and ongoing contributions made by the Windrush generation and their descendants to UK society. To proactively support and encourage people from different backgrounds to embrace, celebrate and commemorate this aspect of our shared history.

  • Encourage and inspire the descendants of Windrush Generation to become young leaders, pursue their aspirations and contribute to the shared values of UK society.

  • Projects must be designed with or by the Windrush community and have a positive social impact.

  • All projects must include a lead event or activity on Windrush Day, 22 June 2026. 

MAPA Bradford Cultural Arts Centre, who received a grant in 2025, reflected: “The project gave the younger generation a license from their elders to carry the legacy forward, while also creating opportunities for learning in schools, arts centres and community spaces. This meant our reach went across different backgrounds, bringing together people from a wide range of heritages and socio-economic groups.”

And a 2025 project participant from Sudden Productions Theatre said:

“To bring people together of different cultures, of different understanding, and of different age, when it all comes together, it’s all so beautiful.”

Sarah Wallace, Director of Community Resilience at CUF's Near Neighbours, said: “Communities thrive when people build relationships, learn together, and deepen their understanding of one another. Windrush Day projects play a vital role in recognising the contribution of the Windrush generation. It is a privilege to support this programme and help ensure these stories continue to inspire future generations.”

Information on full eligibility criteria, workshops for applicants and the application process can be found on our Windrush pages

Laura Morton