Adoption England is inviting applications to its Community Development Fund, designed to support Experts by Experience to grow community-based support for those affected by adoption.

The fund is open to small organisations or groups with lived experience of adoption who are working to support adopters, adoptees and birth families. Where funding is focused on birth families, applications must show how birth parents are meaningfully involved in shaping or delivering the support, rather than being expected to lead or run the organisation.

These small grants aim to support initiatives that demonstrate good practice in adoption support, community engagement and sustainable development. Through this funding, we are looking to enable Experts by Experience to use their knowledge, creativity and passion to strengthen supportive communities.

We are particularly interested in projects that help build connections, reduce isolation, address challenges and create lasting peer networks. The focus is on the impact of the work, rather than the method used, and we welcome a wide range of ideas. This could include short breaks for families, peer-led support groups, holiday schemes, mentoring or buddying programmes, community activities for teenagers, or play sessions that help families build relationships and a sense of belonging.