Community First will help communities come together through new and existing community groups, to identify their strengths and local priorities, plan for their future and become more resilient. Community First includes a £30 million small grant programme for some of the most deprived areas in the country and a national £50 million endowment match challenge.

The small grants programme will encourage people in deprived communities to give their time and expertise to local projects, to raise money and help make their local area a better place to live. The endowment match challenge will mobilise both national and local giving and philanthropy that will raise £100m to be matched with £50 million of government investment. This money will continue to grow over the life of the programme ensuring a sustainable source of funding for communities in years to come.