DESIGN FOR ALL has been set up to provide 2 to 4 small charities and community organisations each year with professional expertise to get their building projects off the ground.
The support programme provides expert advice for building-related projects in early development. This is often the most challenging part of the project to find funding for. The programme is available to charities, community groups and other organisations that positively contribute to their community and believe in good design. It is available to all England-based charities and community organisations with a turnover of less than £1 million.
Applications for the 2026 programme are now open!
Meet previous design for all recipients
TRELYA
Trelya is a community charity in Penzance. They wanted to expand their Early Years' Service through the redevelopment of a disused plot adjacent to its existing centre. A dilapidated timber structure will be replaced by a purpose-built nursery, its design rooted in the local vernacular and shaped by the materials and architectural traditions of the surrounding landscape. The scheme encompasses a forest school, community garden and outdoor play spaces, each reflecting Trelya's dedication to outdoor learning.
Working with the Design for All programme has brought real value to Trelya, both in the quality of the outcomes and the experience of the process itself. The team have been brilliant to collaborate with—approachable, supportive, and always communicating clearly at every stage. Their designs are not only thoughtful and impactful, but truly centred around the needs of the people using them. You can see that their heart is in the work, and they couldn’t have been more helpful in bringing our project to life.
Crin Whelan, Executive Director, Trelya
Cooperation town
Cooperation Town were required to relocate their existing operations hub as a food co-operative given their existing building being set for demolition. The Design for All team assessed and provided an initial design for a potential new premises with community 'living room' facilities, in turn allowing Cooperation Town to evidence their suitable use and benefit of the new premises on offer. The team are continuing to work with Cooperation Town in securing the site and progressing the project.
The Design for All team helped us put together a plan to turn an empty dark car park into a bright, beautiful space for our social centre and food hub. They were a joy to work with - they listened to our needs and aspirations and turned our vision into a comprehensive design pack that we could show funders, the local authority and potential supporters.
Shiri Shalmy, Cooperation Town
WOODCRAFT FOLK
The Woodcraft Folk had considered demolishing Biblins Bunkhouse, a derelict timber building overlooking the River Wye. However, the Design For All team's study demonstrated how the structure could be repurposed and expanded upon. The resulting new centre would provide accommodation for younger children including those with additional needs and includes a multi-purpose hall.
The Design for All team provided professional expertise to help us on our journey to developing our dream building - a sustainable haven to inspire future generations. The detail and quality of their work exceeded our expectations, giving us the data and evidence needed to make progress.
Debs McCahon, CEO Woodcraft Folk
Royal Cornwall hospitalS CHARITY
The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Charity wish to repurpose an existing office building to create a Family Accommodation Centre. This Centre will provide a peaceful space for relatives of patients in critical care to stay close to the hospital during difficult times. It will include therapy rooms and a communal garden.
The Design For All team provided a feasibility study to help the Charity better understand the potential for the existing building.
I wanted to pass on my heartfelt thanks to you all and to all of the Design For All team, for the incredible work you have put into our project. Your combined efforts have been invaluable in ensuring we have all the information we need to move forward to the next stage of our accommodation project.
Richard Kramer, Chair of Royal Cornwall Hospitals Charitable Funds Committee
E16 Community Land TrUST
The community land trust had the opportunity to renovate a corner building in a state of severe disrepair into a vibrant community hub. The low-cost adaptation would provide a community kitchen and café, a crèche, a co-working space and a flexible events area.
Design For All provided a feasibility report to assist with further funding bids.
L8 MATTERS CLT
L8 Matters Community Land Trust had the prospect of being granted land to develop affordable housing by the City of Liverpool. They wished to develop the site of a former public swimming baths into a vibrant, sustainable community. In order to do so, they needed some help to produce a capacity study.
Design for All helped L8 Matters to envision the possible layouts, programme, and brief of the Old Public Baths Site in Liverpool.
L8 Matters were elated to win this grant. Design for All, offering a competent multi skilled team was just what we needed to kick start our plans to develop the Lodge Lane Baths site. Their ability to enthuse us and our members and visualise what that will look like, how we will do it with a realistic timescale was exactly what we needed and we will always be grateful for this and our continued relationship beyond the competition.
Sonia Bassey MBE, Founding Board Member, L8 Matters CLT
DEEPLISH COMMUNITY CENTRE
Deeplish Community Centre in Rochdale wanted to create a garden classroom; an adaptable learning space with sustainability aspirations.
To support this, the Design for All team produced a brochure that the community centre team will use for funding applications.
We are pleased to see the innovative design for our proposed safe space and eco-friendly, community friendly, Arts Room which is a natural extension to our purpose built community centre. We are really looking forward to seeing this design in practice! Thank you so much for this innovative design which is incredibly impressive and result of an excellent team work by Design For All
Sohail Ahmad, Centre Manager - Deeplish Community Centre
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