OPSS community funding for product safety
Information and application forms for organisations seeking to deliver community-based andand/or consumer-focused product safety awareness and education activity.projects.
- From:
- Office for Product Safety and Standards
- Published
- 11 November 2024
- Last updated
- 3 June 2025 — See all updates
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has responsibility for protecting people from product-relatedproduct related harm and ensuring consumers can buy products with confidence. confidence.
To helpempower keepmore consumers safe,to choose and use products safely we are inviting organisations to bid to deliver community-based andand/or consumer-focused product safety awareness and education activity.projects.
We are particularly interested in funding projects that:
- take place in-person at community settings, and/or
- make product safety messaging more accessible
Bid for funding
If you would like to apply for funding, please complete the relevant bid form, which contains information about how bids are assessed and our expectations.
Bids will be considered for projects valued under £10,000 excluding VAT that reach OPSS by FridayMonday 67 DecemberJuly 2024,2025, for activity to be delivered by 3123 MarchJanuary 2025.2026.
Any organisationsorganisation can apply, and we welcome bids from voluntary groups, smaller charities, community groups and those looking to partner with the third sector.
This year we are funding two distinct product safety themes:projects:
ThemeOpportunity 1: ProductSecond-hand safety community awarenessgoods
We welcome proposals to deliver community-based consumerand/or consumer-focused awareness and educational activity which addresses thehow risksto purchase and issuesuse experiencedsecond-hand bygoods consumerssafely. inProjects relationcan toinclude productadvice safetyon (includingbuying howgoods theyfrom buyonline marketplaces and usein-person products).purchases.
Theme
Read 2:OPSS Riskguidance ofon firesbuying associatedsecond-hand withgoods, e-bikes,which e-scooters,we conversionencourage kits,bidders theirto batteriesfollow.
Opportunity and2: chargersProduct safety activities targeted at the needs of disabled consumers
We welcome proposalsbids to deliver community-based consumerand/or consumer-focused awareness and educational activity whichtargeted addressesat the fireneeds safetyof risksdisabled experienced by consumers in(as relationdefined toby buyingthe andEquality chargingAct e-bikes,2010).
Current e-scooters,OPSS conversioncampaign kits,materials theiror batteriesmessaging andcan chargers.be Noteused thatas wepart areof notthe fundingproposed road safety proposals.activity.
Activity we will fund
We will fund activity that:
- improves consumer awareness and confidence about how to choose and use products safely
- provides product safety education or advice
- empowers consumers to take action to protect themselves and others from product-related harm
- falls within our remit
We cannot fund bids about food, chemicals, medical products orproducts or vehicles.
Read further information about OPSS.
We are especially interested in funding proposals that focus on activities targeted at those who could be deemed to be more at risk of productproduct-related harm, due to (but not limited to):
- age
- socio-economic circumstance (e.g. they are on a low income which impacts how they buy and continue to use products)
- having additional literacy needs such as English as an additional language
- low digital skills or being digitally excluded
- a medical condition or disability
Where possible, we encourage learning and assets created through the project to be shared, allowing maximum reach. There is the option to use current OPSS campaign materials as part of the proposed activity.
Reporting
Successful bidders will need to submit a report to receive payment, including:
- a summary of the project objective and success criteria
- details of the approach taken and how this was designed to meet objectives
- the reach and impact of the work in terms of consumer engagement (how many people attended the activity/what they learnt)
We can consider part payment in arrears for tangible activities delivered before the end of the reporting period. Bidders should highlight what those activities are and include a draft payment schedule.
Previous examples
To help you with your application, these are some examples of work we have funded previously:
KentLocalCountyCitizensCouncil’sAdvice‘TeacherRushmoorinranYouraPocket’‘ProductschemeSafetywasCommunitydesignedAwareness’toproject.reachFourteendisabledworkshopspeople,targetedolderatpeople,foodbankandusers,thosefamilies,digitallypensioners,excluded.peopleThroughwiththisadditionalproject,literacyfamily,needsfriendsandorcommunitycarerschampionscanwereuseheldtheirtoownraisephonesproduct safety awareness. OPSS assets were also used tosharecreateeducationalaccessiblevideoposterscontenttargetedontoatheone-to-oneneedsbasis.of the community.ConsumerCETMAFriendrandevelopedasocial‘CommunitymediaElectricalandSafetyaCampaign’podcastincludingtoaeducateroadshowconsumersacrossonWesttheandpotentialSouthharmWales,ofwhereteethtargetedwhiteningleafletsproductsandthingsadvice were given toconsiderthebeforecommunity.buying,Ittargetedalsospecificallyattendedatfoodbanksyoungandpeople.added product safety information to food parcels.TheMiltonLullabyKeynesTrustTradingranStandardsa‘ToysocialSafetymediaMatters’ campaignfocusedinvolvedontheempoweringcreationcarersofyoungababiesvideotoandmaketargetedsafertoychoicessafetyfordrop-inwheresessionstheirheldbabyatsleeps.FamilyAnCentres.-
Oxfordshire
easy-readFirecardand Rescue Service’s ‘E-bike andanE-scooteranimatedCampaign’videoinvolvedwerecreatingcreated,targeted,aimedaccessible product safety materials for use atthose4withface-to-faceadditionaleventsliteracyattendedneeds.by 700 people. EastCloshaRenfrewshire’sAssociated‘ChildLtdSafetyinthepartnershipHome’withcampaignBoltondeliveredDeafhomeSocietysafetyandvisitsDeafwayanddevelopedtalksa BSL consumer website togroupshostandproductfamiliessafetyofmessagesnew-bornforbabiesdeaf consumers. Three product safety videos in BSL promoting toy safety, button battery safety and electrical safety were created and hosted on thearea,siteasalongwellwithasfiveworkshopspreviouslyinproducedlocalproductlibraries.safety videos in BSL.
Submit your bid
Please submit your bid using the online form:form for:
-
AccessOpportunitytheformforTheme1:ProductSecond-handsafetycommunityawarenessgoods – MicrosoftFormsforms -
AccessOpportunitytheformforTheme2:RiskProductofsafetyfiresactivitiesassociatedtargetedwithate-bikes,thee-scooters,needsconversionofkits,disabledtheirbatteriesandchargersconsumers – MicrosoftFormsforms
Or return as an attachment to OPSSconsumer@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
-
Download the form for
ThemeOpportunity 1 (ODT,30.230.9 KB) -
Download the form for
ThemeOpportunity 2 (ODT,3031 KB)
All bids must be submitted by 67 December.July (23:59).
Organisations that have not previously received OPSS funding for consumer awareness activity will only be eligible to submit one bid this financial year.
If you have any questions, please contact OPSSconsumer@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
Updates to this page
-
Information and application forms added for organisations to bid to deliver community-based and / or consumer-focused product safety awareness and education projects in 2025.
-
First published.
Update history
2026-05-18 11:21
Links added to information about the contracts awarded in 2025-2026 and 2024-2025 and OPSS grants.
2025-06-03 09:32
Information and application forms added for organisations to bid to deliver community-based and / or consumer-focused product safety awareness and education projects in 2025.
2024-11-11 00:05
First published.