The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has responsibility for protecting people and places from product related harm and ensuring consumers can buy products with confidence.  

Community Contractcontract funding

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Bid for funding

If you would like to apply for funding, please complete the relevant bid form,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 on or before, 23:59, TuesdayFriday 130 SeptemberOctober 2026, for training activity to be delivered by 053 FebruaryMarch 2027.

Any organisation can apply, and we welcome bids from voluntary groups, smaller charities, community groups and those looking to partner with the third sector.

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Activity we will fund

We will fund activity that:fund:

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We are especially interested in funding proposals that focusupskill onvolunteers activitiesor targetedemployees atwho thoseare already trusted in their communities and work with people who could be deemed to be more at risk of product-related harm, due to (but not limited to):

• ageAge
• socio-economicEthnicity
• Socio-economic circumstance (e.g. they are on a low income which impacts how they buy and continue to use products)
• havingHaving additional literacy needs such as English as an additional language
• lowLow digital skills or being digitally excluded
• aA medical condition or disability

Reporting

Successful bidders will need to submit a report to receive payment, including:

• aA summary of the project objective and success criteria.
• detailsDetails of the approach taken and how this was designed to meet objectives.
• theThe 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.

Successful bidders will be expected to complete the Community Impact Assessment form supplied by OPSS by 3 September 2027 outlining how upskilled volunteers/employees have shared product safety messaging in the local community.

Previous examples

To help you with your application, these are some examples of work we have funded previously:

• Local Citizens Advice Rushmoor ran a ‘Product Safety Community Awareness’ project. Fourteen workshops targeted at foodbank users, families, pensioners, people with additional literacy needs and community champions were held to raise product safety awareness. They also used OPSS assets to create accessible posters targeted to the needs of their community.
• CETMA ran a ‘Community Electrical Safety Campaign’ including a roadshow across West and South Wales, where targeted leaflets and advice were given to the community. They also attended foodbanks and added product safety information to food parcels.
• Milton Keynes Trading Standards ‘Toy Safety Matters’ campaign involved the creation of a video and targeted toy safety drop-in sessions held at Family Centres.
• Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s ‘E-bike and E-scooter Campaign’ involved creating targeted, accessible product safety materials for use at four face-to-face events attended by 700 people.
• Closha Associated Ltd in partnership with Bolton Deaf Society and Deafway developed a BSL consumer website to host product safety messages for deaf consumers. Three product safety videos in BSL promoting toy safety, button battery safety and electrical safety were created and hosted on the site along with five previously produced product safety videos in BSL.

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Submit your bid

Please submit your bid using the online form hereform..

Or return as an attachment to to OPSSconsumer@businessandtrade.gov.uk.

Download the form for Opportunity 12 (ODT, 16.335 KB)

All bids must be submitted on or before 23:59 130 SeptemberOctober 2026.

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.

• Read information on the contracts awarded in 2025-2026.
• Read information on the contracts awarded in 2024-2025.
• Read information on OPSS grants.
• Read further information about OPSS.