Grant Directories

The Benefact Trust (formerly known as the All Churches Trust) offers grants to Christian charities and organisations across the United Kingdom and Ireland that aim to help communities thrive and tackle social issues such as helping vulnerable families, homelessness and poverty to climate change and cultural cohesion. Through the General Grants Programme the Trust supports the repair, restoration, protection and improvement of churches, cathedrals and other places of Christian worship where changes support wider community use and enable greater impact.

The National Lottery Community Fund - The Platinum Jubilee Fund provides funding for projects that create a greater legacy for our places and spaces, and that support new opportunities, activities and build better relationships with one another, across generations and with the natural world. The three areas of focus are: Across Generations - Strengthening relationships between generations and creating a legacy for future generations; Community Renewal - Supporting new opportunities for people to develop skills and experiences in their local community, as well as opportunities to bring people together in new ways, and in new or different places and spaces; Our Shared Natural World - Growing our care and action locally for the natural world.

The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation is a grant making foundation that give grants to small and medium sized local organisations in the UK with a demonstrable track record of success working to address local issues in communities of extreme urban deprivation and deprived rural districts. Through the small grants programme the foundation provides funding of between £2,000 and £10,000 to charitable organisations with an income of less than £250,000 for projects that focus on Community Support. Examples of the kind of projects that can be funded include: CommunityServices; CommunityCentres; Alternative Education; Training, mentoring, employment and volunteering opportunities; Youth; Counselling; Family Support Services; Substance Misuse.

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) supports the Armed Forces Covenant by delivering funding programmes that create real change to Armed Forces communities across the UK. The NAAFI Fund makes grants to UK Armed Forces bases, located in the UK or overseas, for projects that improve the quality of life for serving personnel and serving families living on or near a Forces base or station. Grants of £5,000 to £25,000 are available for up to a year and should be used for projects or activities that help to bring people together on the base or station and help reduce boredom or isolation.

The Newby Trust funds local, regional or national charities registered and operating in the UK within the broad categories of education, health and social welfare.  Through the Social Welfare programme the Trust provides grants of up to £10,000 to improve people’s quality of life in disadvantaged communities. 

The Allen Lane Foundation is a grant-making trust with a focus is on funding unpopular causes. The overall aims of the Foundation are to make a lasting difference to people’s lives; reduce isolation, stigma and discrimination; and to encourage or enable unpopular groups to share in the life of the whole community. The Social Cohesion programme will support grassroots organisations at a very local level where there are issues which identify marginalised groups of people (especially those from within the Foundation’s priorities, but not exclusively) who are excluded. Project applications should seek to propose ways to make communities more inclusive for the betterment of all.

The Allen Lane Foundation is a grant-making trust with a focus is on funding unpopular causes. The overall aims of the Foundation are to make a lasting difference to people’s lives; reduce isolation, stigma and discrimination; and to encourage or enable unpopular groups to share in the life of the whole community.  The Foundation is keen to support work that raises awareness of the issues Gypsy and Traveller communities face, and work to combat hate crime, stigma, discrimination and inequalities, including the lack of appropriate accommodation or other service provision.

The Mercers Company is one of the most well-established Livery companies in the City of London. The Church and Communities programme supports churches, as well as other faith and secular community-based organisations, to enable adults and families to lead fulfilling lives. Funding is available for organisations with projects that will strengthen communities and families; building positive inclusive relationships between people, increasing a sense of belonging and reducing isolation.

The Hodge Foundation provides grants of up to £100,000 to UK registered or exempt charities such as special needs schools and universities for projects that address the objectives of the Foundation.  This includes supporting charities working with people who may be vulnerable or disadvantaged and who need assistance to improve their lives;  education and learning, both within formal school settings and practical approaches to learning which support young people to fulfill their potential and thrive including those with special needs; medical related charities specialising in the treatment and support for specific illnesses and research; and providing funds towards projects such as facilities in church buildings and inclusive activities for the wider community.

The Deptford Challenge Trust (DCT) Fund aims to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in a defined area of Lewisham, that covers Deptford and parts of New Cross (please see the London Community Foundation website for map). Organisations working in the defined area, with residents of any age gender and ethnic background can apply for funding for projects under the following themes: Education and skills; Community cohesion and social inclusion; Health and Wellbeing; Strengthening the DCT area. Grants are available of between £1,000 and £30,000.

The Integrated Communities English language programme aims to enhance the English language skills of people living in communities where there is a high proportion of people speaking little or no English. A total of £6 million is available between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2020. The aim is to help integrate non-English speakers by building their confidence to engage outside their immediate community and mix with people from different backgrounds alongside improving proficiency in English. The funding is available to partnerships and consortia of training providers operating ...

Persimmon Homes Charity Foundation is providing grant funding of up to £1000 to registered charities, clubs, schools and other organisations which have already raised vital funds themselves towards projects to enhance their local community.  The type of projects supported to date have included support for foodbanks; projects within schools; and sports projects; etc.

The Trust for London is an independent charitable foundation that aims to tackle poverty and inequality in London.  The Trust does this by funding voluntary and charity groups.  Currently the Trust makes grants totalling around £8 million a year.  Through its Good Homes and Neighbourhoods funding programme aims to ensure that Londoners have access to genuinely affordable housing, which is also good quality and secure and live in communities where people can feel safe and can participate.

Team London are offering grants of £5,000 - £10,000 to community groups, small charities and voluntary sector organisations to run volunteering projects that bring Londoners together and lead to improvements in social integration. The projects can focus on any area of volunteering or social action but should help people from different groups of society (differentiated by communities, identities or interests) to have more opportunities to connect with each other positively and meaningfully.  Projects could include group activities, taking part in social action, or both. 

The Mayor is offering £600,000 over three years to improve social networks, reduce isolation and bring children and families together. The London Family Fund will provide grants of up to £85,000 to innovative projects that promote social integration in London. The fund will encourage families from diverse backgrounds to come together for mutual support and a common purpose. It will help them to build more diverse networks with families from different backgrounds. This will include local families who may otherwise face loneliness or disadvantage.

The aim of the National Covenant Fund is to support the armed forces community. Funding is available to support the integration of the armed force personnel within their community; the coordination and delivery of support services and to support to former service personnel in the criminal justice system.

The Altajir Trust supports exhibitions, publications, educational activities and other programmes related to Islamic culture and Muslim - Christian relations. The Trust offers grants for; assistance to outreach and community education in the UK; assistance to museum, libraries and galleries; support to societies in conflict; publications and lectures; conservation; and conferences. The Trust also provides a limited number of scholarships for graduates and in some cases undergraduates from Arab countries to study at British universities.

The Alan Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund Grant provides grants to registered charities that focus on: arts and education projects which help young people to achieve their potential, particularly within Southwark, from where proposals are particularly encouraged; support for UK charities which defend civil liberties and human rights; projects in the developing world, especially Africa, which maximise educational and employment opportunities for young people; areas of scientific and medical research on Type 1 diabetes. The funding amount is discretionary and applications can be submitted at any time.

The Inter Faith Youth Trust (Alma Royalton-Kisch Trust) is the only UK charitable trust solely to fund inter faith projects for young people. The Trust was established to promote the education of children and young people about the religions of the world and funds projects that bring together young people of different faiths to improve collaboration and understanding. In conjunction with the Inter Faith Network and the Department for Communities there is a fast track small grants programme for events/activities linked to Inter Faith Week. Inter Faith Youth Trust is offering grants of up to £800 for projects taking place in and around Inter Faith Week in November. Projects must involve young people of different faiths or provide learning about different faiths and beliefs.

The Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust provides grants of up to £5,000 to promote horticulture; the conservation of the physical and natural environment by promoting biological diversity; the creation, development, preservation and maintenance of gardens (preference will normally, but not exclusively, be given to gardens accessible to the public); and the advancement of horticultural education. The type of activities funded include restoring gardens of historic interest; developing new gardens for public access and enjoyment; and gardeners' training schemes run by appropriate organisations; etc.

The Scurrah Wainright Charity focuses on innovative work in the field of social reform, with a preference for 'root-cause' rather than palliative projects. The charity funds projects in England, primarily in Yorkshire and the North of England, as well as Zimbabwe and Southern Africa. It favours causes that are outside the mainstream, and unlikely to be funded by other charities. The Charity does not fund Individuals, Animal welfare, Buildings, Medical research or support for individual medical conditions or substitution for Government funding eg in education and health. Typically, grants are between £1,000 and £5,000, but in cases of exceptional merit larger grants may be awarded. 

JRCT is concerned that the rights of vulnerable and marginalised communities in the UK are being eroded, particularly Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities, migrants and refugees. The Trust believe that equality and human rights play a vital role in reducing racism and discrimination for the most vulnerable and in turn benefit the whole of society. The programme aims to grow public support and empathy for the rights of vulnerable racial and ethnic minorities, to hold governments to account and to strengthen the hand of those advocating with and for these communities.

The Woodward Charitable Trust is one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts. Applications will only be considered if they fall within the following areas; Children and young people who are isolated, at risk of exclusion or involved in anti-social behaviour; Prisoners and ex-offenders; Disability projects which can include rehabilitation and training for people who are either physically disabled or learning disabled, as well as help to improve employment prospects; Disadvantaged women, including refuges, domestic violence and parenting; Arts outreach work by local groups for the benefit of disadvantaged people; Projects that promote integration and community cohesion amongst minority groups, including refugees and travellers. The Trust offers three schemes; Small grants, Large Grants and Summer Playschemes. The majority of grants are for less than £5,000.

The County Grants Programme is for grants of under £10,000 per year. Funding is available of between £500 and £20,000 (for multi year grants) for small organisations working in the counties with which we have an historical association, i.e., Kent and East Sussex . To be eligible to apply for a County Grant, your annual income must be below £250,000, unless you are working county-wide, in which case your income must be below £1 million. 

The Clothworkers' Foundation aims to use its funding to improve the quality of life for people and communities that face disadvantage. The Main Grants Programme offers capital grants of over £1,000 and is open to charities with a turnover of under £15 million. The type of projects supported by the charity includes alcohol and substance misuse ;  disability; disadvantaged young people; domestic and sexual violence, support for the elderly; homelessness; disadvantaged minority communities; helping prisoners and ex-offenders; visual impairment and textiles.

Established in 1891, the Trust was formerly known as City Parochial Foundation. Trust for London is the largest independent charitable foundation funding work which tackles poverty and inequality in the capital. They are particularly interested in work that develops new and imaginative ways of addressing the root causes of London’s social problems, especially work which has the potential to influence and change policy, practice and public attitudes. The Trust focuses on four areas: Employment, Advice, Social Justice and Violence, plus it has a specific programme for small groups which funds activities that tackle poverty and inequalities and have an emphasis on user involvement and self-help.

UnLtd is the leading provider of support to social entrepreneurs in the UK and supports individuals who have their social ventures firmly rooted in delivering positive social change. It operates a unique model by investing directly in individuals and offering a complete package of resources; from awards of funding to ongoing advice, networking and practical support. UnLtd resource community entrepreneurs to start-up; support those with more established social ventures to scale up; and are committed to developing an eco-system of support to make it easier for those who need help to find it. UnLtd offers a number of programmes with varying levels of funding and support. Please refer to the funder's website for details.

Reaching Communities provide grants to help improve local communities and the lives of people most in need, including hard to reach communities. There is a small revenue and a capital scheme and a larger buildings only fund. All projects must address one or more of the following outcomes. People have better chances in life, with better access to training and development to improve their life skills;  Stronger communities, with more active citizens, working together to tackle their problems;  Improved rural and urban environments, which communities are better able to access and enjoy; and Healthier and more active people and communities.

The Quartet Community Foundation is an independent charity that supports small, community-based charities and voluntary groups in the West of England (Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire) whose work benefits local people. The Foundation gives grants to a broad range of causes and welcome applications from both new and established groups. The Foundation runs its own grants programme called the Express Programme which awards grants of up to £5,000. The Foundation also manages a range of other grants programmes with their own priorities, criteria and closing dates.

Community Foundations support community and voluntary sector activity through grants to local groups and organisations. There are 48 Community Foundations of different sizes within the UK. Although all Community Foundations operate according to common criteria, they vary in terms of size and nature of grants available. Some Community Foundations will fund both organisations and individuals whilst other foundations will only fund organisations. Each community foundation covers a specific geographic area and will not normally be able to support work outside its area.

The Barrow Cadbury Trust is an independent charitable foundation, committed to supporting vulnerable and marginalised people in society. The Trust promotes social justice through grant making, research, influencing public opinion and policy and supporting local communities.  Their work is divided into three programme areas: Criminal Justice - building evidence of effective interventions, primarily for young adults and women, at all stages of the criminal justice process; Migration - promoting an immigration system that is fair to both migrants and established residents; Economic Justice - supporting effective approaches to reducing economic and social injustice and assisting in building resilient communities. There is a particular focus on projects located in Birmingham and the Black Country.