Grant Directories

The7stars Foundation supports the most challenged young people in the United Kingdom. Assisting forgotten young people aged 16 years and under, lacking opportunity, to achieve their potential.  The funding is available to support projects that support young people challenged by abuse; addiction; those who are young carers; and those who are homeless.

London Community Foundation (LCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. LCF is dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged Londoners. Through the Broadgate Community Fund the foundation provides grants of between £10,000 and £20,000 to registered charities, voluntary or community groups, and other not-for-profit organisations that provide projects or services benefitting the community in the London Boroughs of Hackney, Tower Hamlets and the City of London with a priority on the wards of Hoxton West, Haggerston, Spitalfields, Banglatown, Weavers and Portsoken. Applications must address at least one of the following themes: Children and young people: improving the lives of children and young people in the area, with a focus on skills development and access to opportunity; Older People: improving the wellbeing of older people in the area; Homelessness: addressing homelessness in the area, with a focus on access to accommodation and housing support.

The Isla Foundation focuses on serving grassroots organisations and individuals that provide vital help to the most vulnerable in society. Through the Tipping Point Grant programme the foundation provides grants of up to £40,000 to organisations offering creative solutions to homelessness. 

The Albert Hunt Trust is a grant giving charitable trust that supports local charities throughout the United Kingdom.  The Trust will consider applications from registered charities, organisations and projects based in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland that provide Hospice Care; provide support for the Homeless and promote health and well being; including physical and learning disabilities, physical and mental health, plus social challenges and deprivation.

The Shanly Foundation aims to support causes that help individuals and benefit the local community, including support for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, the homeless, those with mental health issues and people with physical disabilities, injury or life limiting illness. Whilst the Foundation tends to make a large amount of awards across a wide spectrum, on occasion larger awards are granted where it is considered a greater impact can be achieved.

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. Through the Shared Wealth programme the Trust aims to fund organisations and projects that reduce the wealth gap in London.

The Nationwide Foundation aims to increase the availability of good quality, affordable homes in the places where they are most needed.  Through the Community-led housing  programme, the Foundation will support communities to build new homes, create homes from empty properties, protect existing decent, affordable homes and provide homes of all types of tenure.

The Nationwide Foundation aims to increase the availability of good quality, affordable homes in the places where they are most needed.  Through the Nurturing Ideas to Change the Housing System programme the Nationwide Foundation will support imaginative and different ideas about how to deliver the right sort of housing or housing support, which can tackle systemic failings in the housing system.

The Mayor of London's Housing Innovation Fund is available for those using innovative ways to deliver more affordable homes in London. This is part of Homes for Londoners, which brings together the Mayor's work to tackle the housing crisis.  In particular, the Mayor is keen to understand how funding can support community-led housing; offsite and precision manufacturing of homes; and new accommodation for homeless households.

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 Mayor’s Rough Sleeping Innovation Fund (RSIF) aims to stimulate new and innovative approaches to tackling rough sleeping in the capital. The Greater London Authority (GLA) would like to increase the diversity of organisations in supporting the Mayor to tackle rough sleeping in the capital. The GLA also wants to encourage partnership bids between local authorities and other organisations, or between multiple organisations. All projects will last one year with grants ranging from £15,000 to £50,000.

Charities, Community Land Trusts and housing co-operatives can apply for grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 for local housing projects that will strengthen local communities by supporting the most vulnerable, finding new approaches to increasing the supply of housing or by reinventing renting for both tenants and landlords.  The funding is available for revenue expenditure such as core, staff and volunteer costs.  Only small scale capital expenditure can be supported.

London Councils grants scheme was originally set up on abolition of the Greater London Council (GLC). Section 48 of the Local Government Act 1985 enabled London boroughs to fund voluntary action in the capital through a joint scheme which is now provided by London Councils. The programme currently has four priorities: Homelessness; Sexual and Domestic Violence; ESF tackling poverty through employment; Providing support to London’s voluntary and community organisations.

Vintners' Foundation offers grants to registered charities working within Greater London and preferably Inner London which are concerned with the following: the relief of the poor, destitute and homeless who are disadvantaged by reasons of health, education or poverty; alleviation of the social effects of alcohol abuse/misuse; and the support of young people, youth projects and designated educational establishments

The Cole Charitable Trust is a small grant-making trust which supports charities in the West Midlands, Kent and Cambridgeshire areas. The trust mainly supports small charities for whom the modest grants available can make a significant difference. Grants of between £500 and £1,200 are available to registered charities that focus on projects in the following areas: social welfare, all age groups; housing/homelessness; community and environmental development; opportunities for young people; promotion of improved quality of life; personal or community empowerment. The trust does not provide funding for large building appeals, animal charities, research or further education.

CHK Charities Limited provides funding that aims to ‘make a difference'; it does not support individuals or very small and narrowly specialised activities. Preference is given to National or West Midlands charities. Applications can be made for assistance with core costs or for a specific project. This could include a contribution towards a building/refurbishment project, purchase of specialist equipment, other similar capital expenditure or assistance with running costs. The following are some of the categories for which funding can be provided: Artistic Causes; Conservation/Preservation; Care of the Elderly; Crime prevention; Disabled/Handicapped Treatment and Care; Drug Prevention and Treatment; Education; Employment and Job Creation; General Welfare and Social Problems. Please see website for a comprehensive list.

The Alec Dickson Trust provides funding for volunteering projects run by young people under the age of 30. Funding of up to £500 is available for projects that meet the following criteria: Run by a young volunteer or team of young volunteers; take place in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales; encourages volunteering; benefit disadvantaged communities and individuals. The fund seeks to support projects that enhance the lives of others, particularly those most marginalised by society such as; the homeless; those with drug dependency problems; and people with disabilities. Funding is not available for overseas trips or gap year projects, uniforms, equipment or training for personal benefit.

CRASH is the construction and property industry's charity; they assist homelessness charities and hospices with construction related projects. CRASH can help in three ways: they offer free of charge professional expertise and advice - this can include specialisms such as architects, quantity surveyors and specialist engineers; building materials - free of charge from supporting suppliers; Cash grants - grants are available of between £5,000 and £50,000 to complete discrete pieces of work. To be eligible you must be a registered UK charity with a legal interest in the building which must be used to deliver services to single homeless men and women over 18, or to provide hospice care for people of all ages.

Help the Homeless, a national Charity which aims to help homeless people throughout the United Kingdom to resume a normal life, has announced that its grant programme is open to applications from small and medium sized charities and voluntary organisations . Grants of up to £5,000 are available towards capital costs to support projects that assist disadvantaged individuals in their return to mainstream society, through residential or training facilities. All applications must relate to projects that assist individuals in their return to mainstream society, rather than simply offer shelter or other forms of sustenance. Grants to larger charities may be considered if the project is suitably innovative and only possible for a larger organisation to develop. There are four application deadlines a year.

The Quaker Housing Trust supports social housing projects that would find it difficult to find funding elsewhere. The trust supports registered charities and small organisations that are meeting local housing needs for people of any age who are vulnerable and in housing need. The projects are mainly small and generally volunteer-led, often with support from local Quakers. Trustees are particularly interested in housing projects that meet the needs of individuals who are vulnerable at points of transition in their lives. Four specific grants are available: Health Check Service Grant; Feasibility Study Grant; Environmental Assessment Grant; Dissemination of Good Practice Grant. See funder's website for further details.

The Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation will consider applications for community based projects which aim to provide relief of suffering, hardship or poverty, or their direct consequences. The Foundation primarily provides funding towards practical items that directly support those in need including those with disabilities, affected by homelessness, or with serious health issues. Donations usually fund items of "capital expenditure".

The Drapers' Company aims to improve the quality of life and expectations of people and their communities within the UK, particularly those disadvantaged or socially excluded. Most of the support is focused in Greater London and covers the following areas: Social Welfare - including homelessness, prisoners, ex-service personnel, support for the elderly, carers, community and family services, disabled adults; Education and Training - projects which raise the aspirations or help to realise the full potential of disadvantaged young people under 25 years old; Textiles and Heritage - including textile conservation, projects within the textile industry, museums, memorials and monuments relating to the armed forces, history of London or the textile trade. There is no minimum or maximum grant; grants are normally awarded for sums up to £15,000.

The main objective of Streetsmart is aimed at helping the homeless to make a better life for themselves, focussing on mental and physical health, employability and sustainable independent living. Grants are given to those who support people through the crucial stages in their progress from vagrant to valued community member. StreetSmart supports a wide range of homeless organisations that operate within the cities in which the campaign runs. Every penny raised in each city is spent only in that city. Homeless charities seeking funding from StreetSmart should submit their application in writing during December. If the project meets their criteria, they will then arrange for a StreetSmart representative to visit the project at some point during January and February and report back to the trustees.

The Lotus Foundation's primary objectives are to offer financial aid and assistance to facilitate family and child welfare, women's issues, animal protection, addiction recovery and education. The Foundation wishes to fund projects which support, participate in and promote charitable projects aimed at advancing social welfare in diverse areas including, but not limited to: substance abuse, cerebral palsy, brain tumors, cancer, battered women and their children, homelessness and animals in need. The funding amount is discretionary and applications can be submitted at any time.

The Sobell Foundation Grant focuses on children, the sick, elderly, needy and disabled. The Trustees aim to achieve a reasonable spread between Jewish charities (operating principally in the U.K. and Israel) and non-Jewish charities operating in the UK. The foundation concentrate their funding on small national or local charities. Funding is restricted to charities working in the following areas: Medical care and treatment, including respite care and hospices, Care for physically and mentally disabled adults and children, Education and training for adults and children with physical and learning disabilities, Care and support of the elderly, Care and support for children and Homelessness. The funding amount is discretionary and applications can be submitted at any time.

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.

The Rayne Foundation offers grants to tackle entrenched social issues through the arts, health, wellbeing, and education. The foundation has a particular focus on connecting communities, building bridges between marginalised groups and mainstream society, and enabling individuals to reach their full potential. The annual grant making programme is in the region of £1.5 million and grants typically fall in the range of £10,000 to £20,000 per annum for up to three years. Funding is available both for capital and revenue expenditure. 

The Royal British Legion provides lifelong support for the armed forces community - serving men and women, veterans, and their families. It can provide grants and loans to those who are suffering financial hardship. Priority is given to projects in the areas of employment and training; family support; homelessness and outreach; mental wellbeing; and supporting the elderly to live independently. Examples of the activities that can be funded include providing a support or welfare service and capital projects, for example, to build a facility or to purchase equipment for the benefit of Royal British Legion beneficiaries.

The London Housing Foundation is a small organisation that has established itself as a respected grant-making charity. In the last 18 years the charity has given out £15million in its efforts to help end homelessness. To qualify projects must help people who are, have been, or are at risk of becoming homeless, within this the priority areas are: projects looking at migration and destitution; dealing with criminal justice or health. The foundation funds ideas and projects that could not get money from anywhere else helping to innovate and challenge the sector.

London Catalyst is an independent grant making trust that provides funding for charities and not for profit organisations to deliver projects and improve services. The trust aims to make a difference by acting as a catalyst for change, they aim to: improve health and wellbeing, help to remove people from poverty and raise awareness of poverty and ill health in London. The annual grants budget is £300,000 divided between three grant programmes: Project Grants - supporting new initiatives and service developments for disadvantaged people; Samaritan Grants - this is a hardship fund offering immediate help to people in an emergency, 70% of all these grants are for food and travel; Partners for health - grants for projects that can demonstrate: Positive outcomes for
people experiencing significant barriers to health and well-being, A new approach or a thoughtful development of service, Working in partnership with an expert health agency/provider