Grant Directories

The McCarthy Stone Foundation awards one-off grants to grassroots and volunteer-led charities and community organisations, CICs and social enterprises that support the wellbeing of older people, the educational needs of young people and the urban regeneration of communities across the UK. Through the Small Grants Programme, the Foundation provides grants of up to £5,000 for projects that will make a difference to those who need it most in local communities, particularly those recovering from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Stop Hunger is a worldwide Sodexo initiative active in more than 40 countries. Through the initiative, the Sodexo Foundation donate time, skills and money to tackle hunger, support good nutrition and promote life skills in local communities. In the UK and Ireland the Stop Hunger Foundation is a grant giving organisation and its vision is to work with very best charities that exist to tackle hunger and malnutrition; promote healthy lifestyles; and develop life skills such as cooking. Previous grant awards have ranged between £1,500 and £120,000, however first time applicants can only apply for a maximum of £10,000. Organisations who have previously received funding include Fare Share who redistributes surplus food destined for landfill to local charities and community groups across the UK and Focus Ireland who support homeless people in Dublin by providing hot nutritious meals.

The National Lottery Community Fund's Youth Investment Fund will support voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) youth organisations to deliver, expand and create high quality local youth provision in targeted communities across England. Grants can fund current services and activities but priority may be given to organisations looking to expand existing services and develop new ones. Proportionate overheads are eligible, and up to £50,000 of the grant can be used to help with the refurbishment of existing youth facilities, the development of new ones, and the purchase of equipment.

LandAid, the property industry's charity, provides grants to charities seeking funding for projects  that help the young and disadvantaged access the facilities, skills and opportunities to fulfill their potential. The grants are made available to enable charities and other not-for-profit organisations to create new bedspaces for young people aged 16 to 25 who are or have been homeless.

Schools, charities and community organisations can apply for grants for projects that improve the quality and prospect of life for children and young people who are disadvantaged physically, mentally or socially including those Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). The grants available include capital projects such as medical treatment and recovery centres, sports and activity areas, sensory rooms and gardens, playgrounds and hydrotherapy pools as well as revenue grants to support outreach programmes for children in their communities.

The Vintners' Company has origins steeped in the history of the City of London and the import, regulation and sale of wine. It is a grant giving trust whose focus is now on charities in Inner London who are dealing with 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. Grants for specific projects are normally in the region of £3,000 to £5,000. There is no application form but applications should preferably be of no more than 3 sides of A4. The Committee meets four times a year, usually in March, June, September and December, applications can be made at any time

The William Wates Memorial Trust focuses on helping the most disadvantaged young people keep away from a life of crime and violence, and to fulfill their potential, to target sport, art and education for children aged between 5 years and 19 years old, to support charities that train the trainer so that a ‘ripple effect' of positive change can happen far beyond the grant and to target charities in London and the South East. 

Westhill support projects with strong underlying Christian Values that transform peoples lives, foster empathy between communities and build bridges between people of diverse backgrounds and cultures. Grants have been made to a very wide range of successful projects in local communities in churches and cathedrals, hospitals and hospices; and in higher and a wide range of further educational institutions both in the UK and overseas. Most grants range between £500 and £20,000. Larger sums for projects running over two years are considered but matching funding is sometimes advised. Applications can be submitted at any time and these are assessed on a quarterly basis.

The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust awards grants to charitable organisations in the United Kingdom and overseas. Grants are awarded for one year only and are limited to £1000 and £5000. Each year the Trust makes grants under different specific award categories. The next grants rounds in 2023 will fund projects that help children and young people in care and care leavers

The Portals Trust supports a wide range of educational establishments, special education projects, grants and bursaries in and around the City of London. The foundation supports Individuals, Schools and Organisations with the aim of improving education for disadvantaged children and young people under 25 who live in Inner London. The funding available is in the form of bursaries and scholarships for individuals and grants of between £10,000 and £30,000 for schools and other organisations. The four focus areas for grant giving are: Widening participation in Further and Higher Education; Truancy, Exclusion and Behaviour management; Prisoner Education; and New Initiatives. Initial applications can be submitted at any time.

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.

The Augustine Coutauld Trust is a grant making organisation that provides support to charities working within the historic boundaries of the county of Essex, it also provides funding to assist with expeditions to the Arctic or Antarctic regions. Within Essex the funding is intended to support disadvantaged people (especially the young) and to help certain conservation projects. Grants are normally in the range of £500 to £2,000 and can be given to both assist specific projects and to help with the general running costs of the charity.

BBC Children in Need Small Grants programme distributes grants of up to £10,000 to not for profit organisations such as Registered charities; Voluntary organisations; Special Schools ; Churches; and Community groups, etc  that work with disadvantaged children below the age of 18 living in the UK. . In particular, grants are available for projects that help children and young people of 18 years and under experiencing illness, distress, abuse or neglect; any kind of disability; behavioural or psychological difficulties; and / or living in poverty or situations of deprivation. Applications should demonstrate how your project will change the lives of children for the better.

Small grants are available to registered charities with an annual income of less than £500,000 for projects where the total cost is less than £150,000. Projects must benefit UK residents and be of benefit to the wider community rather than one ethnic or religious group. Funding is available for capital costs such as building work, refurbishment or the purchase of long-term equipment) or a one-off short term activity (such as an annual respite break or holiday for disadvantaged young people). Before making an application applicants should have raised at least one third of the total project costs