Grant Directories

The Pawprint Trust provides funding for individuals aged 11-25 from across the UK with life-changing adventures both locally and abroad, that develop their skills, capacities, and capabilities. Funding is awarded annually for projects and activities such as international trips, camping adventures, personal development projects, and community projects.

The Devon Community Foundation aims to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged people in the community by investing and distributing funds to community-based voluntary groups on behalf of a wide range of donors. Through the Supporting the Supporters fund the foundation provides grants of between £500 and £5,000 to grassroots organisations, hoping to build greater staff resilience, sustainability, and longevity into their organisation. 

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 Ocado Foundation is the charitable arm of Ocado Group, working for the benefit of communities across the UK. Through the Ocado Foundation for Good programme, the Foundation provides grants of up to £1,000 to charities, community organisations, community interest companies, academic institutions, and local authorities for community projects which focus their efforts on three core areas: skills for the future, natural resources and responsible sourcing. 

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 Heart of England Community Foundation is a local independent grant making organisation which aims to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged people living in the West Midlands, by awarding grants for specific activities to community-based voluntary groups on behalf of a wide range of donors. Through the #iWill Fund, the Foundation provides grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 to support social action activities that create opportunities for young people aged 10-20 in deprived areas to develop their character and their capacity to significantly contribute to their community. Activities include campaigning, fundraising and volunteering.

The Worcestershire Community Foundation exists to benefit disadvantaged communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference to their local communities. Through the #iwill fund the foundation provides grants of £10,000 to community groups, charitable organisations including social enterprises and community interest companies (CIC) working in Worcestershire. The fund is aimed at increasing volunteering, fundraising and campaigning amongst people aged between 10 and 20. Projects must engage young people in ongoing regular volunteering or demonstrate how another youth-led method will be as effective at engaging young people in social action. 

Voluntary or community organisations in the Severn Trent Water region are eligible to apply to the £10 million Severn Trent Community Fund for funding to increase community wellbeing.  This includes support for projects that help people to lead a healthier life and gain new skills; help to create better places to live in and use; and Projects that will help look after the natural environment, give people greater access to that environment or help look after water.

The aim of the UKSAR Volunteer Training Fund is to assist Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteering, by providing support for the costs of volunteers' operational training, to help improve safety and the quality of UKSAR services. 

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.

Tesco Stronger Starts programme supports thousands of schools and  local community projects across the UK, helping to fight holiday hunger, tackle mental health, support young people, host community events and much more. The scheme has supported over 40,000 community groups with more than £90 million in grants. Tesco Community Grants is open to charities and community organisations to apply for a grant of up to £1,500. Every three months, three local good causes are selected to be in the blue token customer vote in Tesco stores throughout the UK.

The objectives of the WHSmith Trust is to support the local communities in which WHSmith staff and customers live and work and; to support education and lifelong learning, helping people of any age to achieve their educational potential. Grants can be made under the following headings: Grants to local charities in which members of staff are directly involved, Grants to support education and lifelong learning, Supporting employee volunteering - Volunteers in Schools, Supporting employee volunteering - Community challenges and Supporting employee volunteering.

The Wood Foundation (TWF) is a Scottish based charity with a Global outlook. In Sub Saharan Africa and in the UK, TWF will invest in economic, community and enterprise initiatives which develop and support individuals to become caring and contributing members of society. The Foundation is proactive by nature and will only accept applications through our global citizenship programme.  Funding is provided through three programme: Making Markets Work for the Poor Sub Saharan Africa; Facilitating Economic and Education Development in Scotland; and Developing Young People in Scotland

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.

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.