Grant Directories

The BBC Children in Need Core Grants Programme distributes grants to not-for-profit organisations working with children and young people aged 18 or under. Funding is available to support essential organisational and administrative spending. These are the key expenses required to keep your organisation running and can include: Management and administration; HR and payroll; General office expenses; Accountancy and audit; Communications and outreach; Monitoring, evaluation, and learning; Governance, regulatory, and compliance costs.

The BBC Children in Need Project grants programme distributes grants to support the aims and delivery of a specific piece of work. This work will usually be time-limited, and based on a defined set of activities. Grants are available for up to three years, grants for over £15,000 will only be considered from organisations who have registered with the appropriate regulatory body. These include the Charity Commission for England and Wales, Charity Commission for Northern Ireland and the Scottish Charity Register.

The National Citizens Service Trust provides funding to not-for-profit organisations to deliver programmes that improve the life chances of young people aged 15 to 25 years in England.

The Asda Foundation aims to transform communities and improve lives by providing independent grants and support to locally relevant community projects throughout the UK. Through the Under 18 Better Starts Grant, the Foundation provides funding of between £400 and £2000 to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK. The funding is available to not-for-profit organisations for projects which give children the best start in life, encourage them to be active, and which tackle poverty, inclusion and wellbeing. Projects could include breakfast clubs, food and clothing banks, arts and crafts groups, brownies, scouts, training for counsellors, U18 sporting/physical activity-based groups, and Easter and Jubilee Celebrations for U18’s. Applications should be made through each local Asda store’s Community Champion. 

The Cumbria Community Foundation exists to benefit disadvantaged people and communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference within their local area. Through the Wing Cdr. H. Thompson MBE & Rev. J. L. Green Grassroots Grants Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £1,000 to charitable volunteer-led grassroots groups in the Barrow-in Furness area that support young peoples’ personal development, education and involvement in the community and environmental initiatives.

The Cumbria Community Foundation exists to benefit disadvantaged people and communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference within their local area. Through the Catherine Alexander Grassroots Fund the foundation provides grants of between £500 and £1,000 to small voluntary and community groups and organisations to continue or expand their work, such as advocacy, community voice, and service provision. Priority will be given to projects that: support children and young people; support people in fulfilling their potential; promote life skills and the raising of aspirations.

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 Foundation supports UK registered charities working specifically within the Liverpool City Region in the areas of Welfare, Youth, Community, Arts, Education and Health.

The Cumbria Community Foundation exists to benefit disadvantaged people and communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference within their local area. Through the Lamont Pridmore Grassroots Fund, the Foundation provides easy-to-access grants of up to £1,000 to support small voluntary and community groups and organisations enabling them to continue or expand their work including advocacy, community voice and service provision for local people in West Cumbria (Allerdale & Copeland).

The Community Foundation for Merseyside 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 23 Foundation programme the Community Foundation for Merseyside provides grants of up to £2,500 to projects that seek to provide the youth of Merseyside with the means to make a difference in society by giving them an outlet through sport and education.  It aims to fund projects that tackle the cause of youth disadvantage and provide information, education and skills to empower young people to go on to further education or employment. The fund will also support projects that improve children and young people’s health.

The Community Foundation for Merseyside 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 ACC Liverpool Group Foundation programme the foundation provides grants of up to £1,000 to local community groups and voluntary organisations. The fund wishes to encourage local community groups and voluntary organisations to apply for grants for projects aimed at supporting and targeting key community groups and diverse communities including LGBTQ+, BAME and hard to reach groups.

The Joyce Wilkinson Trust Fund which is administered by the Cumbria Community Foundation makes grants to voluntary and community groups operating or providing charitable activities in or close to the parishes of Rosley and Westward, Wigton, and Aspatria in North Cumbria. Priority will be given to projects that help people, particularly older adults and children and young people;  manage village facilities such as halls, play areas, and schools; and operate or provide services in or close to the parishes of Rosley, Westward, Wigton, and Aspatria.

The Morgan Foundation is a grant making trust that supports charities across North Wales, Merseyside, West Cheshire and North Shropshire. The foundation specialises in supporting organisations helping children and families as well as the elderly, disabled and socially isolated.  Through the Major Grants programme the Foundation makes grants of over £100,000 including awards for capital projects to organisations helping children and families as well as the elderly, disabled and socially isolated.

Hits Radio Manchester Cash for Kids distributes money to registered charities, to individuals to pay for specialist equipment, to sports organisations and to specialist projects for schools & playgroups; Projects must be for the benefit of young people under the age of 18; who are disabled and have special needs or who come from underprivileged backgrounds.

Radio City Cash for Kids distributes money to registered charities, to individuals to pay for specialist equipment, to sports organisations and to specialist projects for schools & playgroups; Projects must be for the benefit of young people under the age of 18; who are disabled and have special needs or who come from underprivileged backgrounds.

Radio Aire Cash for Kids distributes money to registered charities, to individuals to pay for specialist equipment, to sports organisations and to specialist projects for schools & playgroups; Projects must be for the benefit of young people under the age of 18; who are disabled and have special needs or who come from underprivileged backgrounds.

Cash for Kids is Bauer Radio’s network of local charities, which operate across 22 areas around the UK. Its mission is to respond to the needs of children in their communities.  CFM Radio in Cumbria and South West Scotland provides funding through the Cash for Kids grant scheme to charities, schools and individuals to support local children who suffer abuse or neglect, are disabled and have special needs or who simply need extra care or guidance.

The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation aims to improve the quality of life for people and communities throughout the UK. The Foundation does this by funding the charitable work of organisations that are building an inclusive, creative and sustainable society.  Through the Children and Young people programme the Foundation will fund organisations that seek to challenge the inequalities faced by young people (age 0–25). The Foundation want to see the views of children and young people at the heart of organisations, and young people empowered to take action.

The Manchester Arena Memorial Grant programme has been launched to highlight the good that can come from different communities working together in friendship. Grants of between £200 and £1000 are available for projects held in the Greater Manchester Area from April – June 2019, which include children and young people (11-25 years old) from more than one faith and show how the project will promote learning about faiths. Projects should involve young people in planning, running, and evaluating and promote equal opportunities.

UK-German Connection's special flexible funding scheme aims to bring young people of the UK and Germany together to exchange ideas, promote joint learning and open discussions on special topics and current issues. Grants of £500 to £10,000 are available for projects that ensure that young people actively engage in an educational learning and thinking process, including discussion, debate and reflection. Activities funded must also show strong wider impact, and that the young people take an active role in this.

Through the Sustainable Future Programme, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) aims to support work that develops and promotes sustainable, low-carbon alternatives to the current consumerist and growth-based paradigm. Funded projects will focus on: Better economics that reflect the true costs and risks of resource depletion, climate change and other environmental problems: Campaigns, initiatives and work that promote alternatives to consumerism: Campaigns and movements that give a voice to young activists and marginalised groups on issues of economic and environmental justice.

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.

The Lancashire Environmental Fund's Small Grants programme offer grants of up to £20,000 to not-for-profit organisations, charities, trusts, community groups, parish or community councils or voluntary organisations, for a broad range of projects that, for example, improve community buildings and facilities, create or conserve wildlife habitats or provide better access to waterways or parks. All projects must be within 10 miles of a licensed landfill site and have full public access (minimum requirements are 4 evenings or 2 days every week, 104 days a year)

Community Foundation for Calderdale (CCFC) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. CFFC is dedicated to enabling organisations to increase their community, economic and environmental impact, by providing grant aid and tailored loans to not-for-profit organisations in Calderdale. Support generally falls under the broad heading of social welfare. Applications must demonstrate a strong case for support, have clear aims and objectives, and, wherever possible, the applicant organisation or project will be user led and make a real difference to people within the community. CCFC is able to fund a wide range of project costs including capital or revenue and supports many different types of activity all of which contributes to making Calderdale an even better place to live.

Staffordshire Community Foundation (SCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation's aim is to provide funding that will directly address the needs of Staffordshire's most vulnerable people and communities. Support generally falls under the broad heading of social welfare. Applications must demonstrate a strong case for support, have clear aims and objectives, and, wherever possible, the applicant organisation or project will be user led and make a real difference to people within the community. SCF is able to fund a wide range of project costs including capital purchases e.g. equipment, maintenance or improvement of community buildings, or revenue costs such as venue hire, promotional costs, start-up expenses, activities or training. Applications for core costs will be considered.

Cheshire Community Foundation (CCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation's aim is to support organisations that have a strong connection to the communities they want to serve, who can demonstrate that they have consulted with the people who are going to benefit from the project and where it can be clearly demonstrated at the end of the funding period what difference the grant has made to the lives of people in Cheshire. Support generally falls under the broad heading of social welfare. CCF is able to fund a wide range of project costs and will fund projects that encourage new ideas or organisations that are setting up in response to an identified need.

The BBC Children in Need Main Grants programme distributes grants of over £10,000 to not for profit organisations such as Registered charities; Voluntary organisations; 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.

The Tree Council is the UK's lead charity for trees, promoting their importance in a changing environment. The trees for schools grant is open to all schools within the United Kingdom with pupils aged 16 or under. The Tree Council will fund up to 4 fruit trees (but no more than that) on semi-vigorous, vigorous and very vigorous rootstocks. If you wish to plant more than 4 fruit trees, please apply to our Orchard Windfalls Fund. Projects must fall between £100 and £700 and children under the age of sixteen must be actively involved in the planting process.

The Roman Society is the leading organisation in the United Kingdom for those interested in the study of Rome and the Roman Empire. The Society's Schools Committee makes grants to schools to help promote the teaching of Latin and Roman studies. Most of the grants are awarded for the purchase of textbooks and other books on Roman topics, but the Committee also makes awards to groups and schools organising lectures or study days on Roman themes, and has recently made money available for archaeology fieldwork bursaries. Applications from schools planning to start courses in Latin are particularly welcome.  Grants usually range from £50 to £600.

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.

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.

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.