Grant Directories

The Cheshire 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 Fund it Forward 2024 Programme the foundation provides grants of up to £10,000 to fund projects across Cheshire which have a lasting impact and contribute to reducing disadvantage over multiple years.

The Lloyds Bank Foundation is an independent charity that aims to help people, communities and Britain prosper. The Foundation provides support to small and local charities that help people overcome complex social issues and rebuild their lives. Through the Deaf and Disabled people's organisations fund the foundation provides grants totalling £75,000 over three years to registered charities and CIC's which are led by and working with Deaf and disabled people to support them to have more choice and control over their lives, access their rights and entitlements and challenge the barriers they face.

The CLA Charitable Trust funds charities and not-for-profit organisations in England and Wales to support projects that help disabled or disadvantaged people access the benefits of nature and the countryside. Through their funding programme, the Trust awards grants of up to £5,000 to support projects that improve the physical and mental health and wellbeing of people who are disabled or disadvantaged by helping them to visit and participate in recreational and educational opportunities in the countryside. Applications are particularly welcomed for projects for children and young people who are disadvantaged financially, physically, mentally, or from areas of deprivation. The funding will support projects, capital works and running costs.

UK charities and non-profit organisations can apply for grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 per year, for up to three years from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation's SOCIAL ACTION: Championing Change funding scheme.  The aim of the scheme is to help create an inclusive society by supporting organisations that work to create positive changes at a systems-wide level benefitting wider society.

The Primary Club provides financial support for a wide range of recreational and sporting facilities for the blind and visually impaired (VI). It is the major supporter of the thriving network of VI cricket clubs in the UK. But, while its origins and heart are in cricket, the Club also supports VI futsal, goalball, golf, skiing, swimming, tandem cycling and Braille chess. Through the James Fund the trustees are keen to support projects that relate clearly to the sporting and/or recreational needs of the blind and partially sighted. The Primary Club are keen to support projects that are either innovative (in the sense of enabling support to be provided in new ways, or to a wider community) and/or collaborative (for example enabling schools and other organisations to deliver support together which they could not achieve alone). Grants of up to £25,000 are available.  

The Anton Jurgens Charitable Trust awards grants to charities that work to improve the lives of socially disadvantaged and disabled individuals of all ages across the UK.  Only applications for financial support not exceeding £10,000 will be considered.  To be eligible for funding, charities must be registered in the UK and have an annual income of less than £500,000.

Grants are available for registered charities involved in medical research, the arts and various educational activities in the UK.

The Mortgage Advice Bureau Foundation funds sustainable community projects throughout England, Scotland and Wales by making grants to support charities and community interest companies. The Foundation, has teamed up with Crowdfunder to make £100,000 in funding available. Organisations can apply for up to 50% of their crowdfunding target, up to a maximum of £5,000, to support projects that match one or more of the following themes: the environment and conservation; health and wellbeing; and the prevention or relief of poverty. Projects could include rewilding projects, community gardens, social inclusion and mental health projects, sports projects, community food banks, money management and budgeting skills, and educational projects for communities to reduce their carbon footprint. No deadline given.

The Royal British Legions Mobility Aids and equipment grants are available to serving or ex-serving armed forces personnel who require access to services or assistance that could provide them with things like mobility scooters or stairlifts. 

The Leathersellers' Company is one of the ancient livery companies of the City of London. It makes grants in the areas of Education, Disability, Children and young people and the relief of need. Through the Small Grants programme The Leathersellers Company provides grants of up to £5,000 to charities that are working to provide assistance to vulnerable people in their community.

The Leathersellers' Company is one of the ancient livery companies of the City of London. It makes grants in the areas of Education, Disability, Children and young people and the relief of need. Through the Main Grants Programme The Leathersellers Company provide grants of up to £25,000 per year for up to 4 years. The current focus of the main grants programme is charities that work to prevent the occurrence of and/or reduce the likelihood of long-term negative consequences of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

The Royal Society of Chemistry's Accessibility Grant programme provides funding of up to £1,200 per year to help with the cost of specific support to attend a chemistry-related meeting, conference, workshop or professional development event. This support might be any form of equipment, service, or other personal expense associated with meeting the applicants access needs.

The Dischma Charitable Trust provides grants to organisations in England and Wales that require funding for projects that fall into the following categories: Education/training; The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives; Disability; The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty; Overseas Aid/famine Relief; Arts/culture/heritage/science; Animals; Environment/conservation/heritage.

The Marshall and Viggars Charitable Trust is a grant giving charity. The Trust provides grants of between £250 and £750 to individuals or organisations based in Yorkshire and the Humber with projects that address any of the following: Human, physical or mental disability; Medical care, relief and welfare; Medical research; Care, relief or protection of animals. 

The Edith Murphy Foundation was established in memory of Hughie Murphy. Its purpose is to support other organisations (predominantly, but not exclusively, other registered charities) that: carry out research; support individuals who by reason of their age, youth, infirmity, disablement, poverty or social and economic circumstances are suffering hardship, distress or are otherwise in need; relieve the suffering and care for unwanted animals. The value of grants made is normally between £500 and £5,000 although larger grants are made in some circumstances. Since its inception in 1993 the charity has supported over 650 organisations with grants of around £17.5 million enabling these groups to carry out ground breaking research as well as providing much needed support to those in need of care.

Family Fund provides financial support to families raising a disabled or seriously ill child. The Fund helps families across the UK who are raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person aged 17 or under who have: A high level of additional support needs arising from a long term disability or disabling condition; A serious or life limiting illness.

The Fashion & Textile Children's Trust provides education and wellbeing grants to support children (0-18 years) whose parents or guardians work, or have recently worked (within the last 9 years) in the UK fashion and textile industry. Through the Specialist Equipment Grants programme the trust provide funding for items to support children with complex health needs. Equipment funded by a grant should improve the wellbeing of children with complex health needs by any of the following: Facilitating mobility; Enhancing sensory awareness; Supporting physical development; Providing comfort (e.g. for spinal issues or other physiological issues); Supporting educational or communication needs; Providing opportunities for inclusion; Ensuring safety at home or away from home (e.g. specialist car seats, bed guards, etc).

The Society for Experimental Biology encourages the cross-fertilisation of ideas and disciplines. They support new ideas, innovation and bold leaps in thinking and ensure that experimentation is at the heart of biology. Through the Diversity Grant the society provides grants of up to £1,000 to help tackle barriers to inclusion, and support initiatives that promote diversity in academia and science. This may include but is not limited to: Making your workplace a more inclusive environment for example through the creation of good practice toolkits or holding a diversity training session; Improving inclusivity at research events you have organised for example, providing financial aid to underrepresented groups or improving accessibility of facilities; Improving Diversity in your field for example through the creation or support of a mentoring scheme ; Increasing awareness of the contributions of underrepresented groups in experimental biology for example organising hackathons, gi...

The Lincolnshire Community Foundation exists to benefit disadvantaged people and communities by making grants to support relevant charitable, voluntary and community organisations. Through the Bishop of Lincoln’s Social Justice Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £2,500 to respond to human need and seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation. The main themes that are supported are: Social Cohesion; Isolation; Poverty.

The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund (PWCF) is a grant making organisation which aims to transform lives and build sustainable communities across the UK by funding a wide range of good causes within their core funding themes: Heritage & Conservation, Education, Health & Wellbeing, Social Inclusion, Environment and Countryside. Through the Small Grants Programme, the PWCF will award grants of up to £5,000 to not-for-profit organisations with an income of up to £1 million. The average award is £1,500. Priority will be given to organisations of which HRH The Prince of Wales is Patron. Applications can be made at any time and will be considered by the Small Grant committee at their quarterly meetings.

The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund is a grant making organisation which aims to transform lives and build sustainable communities across the UK by funding a wide range of good causes within their core funding themes: Heritage & Conservation, Education, Health & Wellbeing, Social Inclusion, Environment and Countryside. The Major Grants Programme will award grants of over £5,000 to not-for-profit organisations. Organisations can apply for major grants by invitation only.

The Talbot Trusts is a grant-making registered charity which distributes funds to support health-related charitable work for Sheffield residents and those on the surrounding boundary. The trust is currently focussing on the following areas: BAMER, Food Poverty, Mental Health, Domestic Abuse, Housing Debt, Homelessness. Grants of between £2,000 and £5,000 are available to registered charities in Sheffield and the surrounding area.

The Fat Beehive Foundation is an independent UK registered charity that provides small grants for websites and digital products to other small UK registered charities.   The aim of the Foundation is to help these organisations carry out their work in a more efficient and effective way, resulting in positive social benefit.

The Two Ridings 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 Vital York Step Change Fund the foundation provides grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 to organisations based in the City of York for funding which can contribute to the running costs of their organisation and within this also provide the necessary ‘step change’ needed to increase their capacity to respond to needs in their particular community and take their organisation towards sustainability and/or expansion. Priority will be given to applicants that are working to address the following themes: Inequality & hidden poverty; Health & wellbeing; Loneliness & social isolation.

The Two Ridings 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 LOCAL FUND for the Harrogate District the foundation provides grants of between £200 and £3000 to support projects & activities that benefit local communities & residents for the long term. Funding is available for projects that focus on Inequality & hidden poverty; Loneliness & social isolation; Health & wellbeing.

One Community is the Community Foundation for the people of Kirklees and 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 Kirklees Community Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £1,000 to voluntary organisations across Kirklees towards project, equipment expenditure and operating costs. 

Nottinghamshire 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 JF Mortimer Fund the foundation provides grants to support people in Nottingham City and County by making grants to community and voluntary groups who work to improve their communities. Grants are available for projects covering exclusively or mainly one of the following themes: Children & Young People; Stronger and Safer Communities; Greener and Cleaner Communities; Healthier Communities; Older and Vulnerable People.

Nottinghamshire 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 Wheatcroft Fund the foundation provides grants of between £2,000 and £10,000 to support projects in Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County, who are in need of grant funding to support vulnerable people, young people, the elderly and those with mental health conditions.

Nottinghamshire 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 Romo Community Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £9,000 per year, with a possible 3 year commitment to locally registered charities, constituted community groups and other charitable organisations with projects addressing the following themes: Children and young people around education and development; Mental health; Elderly and vulnerable people.

Foundation Derbyshire 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 Ashby Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £2,500 to improve the quality of life for Derbyshire residents and to tackle inequalities and disadvantages faced in local communities. There is a preference to support groups operating in rural areas or projects focusing on heritage and arts & culture.

Foundation Derbyshire 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 Walbrook Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £2,500 to support community activity that directly helps those facing disadvantage. The fund aims to focus on the following: Groups working in geographical areas of HIGH disadvantage, where people are facing acute economic difficulties; Groups working with some of the most vulnerable people in the community such as elderly isolated people, individuals with mental health problems or disability, or people facing homelessness.

Foundation Derbyshire 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 Freemasons of Derbyshire Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £2,500 to support community life and tackle disadvantage across Derbyshire by supporting community and voluntary groups and charities.

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.

Happy Days Children's charity works with local communities across the UK to provide vital respite breaks for individuals, families and groups who support children with additional needs. Help is available for young people between 3 and 17 with learning difficulties, physical or mental disabilities and with acute, chronic or life limiting illnesses, support is also available to young people who have been abused or neglected, witnessed domestic violence, been bereaved or act as carers for a parent or a sibling. Through the Group Activity Holidays programme the charity provides group activity holidays to a wide variety of destinations such as outdoor activity centres, holiday camps and sailing breaks.

Happy Days Children's charity works with local communities across the UK to provide vital respite breaks for individuals, families and groups who support children with additional needs. Help is available for young people between 3 and 17 with learning difficulties, physical or mental disabilities and with acute, chronic or life limiting illnesses, support is also available to young people who have been abused or neglected, witnessed domestic violence, been bereaved or act as carers for a parent or a sibling. Through the Family Respite Breaks programme the charity provide 2 -4 night family breaks within the UK.

The Dulverton Trust is an independent grant-making charity that supports UK charities and Charitable incorporated Organisations tackling a range of social issues, protecting the natural world, and preserving heritage crafts.  Through its General Welfare funding strand, the Trust aims to support wide range of activities that benefit disadvantaged people and 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 Foundation aims to fund work benefitting people affected by mental health problems – lessening their isolation and feelings of stigma, improving wellbeing and promoting recovery, and enabling people to feel included in their local communities. The Foundation funds organisations that provide general services and activities to people with mental health conditions; as well as groups working with people affected by specific or particular issues – such as bipolar disorder, or depression, or self-harm, or eating disorders for example.

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 supports the work of groups and organisations that work with people in prison, ex-offenders, and those at risk of offending. The Foundation is especially keen to support the rehabilitation of people, and work that helps reduce the likelihood of re-offending behaviour.

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 funds work with migrant communities that are newly arrived to the UK.

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.

Armed Forces charities and other not-for-profit organisations can apply for grants of up to £40,000 for projects and activities supporting serving armed forces personnel, veterans, operationally qualified seafarers and their immediate families.

The EnAble Fund for elected office is intended to cover the additional financial costs associated with a disability or health condition that would otherwise prevent someone from seeking elected office. The Fund can cover the cost of the reasonable adjustments required to enable someone to stand for elected office. This could include items such as BSL interpreters, Assistive Technology, a Personal Assistant to assist with specific tasks, or taxi fares where other modes of transport are not appropriate. It is important to note that the item(s) the Fund pays for, are items that without which, the applicant would not be able to seek elected office. The overall aim of the Fund is to create a level playing field for disabled people and people with a long term health condition

The Scottish Power Foundation provides support for charities and not for profit organisations across the UK. Funding is available for the following purposes: the advancement of education; the advancement of environmental protection; the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science; the prevention or relief of poverty and the relief of those in need by reason of disability or other disadvantage; the advancement of citizenship and community development.

The Pilgrim Trust gives grants totalling approximately £2million each year to charities and other public bodies. Through the Social Welfare programme the Trust provides grant that aim to improve the life chances of vulnerable women and girls, particularly in supporting early interventions that address their needs before these become too deep seated. The Trust are particularly interested in projects that give women and girls greater opportunities and greater control over their lives.

The Henry Smith Charity is one of the largest independent grant making trusts in the UK. The Improving Lives grant programme provides grants to charitable organisations that help people in need when other sources of support have failed, are inappropriate, or are simply not available. Funding of between £20,000 and £70,000 per year for a maximum of three years is available to established organisations delivering services directly to beneficiaries. The Henry Smith Charity are looking for services which can demonstrate a track record of success, and evidence the effectiveness of the work.

The Henry Smith Charity is one of the largest independent grant making trusts in the UK. The Strengthening Communities grant programme is designed to support small charitable organisations working at grassroots level and aims to ensure that funding reaches the most disadvantaged areas of the UK. Funding of between £20,000 and £70,000 is available for up to three years to support work that enables: people from across the community to participate in activities which improve connectedness, opportunities and wellbeing; people who are excluded, vulnerable or facing hardship to have access to community-based services that support positive lasting change; a stronger, active, more engaged community. Funding is available for running costs which may include salaries, project costs, and small capital costs needed to support the work.

The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF) provides financial support and pastoral care to cinema exhibition, film and television professionals who are experiencing hardship due to ill health, redundancy or other circumstances. CTBF offers financial assistance (including arranging a free consultation with a financial advisor), practical assistance, help with career matters, advice on government benefits and ‘back to work' packages.

The Voctech Impact Fund aims to raise the skills level of the UK workforce through digital solutions for vocational learning. The fund will offer grants of £150,000 plus, for projects up to 18 months long. The emphasis of the project must be on new learning tools which use genuinely innovative methods to raise the skills levels for a significant number of learners.

The Margaret Dobson Further Education Trust supports organisations working with young adults aged 18 to 25 years with a learning disability who are leaving formal education. The Trust aims to give these young people the practical skills needed to prepare them to be able to lead independent lives and will fund projects designed to support young people outside the school environment. For example projects may offer life skills or accredited training, employment experience or opportunities for social interaction to allow self-expression and build self confidence. Applications that demonstrate the involvement of people with learning difficulties and their families, partnership working, a demand for the project and either match funding or active fundraising are more likely to be successful.

Bethnal Green Ventures (BGV) is an accelerator programme, early-stage investor and support network for ambitious technology start-ups that are tackling problems in the areas of health, education, sustainability, civic engagement, tech to support young people, workertech. BGV's accelerator programme invests in and supports teams with new ideas through an intensive three-month programme. Supported teams may include software developers, designers or people with personal experience of something they want to change - from teachers and doctors, to patients and carers. BGV looks for early-stage ideas with the potential to help millions of people. Teams of between two and four people selected to be part of the BGV programme will benefit from a £60,000 investment in exchange for 7% equity. BGV also provides a three month programme of support and advice to help build, test and launch each start-up.

The Arts Award Access Fund provides grants of between £100-£1500 to Arts Award centres working on Arts Award projects with young people for whom access and inclusion is an issue. Applications are welcomed from all registered Arts Award centres based in England, but priority will be given to centres that are working with young people for whom access and inclusion is an issue; and will use the grant to support them to pilot, embed or develop their Arts Award work with these groups. Grants can be used, for example, to produce Arts Award booklets, logs and certificates, hire of specialist equipment, staff time, tickets for events and travel.

The Royal Society of Chemistry believes that for chemistry and the chemical sciences to prosper; it must attract, develop and retain a diverse community of talented people. The Inclusion and Diversity fund has been created to provide financial support of up to £5,000 to members, professionals, network groups, volunteer groups, institutions and organisations to enable them to develop innovative products, activities and research projects which promote inclusion and diversity. Proposed activities must demonstrate their relevance to the Society's Inclusion and Diversity strategy.

The Wilmcote Charitrust gives grants to Registered Charities and voluntary organisations working for the relief of poverty, sickness, old age and distress, the advancement of religion and education and such other charitable objects as considered appropriate by the trustees. Grants are made to a range of organisations including those whose work benefits ex-service personnel, medical charities, young person's charities, colleges and schools, religious charities and those that help the aged.

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) gives one-off or regular grants, and can provide essential household items and disability equipment. For working farmers the RABI could fund relief staff to help in a crisis for example accident, illness, family breakdown, bereavement or animal disease. For retired and/or disabled people RABI can pay towards care home and home-help costs; the Institution also runs two residential homes. The RABI may also be able to help with the cost of funerals or bankruptcy fees, and / or provide an emergency grant to cover the cost of, for example, council tax and utility bill arrears.

The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children's Fund is the only charity dedicated to supporting children whose parents work, or have worked, for the Naval Service. The Children's Fund provides support that includes childcare, special needs education, days out and in-home support in times of crisis. An area of particular growth has been the Charity's focus on assisting children within its remit who have special needs. This work now accounts for nearly half of its awards to beneficiaries.

The Royal Liverpool Seamen's Orphan Institution offers grants to help those families who have lost a seafaring parent. The Institution supports families by providing awards for the children throughout their education and can in some circumstances offer grants to mothers for the children's monthly maintenance, clothing, holidays etc.

The Reedham Trust helps children in England whose home circumstances are so unsatisfactory that a boarding environment is in their best interests. The emphasis is on boarding need, to provide caring pastoral support, stability and the opportunity for educational and emotional development. The Trust provides help in circumstances such as: Death or permanent absence of one or both parents; severe and enduring mental, physical ill health or other disability of parent(s); child neglect; disability of a sibling of sufficient severity to be seriously prejudicial to the normal development of the child.

The Fashion & Textile Children's Trust provides education and wellbeing grants to support children (0-18 years) whose parents or guardians work, or have recently worked (within the last 9 years) in the UK fashion and textile industry. This includes retail, head office, manufacturing, wholesale, design, distribution, bridal wear, menswear, knitwear, supermarkets, soft furnishings etc. Grants starting at £250 can pay for an everyday item like a new school uniform or a specialist item like mobility equipment. It could also help with a household cost which impacts on the child's life, like a broken washing machine or fridge.

Buttle UK provides packages of support worth up to £2,000 to young people who receive no support from their parents or guardians to help them to further their education or employment. To apply, the young person must have a clear education, training or employment goal that they are pursuing or want to pursue within 3 months of applying. Grants can provide direct financial support; help them to set up home and/or to improve their emotional, mental or physical well-being. Some of the essential items that may be funded are: Equipment to take up a training opportunity; interview clothes; a computer for study; travel costs to college; essential household items; recreational or social activities and counselling.

Buttle UK provides grants of up to £4,500 for boarding school fees for children over the age of 11 where there is a strong case as to why the child cannot stay within the family home with their parent or carer. Grants can be made to help children between the ages of 11 and 18 who are: Adopted; cared for by grandparents, relatives or friends; from single parent families; with two carers where one is very seriously incapacitated through illness or disability.

Buttle UK provides grants to address the impact of domestic abuse on children and young people. Professional organisations working with children and families suffering lasting emotional, social or educational difficulties as a result of domestic abuse can apply to this flexible grant scheme to fund a range of activities, support and everyday items including, but not limited to: Therapy; after school clubs; critical home furniture; help with moving costs; school uniforms and tutoring lessons.

Foundation Derbyshire is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation's aim is to support the most vulnerable in society and help enrich the lives of people living in communities across Derbyshire by funding a wide range of groups, including those involved in supporting carers, survivors of domestic abuse, children, young people and isolated elderly residents. 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. Most of the programmes will cover equipment (capital) and general running costs such as rent and transport (revenue).

Children Today was founded to help disabled children and young people up to the age of 25 enjoy a better quality of life by providing them with the specialized equipment they need. The Trust can provide specialized items such as electric wheelchairs, walking aids, trikes, educational toys, adapted car seats, lifting aids and posturepedic sleep equipment. The Trust aims to help disabled children become as independent as possible and to reach their potential through the provision of specialized aids that also include multi-sensory equipment and other information technology. Each piece of equipment is gifted to the child. Ongoing support can be provided and children may make further applications for funding as their needs change or they outgrow equipment.

Didymus is a small, grant-making charity which supports organisations and individuals whose work is based in England, Wales, Africa and South America and fulfils the charity's aims which are to: encourage social inclusion; advance education; develop the arts; advance equality and diversity by creating opportunities for women; promote religious understanding. Funding is available up to a maximum of £10,000 and cannot be used for ongoing recurring expenses. Applications from large national charities or for issues deemed by the Trustees to be already well funded within the UK are not normally accepted.

Barchester's Charitable Foundation is a grant giving charity that helps older people and other adults with a disability across England, Scotland & Wales to lead more fulfilled lives and reach their full potential. The foundations focus is on connecting or re-connecting people with others in their local community, helping combat isolation and loneliness and enabling people to be active. Funding of between £100 and £5,000 is available for individuals and small community groups to help improve people's mobility, independence and quality of life. Individual applications must be completed by a third party sponsor such as a health care professional, social worker or charity/support group representative.

Spirit of 2012 is an independent trust, established with a £47m endowment from the National Lottery Community Fund. The Spirit of Achievement is a flagship programme over 4 years with a budget of £4.6m that aims to build on the success of the London 2012 Paralympic Games in challenging perceptions of disability (including self-perceptions) and empowering disabled people to better participate in their communities. Spirit aims to promote wellbeing and social cohesion by funding organisations that provide opportunities in sports, physical activity, arts and culture, volunteering and social action. Funding can be used for: Programme costs, including staffing and related overheads; external monitoring and evaluation costs; a small amount of capital expenditure and some core operating costs.

Variety Charity's Wheelchair Grants provide funding for custom, tailored wheelchairs to help children and young people with disabilities gain independence and improve mobility. The grants cover both powered and manual wheelchairs designed to meet specific medical and daily living needs, focusing on enhancing quality of life. Families and healthcare professionals can apply on behalf of the child to secure essential equipment that promotes freedom and comfort.

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 Feminist Review Trust gives grants to projects in the UK and internationally that support women. Applications will be particularly welcome from groups with projects addressing the following areas: Violence against women; Disabled women and girls; Women, sustainability and climate change. Funding is available to help with training and development projects; one off events; interventionist projects which support feminist values; start up activities and core funding. The maximum value of any individual grant is £15,000 (or its equivalent).

Grants are available of up to £3000 to support work run by and for communities facing discrimination and injustice because of their class, ability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or other factors. This scheme is aimed at individuals and grassroots groups in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England that find it difficult to get funding elsewhere. Specifically, for use by projects that challenge abuses of power and aim to change society by bringing an end to the systems that cause injustice.

Small charities, schools and community interest groups with innovative ideas that benefit their community can apply for funding of up to £50,000 for projects that build more connected, more resilient communities; and give people the tools to become more financially independent. The funding is being made available through the newly re-launched Aviva Community Fund.

The Lords Taverners, the UK's leading youth cricket and disability sports charity, provides funding towards the purchases of minibuses. Applications are accepted from schools and organisations that cater for young people under the age of 25 who have a physical/ sensory/ learning disability. Please note that the Lords Taverners are unable to support schools that cater for socially disadvantaged children, or mainstream schools for children with behavioural problems.

The Leathersellers' Company is one of the ancient livery companies of the City of London. It makes grants in the areas of Education, Disability, Children and young people and the relief of need. The Trust particularly welcome applications supporting the use of leather within the fashion industry, education in leather technology and the leather trade.

The Boshier-Hinton Foundation exists to improve quality of life for people with disabilities or learning difficulties, and their families, in any part of the country, by making donations to charitable institutions providing facilities and advocacy for children and adults with special educational or other needs: or by making donations to other registered Charities: or by making donations to local community charities or other agencies in any part of the country whose objects are no wider than the charity's own, or to any charity for particular purposes which fall within the Foundation's objects.

The Medlock Charitable Trust makes grants to organisations is the areas of Education &Training ; Medical & Health/Sickness ; Disability & Special Needs ; Accommodation & Housing; Arts & culture; Sport & recreation; Environment, Conservation & Heritage; and Economic, Community Development &Employment. Both primary and secondary schools in the eligible areas are able to apply.

Funding is available for work that supports adults with learning disabilities. The Forbes Charitable Foundation’s objective is to provide benefits for adults with learning disabilities. Grants are usually made up to £25,000 for up to three consecutive years. To be eligible all applications must meet the same aims and objectives of the Charity so please do not apply if your project does not exclusively support adults with learning disabilities.

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.

The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation has a £100,000 prize fund for  disabled entrepreneurs in the UK to further the growth of their business, and become Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year.  To be eligible to enter individuals must be registered with a disability; own at least 50% of the business; the business must have been started since 2010; and the business must be registered in the UK. This Award is sponsored by Sir Stelios Hajiloannou, the entrepreneur best known for founding easyJet and is run by Leonard Cheshire which works to serve disabled people around the world.

Independence at Home is a national charity that helps improve independence, comfort, safety, dignity and quality of life for people with long-term illness and disability.  The charity does this by helping towards the cost of adaptations, equipment or other things that are not available from public funds. The type of adaptations and equipment funded in the past include the cost of home adaptations for disability, house repairs and other building work, as well as other special equipment for disability such as stair lifts, special beds, riser-recliner chairs etc. as well as help towards the cost of heating their homes across the winter months. 

Grants are available to individuals via the Gardening with Disabilities Trust in order that they may continue to garden, despite advancing illness, age or disability. In order to apply for a grant, individuals must have a written note from their GP, social worker or occupational therapist, describing their disability. The Trust offers a range of support measures such as; adapting private gardens to meet the special needs of the disabled; making grants towards tools, raised beds, paving and greenhouses; providing help with special gardens in hospitals, centres and schools; distributing information on garden aid and techniques; providing a forum for disabled gardeners by publishing the Garden Club's magazine.

The Wakeham Trust is a grant making organisation that support organisations and registered charities as well as small community and voluntary groups within the UK that want to improve their communities. The Trust is particularly interested in supporting projects that are small scale and would find it hard to get funding from big trusts; or are currently unfashionable or unpopular amongst mainstream funders, but are making a real contribution. The Trust is particularly looking to support projects where funding of between £125 and £2,500 can make a real difference.

The aim of Buttle UK's Small Grants Programme is to help children and young people in desperate need who are facing exceptionally difficult circumstances or who are facing a crisis situation. Grants are intended to make a positive impact where a child's health or development is at risk. Buttle UK can deliver or fund critical household items such as: Gas or electric cookers; essential household items, furniture and kitchen equipment; clothing in exceptional or emergency situations; baby equipment; fridges and freezers; washing machines; children's beds and bedding.

The Kelly Family Charitable Trust was founded in 2004 as a grant-giving body. The Trust is interested in funding charities whose activities involve the whole family in initiatives that encourage and nurture a supportive structure within the family unit, and whose aims include the development of strong and supportive family bonds by helping all elements of the family unit to grow together and support each other. Applications are also welcomed from sports and health-related charities whose activities meet the trust's criteria. Grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 are available, but higher grants may be considered.

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is a charitable foundation based in Portugal and the UK with a special interest in supporting those who are most disadvantaged; in particular with an emphasis on encouraging cross-border exchanges of lessons and experiences.  Grants of between £10,000 and £30,000 are available to not for profit organisations to support a small number of innovative projects that fit well with the Foundations strategic priorities which for 2014 - 2019 are: Transitions in later life: Participatory/socially-engaged performing arts: Influencing the marine environment and protection of the oceans.  The Open Fund is currently suspended.

The True Colours Trust aims to make a difference to the lives of children with special needs and their families and supporting people with life-limiting and/or life-threatening illnesses. The True Colours Trust offers grants of up to £10,000  to local organisations and projects that support disabled children and their families.  The Trustees are particularly keen to award grants for Hydrotherapy pools; Multi sensory rooms; Mini buses; Young carers projects; Sibling projects; and Bereavement support.  The Trust also makes grants for improving access to affordable palliative care in sub-Saharan Africa, with the focus on increasing access to opioids in Zambia.

The Bruce Wake Trust is a grant giving organisation that was established to encourage and assist the provision of leisure activities for the disabled. The Trustees will consider grant applications related to the provision of leisure activities for the disabled but favour particularly applications whereby the potential beneficiaries meet one or all of the following criteria. The potential beneficiaries are physically disabled wheelchair users; Improved access for wheelchair users is proposed; and a sporting or leisure activity involving disabled wheelchair users is proposed. The trustees meet quarterly to discuss applications.

The Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust is a grant making organisation which is looking to support registered charities whose work will improve the life chances for some of the most disadvantaged children (aged 0-3) in England and Wales by investing in early intervention and preventative work. The trust is looking to support work which improves the reach of these targeted groups and brings about improved defined outcomes. Grants may be awarded for a period of 1-3 years, there is no minimum grant size and the maximum will be £50,000 per annumn.

The Sir Cliff Richard Charitable Trust is the channel through which Sir Cliff directs his personal charitable support. Grants are made by the trust every quarter, with about 50 different registered charities benefiting each time. Priority is given to charities working in medical research, with children and the elderly, and those involved with the physically and/or mentally disabled. While these form the main focus, other charities do receive help from time to time. The funding amount is discretionary and applications may be submitted at any time.

The RW Mann Trust is a grant making organisation that supports organisations in the North Tyneside, South East Northumberland and in the East Newcastle areas who are locally run and led, help people with the greatest need, involve disadvantaged and minority groups, improve the quality of life in their community and are in the public interest. Grants made have varied between regular annual contributions, small one-off donations and grants for capital projects. . Most of the beneficiaries in recent years have been youth groups (both uniformed and non-uniformed), children, people with disabilities, older people, schools, colleges, councils for voluntary service and other advice agencies. The Trust has made grants of between £500 and £5,000 but the average size of grant awarded is £1000.

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 Barrow Cadbury Trust is an independent, charitable foundation, committed to supporting vulnerable and marginalised people in society. Through its Migration Programme the Trust want to fund grassroots groups working with refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented migrants and other marginalised migrants. The Trust seek to enable grassroots groups to support the most vulnerable migrants as well as empower migrants and ensure they are not excluded from the public debate on migration. Organisations may apply for this programme from anywhere in the UK but most awards will be made in the West Midlands.

The Indigo Trust is a grant making foundation that funds technology-driven projects to bring about social change, largely in African countries.  The Trust focuses mainly on innovation, transparency and citizen empowerment. The Trust will also consider innovative projects, which utilise Information Technologies to support development outcomes in any sector including the health, education, human rights and agricultural spheres. The Indigo Trust makes grants to African projects or programmes, or to organisations which operate at least partly in African countries.

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 Childwick Trust provides funding to registered charities to assist people with disabilities, the promotion of health, the elderly in need and for the welfare of people involved in the horse racing world. The Trust also helps a number of Jewish charities and funds pre-school education projects in South Africa. The overall focus is to make payments for the benefit of charities within the United Kingdom for the promotion of health particularly for the relief of the disabled and the aged in need. The funding amount is discretionary. The trustees meet twice a year, in July and January to consider applications. Applications can be submitted for these meetings between the months of April - May (for the July meeting) and October - November (for the January meeting).

The Trust makes revenue grants to small registered charities whose work focuses on one of the Trust’s priority groups.  These are;  elderly people, children and young people aged 5 - 25, people with physical impairments;  learning difficulties or mental health challenges,;  social welfare - people trying to overcome life-limiting problems of a social, rather than medical, origin (such as addiction, relationship difficulties, abuse, offending); and education and learning (with a particular interest in people who are educationally disadvantaged, whether adults or children).  Grants are given for running costs for up to three years. Grants are normally for a maximum of £3,000 per year.

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 Trust provides financial assistance to registered or exempt charities of all sizes with proven track records whose activities fall within the following three categories. These categories are; care of and services for blind people, and the prevention and cure of blindness; care of people with learning disabilities in a way that provides lifelong commitment, a family environment and the maximum choice of activities and lifestyle; care of and services for people suffering from cancer, and their families. Grants vary in size and depend on a number of factors including the total funding requirement, charity size, purpose, and the amount available for distribution.  The Trustees prefer new or capital projects and only rarely fund running costs.

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 Old Possums Practical Trust Grants aim is to increase knowledge and appreciation of any matters of historic, artistic, architectural, aesthetic, literary, musical or theatrical interest. Grants are more likely to be given for projects that involve: children or young people, disabled or disadvantaged people and communities and those projects which fall within historic, artistic, architectural, aesthetic, literary, musical or theatrical criteria and which enhance the lives of others, rather than the well-being of the applicants themselves. The amount of each grant usually falls within the range of £500 - £5,000. Applications may be submitted at any time.

The Archer Trust focuses on providing aid or support to a defined group of needy or deserving people, for instance those with physical or mental disabilities or the disadvantaged. The Trust prefer to support organisations working in areas of high unemployment and deprivation, and they favour charities which make good use of volunteers. Projects both in the UK and overseas are welcomed, as long as overseas projects are via UK charities so that they can ensure that funds are being well used. Small UK charities for whom a grant of between £500 and £4,000 will make a big difference are favoured. Applications can be submitted at any time but Trustees only meet twice a year, normally in March and September.

The Skinners' Company Lady Neville Charity aim is to provide grants that will make a clear and significant contribution to grassroots charitable organizations working in designated priority areas. The priority areas are: Local Heritage - projects which help local groups to conserve and restore their landmarks, landscape, traditions and culture; Performing & Visual Arts Groups; Any charitable activity taking place where the Skinners Company has existing works or historical links (The city of London, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Hounslow, West Kent, Romney Marsh). One off capital grants for non-recurring expenditure of up to £1,000 are made to small registered charities and not-for-profit organisations.

The Sir John Fisher Foundation is a charitable trust; it supports charitable causes particularly in the six categories of Maritime, Medical and Disability, Education, Music, Arts and Community projects in and around Barrow-in-Furness. In the local area community projects involving sick, disabled, children, education, family support, maritime, arts and music will receive priority. Funding is available for both capital and revenue, there is no general limit to the grant for any one project but most grants given are for less than £20,000; urgent grants for up to £4,000 may be considered between trustees meetings which are held twice a year in May and November.

The Percy Bilton Charity focuses on organisations assisting disadvantaged youth, people with disabilities and older people. There are two types of grant: Large grants - one off payments for capital expenditure of £2,000 and over i.e. furniture and equipment; building/refurbishment projects; and Small grants - Donations of up to £500 towards furnishings and equipment for small projects. This programme is more suitable for smaller organisations. Board meetings are held quarterly in March, June, September and December to consider Large grants. Applications for Small grants are dealt with on an ongoing basis throughout the year.

Jewish Childs Day helps children who are blind, deaf, suffering from physical, learning or emotional difficulties; children who are abused, neglected, deprived or disadvantaged; children caught up in the ravages of terrorism and war; children caught in the poverty trap and children battling against severe illness or trauma. The grant offers many aspects including: wheelchairs and walking aids, educational and developmental computer equipment, therapy support and rehabilitation programmes, hearing stimulus and communication equipment, holidays, incubators, respirators, after school facilities, hot meals and home teaching for housebound children. Grants range from £500 - £5,000 and completed applications must be submitted by 30th December, 29th April and 26th August accordingly.

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 Grocers Charity is grant making charity giving grants to small and medium sized organisations in the UK. Its mission is to invest in and support a broad range of UK registered charities which together make a demonstrable positive impact on public benefit. The Grocers’ Charity typically provides one-off grants up to £5,000.

The Charles and Elsie Sykes Trust Grant focuses on projects for the relief of need, particularly those related to youth, old age, welfare and medicine. It is available to Third Sector Organisations throughout the UK, but with a preference for those benefiting the people of Yorkshire. Applications from schools, playgroups, cadet forces, scouts, guides, and churches must be for outreach programmes, and not for maintenance projects. The categories to which monies have been distributed in 2008; all to registered charities were: Social and moral welfare, Medical research, People with disabilities, Children and youth, Cultural and environmental heritage, Medical welfare, Mental health, Hospices and hospitals, Blind people and those who are partially-sighted, Older people and their welfare and Deaf people and those who are hard of hearing or speech impaired. The grant amounts range from £3,000 - £93,000. Applications can be submitted at any time.

The Edward Gostling Foundation provides grants to other UK charities with the aim of enhancing quality of life for people in need, more particularly those living on very low incomes who have a physical and/or a mental disability or the elderly. Grants are available under the following 4 themes: Health and Wellbeing; Independent Living at Home; Respite; Transition.

The Triangle Trust was originally set up to provide hardship and education grants to individuals associated with the Glaxo pharmaceutical company. However from 2013 the trust is concentrating its grant giving in two sectors; charitable organisations working with unpaid carers and those supporting the rehabilitation of offenders or ex-offenders. To help make the organisations in these sectors stronger and more sustainable the Development Grant provides funding for an organisation's core costs to support the development of a solid foundation for the future. Grants will be available for up to £60,000 over 2 years, with a maximum of £30,000 in year one.

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 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 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 Hedley Foundation wishes to assist and encourage development and change. The main objective is Young people: their education, recreation, support, training, health and welfare. The subsidiary objectives are disabled people and the terminally ill: provision of specialist equipment and support for carers. Most successful grants will be of capital or one-off nature, but the Trustees sometimes agree to help fund the introduction of new and innovative projects with a series of up to 3 annual grants. Few grants exceed £5,000 (the average being £3,000) and most of them go to charities where they can make an impact. Applications can be submitted at any time.

The Birkdale Trust for Hearing Impaired Grant's exists to provide financial grants to children and young people who have a hearing impairment and to organisations who provide help to such people. The main objectives of this charity are: to advance the education of children and young people with particular reference to those with a hearing impairment; and to support any other charitable object, which promotes the welfare of hearing impaired children and young people which may conveniently be pursued in conjunction with the pursuits of the above. There are two separate types of application forms, one for individuals and one for groups, educational establishments and charities.

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; Disadvantaged families, this covers parenting support and guidance, mental health, food poverty, refuges and domestic violence projects. Prisoners and ex-offenders and specifically projects that maintain and develop contact with prisoners’ families and help with the rehabilitation and resettlement of prisoners and/or ex-offenders after their release. The Trust offers three schemes; Small grants, Large Grants and Summer Playschemes. The majority of grants are for less than £5,000.

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 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

Global Fund for Women is one of the world's leading foundations for gender equality, standing up for the human rights of women and girls; they fund and partner with women-led groups outside the United States who are fighting for justice and gender equality in their own communities. Since 1987 the fund has invested in 5,000 grass roots organisation in 175 countries, they provide grants for operating and program expenses. They value local expertise and believe that women know best how to determine their needs and propose solutions for lasting change.

Aspire is a national charity that provides practical help to people who have been paralysed by spinal cord injury. The charity provides grants to assist with the purchase of specialised equipment such as lightweight or powered wheelchairs, power assisted wheels and assistive computer technology. This specialist equipment can make an immeasurable difference and can help those with spinal injuries to lead independent and fulfilled lives in their homes, with their families, in work places and in leisure time. The grants programme is open to anyone living in the UK or Ireland who has a spinal cord injury.

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.

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign (MDC) is the leading UK charity providing support for more than 60 different muscular dystrophies and related neuromuscular conditions affecting 70,000 people. The charities medical research programme has a reputation of excellence investing up to £1million each year, with more than 20 live projects taking place at any one time. It also invests in the scientists of the future, funding PhD studentships in top UK universities, and in specialist advice and education for clinicians with training and clinical fellowships. Applications for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Becker muscular dystrophy, Ullrich muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSH), limb girdle muscular dystrophies, myasthenia gravis and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease are particularly welcome.

Whizz-Kidz was set up in 1990 to address the growing demand and urgent need for specialised mobility equipment to give disabled children and young people the mobility and independence able-bodied children take for granted. As well as specialised equipment Whizz-Kidz also provides the chance for young disabled people to meet, have fun and gain new skills through: work placements with a range of employers, online training, short breaks with Camp Whizz-Kidz and wheelchair skills training. Their core belief is that every young disabled person has the right to a fun and active childhood, and the chance to develop their full potential.

Disabled facilities grant is available for a range of works needed to help a disabled person to remain living more independently in their home. These include widening doors and installing ramps, improving access to rooms, providing a heating system and adapting heating and lighting controls. There are two types of grant - mandatory and discretionary depending on the nature of the works. If you or someone living in your property is disabled you may qualify for disabled facilities grant towards the cost of providing adaptations and facilities to enable the disabled person to continue to live there. Such grants are given by local councils under Part I of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996.