Grant Directories

The Gloucestershire 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 Poverty Hurts Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £2,500 to voluntary and community groups with charitable aims, registered charities or Community Interest Companies supporting vulnerable people impacted by the increase in the cost of living. The programme supports the county's most vulnerable people with food, heating and energy costs and other essential items.

The BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme supports children and young people who are facing exceptionally difficult circumstances, and is delivered by Family Fund Business Services. The programme can provide the following kinds of items: Cookers; Furniture; Kitchen equipment and small appliances; Children’s beds and bedding (including cots); Washing machines and tumble dryers; Fridges, freezers and fridge-freezers; Baby equipment; Clothing for an emergency/crisis. Applications can only be made by a registered referrer.

The Cosaraf Charitable Foundation Hardship Grant provides funding of up to £500 to help with the following: Household items (white goods and occasionally other items i.e. sofas, wardrobes etc.); Basic Living Expenses (Utilities or food); Work- or education-related expenses (interview clothes, school uniforms, laptops); Rent arrears and Council tax arrears, but only where there is a clear and obvious risk of homelessness (for rent arrears involving a social landlord please outline what support has already been offered to the tenant); Contribution to immigration-related costs, where the current immigration status directly causes financial hardship to the applicant. Applications will only be accepted from recognised social organisations such as charities, housing associations, schools and social services acting on behalf of a family or individual in need.

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 Crisis Grant aims to support serving and ex-serving armed forces personnel and their families with unexpected expenses. The grant does not provide cash, but can provide essentials for applicants and their family in times of need. A grant might help you cover the costs of something like:  Vouchers to buy food; Funds for accommodation when someone is street homeless; Help to buy essentials; like clothing; Support with short notice travel costs (bus fare, petrol costs, etc). The RBL carefully consider the individual circumstances and needs, so don't hesitate to get in touch. However, help is not available for repayment of business debts, loans, legal expenses, medical care or where state assistance or statutory services are available.

The Royal British Legion Cost (RBL) of Living Grants are available to all serving and ex serving armed forces personnel, their dependents and carers. The programme is designed to allow the RBL to assist people who need help in a quick and easy way with everyday essentials such as kitchen appliances, clothes, and energy costs.

Asda’s charity, Asda Foundation, is committed to supporting local communities through grant giving and they believe it takes a whole community working together to improve people's lives. Through the Cost of Living Grant the foundation aims to support local community groups following increases in their rent, utility bill and food costs as a result of the cost of living crisis.There are TWO options within this grant. Groups must be clear from the outset which option they intend to apply for: A) Increased rent and utility bill support; B) Increased food costs support. A group may decide to apply for a combination of the two options.

The Artemis Charitable Foundation makes donations to charities operating in the UK and internationally primarily in four key areas; health; education; poverty; and the environment.

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 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 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 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.

Friends of the elderly provide support for older people affected by loneliness and grants for those living on a low income. Through the Grants for Older People programme they provide grants of up to £400 to older people who are of/over state pension age and have savings of less than £4,000. Funding is currently being provided through four schemes: Home Essentials to help with the cost of replacing everyday items, small home repairs and mobility adaptations; Digital Connection to help older people get online; Financial Support to help with unexpected bills; and Essential Living Costs including clothing, food, medicines and books. Applications must be made via a third-party Referral Agent such as charities, local authority and social services representatives.

The Institute of Physics (IOP) is a leading scientific society and charitable organisation, their aim is to advance physics education, research and application by providing positive and compelling experiences of physics to public audiences through engaging and entertaining activities and events. The Benevolent Fund provides financial help to IOP members, or their dependants, facing a critical need that cannot otherwise be met.

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.  Funding is available to reduce loneliness and isolation, improve physical and mental wellbeing, help maintain independence and a quality of life for older people. The Foundation recognises the growing impact of dementia within the older population and on families, especially those who care for people with dementia. The Foundation is keen to support projects that seek to develop community initiatives that offer sustainable, long term support for older people in communities.

The Woodroffe Benton Foundation is an independent grant making foundation for charities operating in the UK. It supports work that falls into the following categories: tackle poverty, provide care for the elderly, promote education and support environmental projects. Applications are welcome from UK charitable organisations for funding of between £500 and £2,500. The trustees prefer to contribute to core operating costs rather than a specific project. Applications are considered at quarterly meetings in January, April, July and October.

The Power Partners programme is a £300,000 per annum programme which is being managed by the Centre for Sustainable Energy on behalf of UK Power Networks. The programme aims to support up to 40 organisations to combat fuel poverty, improve energy efficiency and support people in vulnerable circumstances. Grants of between £2,000 and £20,000 are available for projects that deliver outcomes in the following two categories: Income maximisation for vulnerable households; and CO2 and financial savings and energy efficiency improvements for popular community spaces achieved through the installation of insulation, low-energy lighting and appliances, heating upgrades or renewable technologies.

Localgiving has teamed up with the Postcode Community Trust to provide the Magic Little Grants programme. The fund provides small charities and community groups with grants of £500 for projects that meet either of the following themes: Overcoming barriers to participation in physical activities in creative ways; Increasing social cohesion through developing access to sports and other recreational activities. 

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.

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 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.

Grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 are available to schools and not for profit organisations that want to improve childrens health. Funding is provided through themed funding rounds. Funding rounds to date have included access to free drinking water as an alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages such as fizzy drinks, fruit drinks, and sports drinks and holiday food provision to ensure that children do not go hungry during school holidays.

The Warm Homes Fund is a £150million fund administered by Affordable Warmth Solutions (AWS). The fund aims to help make households warmer, healthier and cheaper to heat. Running over 3-years and providing capital funding for the installation of affordable heating solutions in fuel poor households who do not use mains gas as their primary heating fuel. The Fund is open to bids from local authorities, housing associations and their partners and is broadly split in to three categories focusing on urban, rural and health-related solutions. Successful proposals will highlight the number of fuel poor households supported; strategic fit with the Governments Fuel Poverty Strategy; value for money; the benefit created i.e. energy efficiency increases and bill savings; and strength of delivery plans, project management and assurance of delivery.

Individual Hardship grants are available to Stonewater Residents who are experiencing short-term hardship or crisis situations, for example: Sickness resulting in sudden unemployment and short term lack of funds - support may be needed for food vouchers; Oven or fridge requiring emergency replacement. The maximum grant value for Hardship Grants is £1000 per household in any 12-month period. 

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

The 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.

Milton Keynes Community Foundation (MKCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation's aim is to provide funding that will directly address the needs of Milton Keynes most vulnerable people and communities. MKCF especially welcomes grant applications for projects that address community priorities revealed in the Vital Signs initiative, which includes poverty, employability and children's education. Grant awards cover a wide range of project costs including revenue costs e.g venue hire, rent, wages, training, materials, travel; capital costs e.g equipment, building modifications; new organisation start up costs; programmes, projects or special events e.g. community festivals, arts workshops or lunch clubs; pilot projects and continuation costs after a successful pilot; volunteer training, community development and education costs of conservation projects.

Northamptonshire Community Foundation (NCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation is dedicated to funding community-based action, which improves the lives of the county's most disadvantaged people and communities. Child poverty, unemployment, homelessness, domestic violence and social isolation are just some of the issues NCF strive to tackle each year. NCF manages a range of funds from Northamptonshire County Council grants to wind farm community benefit funds and is thus able to fund a wide range of project costs including capital purchases and revenue costs.

Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation (BLCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation aims to be a catalyst for social change by awarding grants to organisations with charitable purposes that operate for the benefit of the community. In particular, the Foundation will support projects that enable the advancement of education, the protection of good health, both mental and physical, and the relief of poverty and sickness. Projects supported must directly address the needs of Bedfordshire and Luton's most vulnerable people and communities. BLCF 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.

The Harpur Trust is a grant making organisation that aims to inspire and support people in the Borough of Bedford to improve their lives through: education; relief of poverty, sickness or distress; recreation with a social welfare purpose. In addition to these charitable objectives the grants programme has three priority areas which cover a wide range of issues: Transitions - supporting people undergoing difficult life transitions; Resilience or Psychological Fitness - helping Bedford residents cope with traumatic changes positively; Isolation - reducing loneliness and lack of social networks amongst the most vulnerable residents. The trust also offers a very small number of grants to individuals each year, generally to adults who are returning to education in order to improve their employment prospects.

The St John Southworth Caritas Fund aims to seed fund or help the development of new local social action initiatives to combat poverty and social deprivation. Only applications from independent organisations working with a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Westminster are accepted. The aims of the project must fall within the strategic priorities, these are: Food poverty and debt: Social isolation of vulnerable groups: Intellectual disability: Homelessness: Human trafficking: Deaf Community: Youth isolation. Grants are made to projects that protect the poor and vulnerable solely according to need without any form of discrimination and for activities that in no way act contrary to or undermine the teaching and practice of the Catholic Church in matters of faith and morals. Parishes can now also apply for crisis grants and funeral grants to assist individuals

Origin Housings Community Grants Programme funds projects that benefit their residents and relate to one or more of the following themes: Supporting families - food projects, activities, community events; Activities for young people - training and personal development, sports, arts, and events; Activities for older people – wellbeing, activities to tackle loneliness; Gardening or environmental projects; Financial management – advice and skills; Digital inclusion- improving access, training or equipment solutions; Employment and training – developing skills, local enterprises and start-up.

Tesco Community Grants support local projects that benefit children, families, and communities, with a focus on food security, education, and play. Eligible applicants include schools, registered charities, and non-profit organisations. Projects that can apply for funding include breakfast clubs, food-growing areas, and after-school clubs, as well as community-based initiatives like food banks and healthy eating programs. Voting for these projects occurs through Tesco's blue token system in stores, with the charity Groundwork UK administering the funds.

The EDF Customer Support Fund helps those that are vulnerable with electricity or gas bill debts, and can also provide essential white goods such as a fridge or cooker. To be eligible you must be registered with EDF's Priority Services you will also need to have sought independent advice before you apply.

The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust supports charities across the UK that focus on agriculture, rural development, and insurance-related initiatives. Key areas of support include education, research, rural poverty relief, and social welfare in rural communities. The trust funds larger projects that have a significant impact on these areas, with an emphasis on advancing public and youth education, agricultural research, and rural community development.

The Trust funds projects concerned with the relief of poverty or distress, particularly those relating to children, and the advancement of the evangelical Christian faith, both at home and abroad. The Beatrice Laing Trust offers grants to UK registered charities working throughout the UK, in developing countries and overseas. Grants are generally awarded on a one-off basis for capital purposes such as the purchase or construction of new premises, building extension, redevelopment or refurbishment, or the purchase of equipment and vehicles.

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 charity aims to fight financial and consumer illiteracy and is dedicated to educating and informing adults and children about consumer and debt issues. It provides grants of up to £500 to help individuals to eradicate this illiteracy through self-development or innovative projects. Eligible groups can apply for grants of up to £7,500. Using funding provided by annual donations from the MoneySavingExpert.com website and proceeds from sales of books written by the website's founder Martin Lewis, MSE Charity aims to help communities break the cycle of debt by helping people to become more financially aware.

The Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust is an independent grant-making trust which supports charitable activity in Kent. The Trust's overarching aim is to improve the lives of people in Kent, and in particular those who are most disadvantaged.

The Buckinghamshire Foundation is an independent registered charity dedicated to promoting charitable activity in the County; since the foundation started in 2000 they have provided grants and loans totalling £5 million to 1600 community groups. The Buckinghamshire Foundation specialises in making awards to organisations which are formally constituted, not for profit and operating for the benefit of Buckinghamshire residents. Support is available for new and existing projects, core running costs and capital expenditure such as equipment and building modifications.

The Tudor Trust is an independent grant-making trust which supports voluntary and community groups working in any part of the UK.  The Trust particularly want to help smaller, community-led organisations which work directly with people who are at the margins of society: organisations which support positive changes in people’s lives and in their communities. The Tudor Trust don't have specific funding programmes designed to advance a particular agenda as they believe that the groups they support are best placed to identify problems and develop solutions.