Grant Directories

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

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

The Warburton Foundation funds local projects that help strengthen communities across England, Scotland, and Wales by making grants to support relevant charitable or community organisations that make a difference within their local area. Through the Community Grants scheme, the Foundation provides grants of up to £400 for projects that have a direct and tangible social impact on families and solve significant social issues in local communities. The scheme will support various activities that improve health, place, and skills for families in their community. Funding is administered by the Charities Aid Foundation and can be used to cover specific costs that will benefit the cause (eg. buying equipment to support an employability project).

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

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

The 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.

London Community Foundation (LCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. LCF is dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged Londoners. Through the Thamesmead Community Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £3,000 to support charities and community groups or individuals to deliver activities in Thamesmead that connect the community and support social and cultural activities.

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

The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation is a grant making foundation that give grants to small and medium sized local organisations in the UK with a demonstrable track record of success working to address local issues in communities of extreme urban deprivation and deprived rural districts. Through the Major grants programme the foundation provides funding of between £10,000 and £100,000 for core costs, salaries, running and project costs to organisations that have a focus on Family Support, this may further include: Early intervention;  Families coping with addiction; Prisoners' families

The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation is a grant making foundation that give grants to small and medium sized local organisations in the UK with a demonstrable track record of success working to address local issues in communities of extreme urban deprivation and deprived rural districts. Through the small grants programme the foundation provides funding of between £2,000 and £10,000 to charitable organisations with an income of less than £250,000 for projects that focus on Community Support. Examples of the kind of projects that can be funded include: CommunityServices; CommunityCentres; Alternative Education; Training, mentoring, employment and volunteering opportunities; Youth; Counselling; Family Support Services; Substance Misuse.

The Hertfordshire Community Foundation is an independent charity that aims to tackle need and deprivation by delivering a range of grants to support local small charities, community and voluntary groups, and individuals on behalf of a wide range of donors. Through the Hertfordshire Children's Fund, the Foundation provides effective, practical support to disadvantaged children (aged 0-16) and their families in Hertfordshire by providing grants of up to £500 for essential items such as washing machines, cookers and beds to ensure they can keep their children healthy, safe and clean.

The Bedfordshire and Luton 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 London Luton Airport Near Neighbours Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £5,000 to community groups/charities whose work addresses the following key priorities: Safer and Stronger Communities; Environment and Economic Development green spaces; Health and Wellbeing; Children and Young People in the following areas: Central Bedfordshire,  North Herts, St. Albans, Dacorum, Stevenage, Eastern parts of Aylesbury Vale District and also some neighbouring villages

The Kent 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 Albert Burns Children's Charitable Trust Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £5,000 to projects that focus mainly on children, young people and families in East Kent, in particular Thanet. 

The Kent 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 Vanquis Social Impact Fund the foundation provides funding of between £1,500 and £10,000 to projects that meet one of the following themes: Improving people’s personal finance capabilities (debt and financial advice/education); Improving physical and/or mental health; Providing support which enhances, creates and sustains positive family relationships; Addressing issues of low educational attainment and improving learning outcomes; Providing people with opportunities to reduce inequality, exclusion and disadvantage, including projects which increase access to employment.

The Kent 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 Involving Medway and Swale programme the foundation provides funding of up to £2,500 to groups delivering short term or one-off activities which increase the range of activities to better physical or mental health, encourage the growth of local initiatives designed and run by local residents or support residents of different ages, cultures, faith etc to come together across estate boundaries.

The Kent 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 Gatwick Foundation Fund the foundation provides funding of up to £10,000 for projects which promote: Employment, training & skills – helping people to gain confidence and raise aspirations through training and development of new skills; Families – supporting families and children in need and projects which combat social isolation and disadvantage; Widening horizons / providing opportunities – supporting projects that enable young people to have opportunities that they would not otherwise have and to help them to widen their horizons and aspirations; Elderly People - improving access to facilities and reducing isolation for the older generation.

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 Youth Opportunities funding strand, the Trust aims to support charities that help disadvantaged children and young people to adopt a more positive attitude to their lives, raise their aspirations and realise their full potential.

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

Calor is the UK’s leading LPG supplier. The Rural Community Fund offers rural off-grid communities the chance to win funding for projects that will improve local life. Support is available for community centres, village halls, sporting venues, youth clubs, scout groups and initiatives to support the elderly. Funding is available for renovations, redecorating, equipment, or new LPG heating systems. Projects must be in a rural off mains gas location in the UK and be for the benefit of an off-grid rural community in England, Scotland or Wales and must benefit the wider community and not an individual. Once a project has been accepted it will need to gain as many votes as possible from its supporters. Projects with the most votes will become finalists. Finalist entries will then be reviewed and scored by a panel of judges. Previous winners have included a school garden project, a Music Instrument Bank and a Village Hall facelift.

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 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 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.

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 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.

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

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 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 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 Mohammad Ibrahim Foundation is a private independent grant making foundation. It makes grants to organisations which aim to improve the quality of life for people and communities in the UK, both now and in the future. Grants are awarded twice a year for works that help transform the UK. The grants range from £500 - £10,000. Extraordinary projects may receive grants up to £50,000. The Foundation is particularly interested in: Community Building, Environment (Scotland only), Strengthening Nonprofits and Supporting Families. The Foundation likes to consider work which others may find hard to fund, perhaps because it breaks new ground, appears too risky, requires core funding, or needs a more unusual form of financial help such as a loan. Applications can be submitted at any time.

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 Anchor Foundation Grant focuses on Christian Charities concerned with social inclusion particularly through ministries of healing and the arts. In any one year the grant range to a project is usually between £500 and £12,000 for either capital or revenue funding and applications for projects abroad will be considered. It is the Trust's normal practice not to give grants to the same project for more than three years. Applications are considered at twice yearly trustees meetings in April and November and need to be received by 31st January and 31st July each year.

The Philip Green Memorial Trust (now The Paskin Children’s Trust) is a charitable organisation which helps sick and disabled children all over the UK and overseas. It supports welfare, medical and educational projects as well as helping individual children to lead a normal life. The Trust not only responds to the needs of large projects but to the daily exasperation of individuals and smaller organisations for whom a little money can change lives. For instance, a holiday for Mencap children whose hard earned funds were stolen by thieves. The funding amount is discretionary and applications can be submitted at any time.

The Peter Cruddas Foundation gives priority to programmes calculated to offer disadvantaged and disengaged young people in England and Wales pathways into education, training and employment. The Foundation can only donate to registered charities in the UK for use in the UK.  Current priorities are for Charities in England and Wales.  Revenue grants will be made in three priority areas: Pathways and support for disadvantaged young people aged 16 to 30 into education, training or employment: Work experience for 16 - 30 year olds: Youth work in London particularly evening work for 16 - 30 year olds. The funding amount is discretionary and projects can be funded for more than one year, although the Foundation does not intend to continually repeat funding organisations. Deadline dates of the 1st March and 1st September have been introduced.  Charities are encouraged to apply at any time and before the twice yearly deadline dates.

Organisations catering for children with special needs such as schools, hospitals as well as individual families can apply for grants to provide vital respite breaks. There are three programmes: The Day Trip Grant fund for days out and theatre trips: Family Respite Breaks for short seaside or country breaks: Group Activity Holidays for which partial applications with joint funding are accepted. All trips usually take place in the UK and cater for disadvantaged young people with special needs including those in special needs schools, in hospitals and in hospices and individual families are also eligible. The applicant must represent a group of young people aged 3-17 with special needs, or represent a special needs school or special needs group. All key carers who will be accompanying children on the trip must be DBS cleared. Organisations must also have a child protection policy in place. The funding amount is discretionary and applications can be submitted at any time.

Turners Court Youth Trust aims to help children, young people and families to fulfil their potential by developing high quality, early intervention, prevention and support services. It is essential that all grant applications reflect the Trust's charitable objects, which are: To provide and assist in the provision, care and support for children and young people (aged 23 years and under) with emotional and behavioural difficulties; and to advance the education of children and young people so as to develop their physical, mental and spiritual capacities to enable them to grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society, in particular but not exclusively, those children and young people with emotional or behavioural problems. Generally one-off grants of between £250 and £5,000 are made although larger grants may be considered. Applications can be submitted at any time.

The Noel Buxton Trust Grants supports registered charities through the following programmes: Africa grants - focusses on economic development and favours work such as small business support and training, and microfinance in both urban and rural settings. The geographical focus for this funding is Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Sudan and South Sudan; Family Grants - the current focus of funding for families is the issue of domestic abuse. The emphasis is on registered charities outside London, South-east England; Penal grants - recognises the variety of Voluntary and Community Sector organisations that work with offenders and supports the commitment of these organisations to the rehabilitation of offenders for the benefit of both the offender and society as a whole.

The Joseph Rank Benevolent Trusts main objectives are to advance the Christian faith and to further any other objects or purposes which are exclusively charitable according to the laws of England and Wales in force from time to time. The Trustees have identified two main areas of interest, as follows: The adaptation of Methodist Church properties with a view to providing improved facilities for use both by the church itself and in its work in the community in which it is based. Projects that demonstrate a Christian approach to the practical, educational and spiritual needs of people. The funding amount is discretionary and applications received before the middle of February, May, August and November will be considered in April, July and October respectively.

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

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

The objectives of The Barbara Ward Children's Foundation are to carry out charitable purposes anywhere in the world, primarily in relation to children. Initially the foundation seeks to make grants to other charitable organisations with similar aims, in order to meet its goals. Since it was established in 2001 The Barbara Ward Children's Foundation has reviewed over 5700 requests for funding. They have approved grants to over 670 organisations totalling over £9.4 million. The charities they have supported have helped children in Barbados, Cameroon, England, Kenya, Kosovo, Nepal, Northern Ireland, Russia, Scotland and Wales. Applications can be submitted at any time.

The Holiday Grants for Children programmme by the Henry Smith Charity funds recreational trips and holidays for disadvantaged or disabled children. It supports short holidays, with grants ranging from £500 to £2,750, prioritising organisations in the most deprived areas of the UK. Eligible applicants include schools, youth groups, non-profit organizations, and charities. The focus is on trips that could not happen without the charity's support. Trips can be to countryside or city locations, but must be outside the children’s immediate locality.

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

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

UnLtd is the leading provider of support to social entrepreneurs in the UK and supports individuals who have their social ventures firmly rooted in delivering positive social change. It operates a unique model by investing directly in individuals and offering a complete package of resources; from awards of funding to ongoing advice, networking and practical support. UnLtd resource community entrepreneurs to start-up; support those with more established social ventures to scale up; and are committed to developing an eco-system of support to make it easier for those who need help to find it. UnLtd offers a number of programmes with varying levels of funding and support. Please refer to the funder's website for details.

Reaching Communities provide grants to help improve local communities and the lives of people most in need, including hard to reach communities. There is a small revenue and a capital scheme and a larger buildings only fund. All projects must address one or more of the following outcomes. People have better chances in life, with better access to training and development to improve their life skills;  Stronger communities, with more active citizens, working together to tackle their problems;  Improved rural and urban environments, which communities are better able to access and enjoy; and Healthier and more active people and communities.

The 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.

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.

Community Foundations support community and voluntary sector activity through grants to local groups and organisations. There are 48 Community Foundations of different sizes within the UK. Although all Community Foundations operate according to common criteria, they vary in terms of size and nature of grants available. Some Community Foundations will fund both organisations and individuals whilst other foundations will only fund organisations. Each community foundation covers a specific geographic area and will not normally be able to support work outside its area.

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

The Barrow Cadbury Trust is an independent charitable foundation, committed to supporting vulnerable and marginalised people in society. The Trust promotes social justice through grant making, research, influencing public opinion and policy and supporting local communities.  Their work is divided into three programme areas: Criminal Justice - building evidence of effective interventions, primarily for young adults and women, at all stages of the criminal justice process; Migration - promoting an immigration system that is fair to both migrants and established residents; Economic Justice - supporting effective approaches to reducing economic and social injustice and assisting in building resilient communities. There is a particular focus on projects located in Birmingham and the Black Country.

The Family Holiday Charity helps UK families facing financial hardship by providing them with the opportunity to go on a holiday. These breaks are designed to offer relief, build memories, and provide families with time away from daily challenges. Families in need can be referred by professionals, such as social workers or support workers, who work with them. The charity focuses on helping families who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford a holiday.