Grant Directories

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 National Lottery Community Fund - The Platinum Jubilee Fund provides funding for projects that create a greater legacy for our places and spaces, and that support new opportunities, activities and build better relationships with one another, across generations and with the natural world. The three areas of focus are: Across Generations - Strengthening relationships between generations and creating a legacy for future generations; Community Renewal - Supporting new opportunities for people to develop skills and experiences in their local community, as well as opportunities to bring people together in new ways, and in new or different places and spaces; Our Shared Natural World - Growing our care and action locally for the natural world.

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 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 Cumbria Community Foundation exists to benefit disadvantaged people and communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference within their local area. Through the Kipling Fund for Older People, the Foundation provides easy-to-access grants of between £500 and £1,000 for small projects which tackle disadvantage amongst older adults, support people with mental health needs, and people on low incomes who live in rural communities and pockets of deprivation in Cumbria.

The Cumbria Community Foundation exists to benefit disadvantaged people and communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference within their local area. Through the Johnson Fund, the Foundation provides grants of between £500 and £2,500 to improve the lives, health and wellbeing of disadvantaged children, families and vulnerable older people in Cumbria. The Fund also supports projects which enable people to access the arts, sports, culture, heritage and the environment.

The Cumbria Community Foundation exists to benefit disadvantaged people and communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference within their local area. Through the Janetta Topsy Laidlaw Trust Fund, the Foundation provides grants of up to £500 to support older people in Carlisle District.

The Community Foundation for Lancashire 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 John Laing Charitable Trust Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £1,000 to small grassroots groups with projects that address any of the following: Homelessness; Disadvantaged young people (aged 4 – 18); Education; Community regeneration which should include charities benefitting the aged.

The Community Foundation for Lancashire 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 WO Street Transformation Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £5,000 to projects working to advance education and tackle poverty particularly for children and young people who are unable to meet their educational or living costs or projects for older people, blind people or disabled people, particularly those who cannot afford medical or convalescent care.

The Community Foundation for Merseyside exists to benefit disadvantaged communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference to their local communities. Through the Alfred Shaw Trust Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £2500 to organisations with projects that meet the following objectives: help and support disabled children and young people; increase the provision of diversionary activities and facilities to  help and support vulnerable children and young people; initiatives that support vulnerable people through the winter months; support the provision of amenities for the elderly helping to reduce social isolation; support education initiatives that will help to raise the aspirations of children and young people living in Runcorn with particular interest in music and the arts; support young people to undertake projects or activities, where assistance from public bodies is not usually available.

The Community Foundation for Merseyside exists to benefit disadvantaged communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference to their local communities. Through the Ann and Ray Messer Foundation programme the Community foundation for Merseyside provides grants of up to £2,000 to organisations with projects that focus on the following areas: To support children and young people aged 11-25 and can consider community projects that focus on mental health and wellbeing; To support older people and consider projects that help to reduce isolation, improve health, build friendships and help people to learn a new skill or develop a new interest.

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 Warrington Older Peoples Fund Main Grants Programme the foundation provides grants of up to £10,000 to support projects that aim to improve the lives of people aged 50+ who live in the Borough of Warrington. 

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 Warrington Older Peoples Fund Small Grants Programme the fundation provides grants of up to £2,000 to support projects which aim to improve the lives of people aged 50+ who live in the Borough of Warrington.

The Cumbria Community Foundation exists to benefit disadvantaged people and communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference within their local area. Through the Cumbria Fund, the Foundation provides grants of up to £10,000 for charitable projects that improve the lives, skills, education and employability of disadvantaged children and families, support vulnerable older people, improve health and wellbeing, and strengthen and support fragile communities in Cumbria.

The Cumbria Community Foundation exists to benefit disadvantaged people and communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference within their local area.  Through the Abbeyfield Carlisle Society Community First Fund, the Foundation provides funding for projects that would benefit people living in the Carlisle, Allerdale and Eden Local Authority areas, such as singing for fun workshops, older people’s exercise classes, and recruiting, training and supporting volunteers.

The Cumbria Community Foundation exists to benefit disadvantaged people and communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference within their local area.  Through the Abbeyfield Carlisle Society Over 55 Community First Fund, the Foundation provides funding for projects that would benefit people over the age of 55, living in the Carlisle, Allerdale and Eden Local Authority areas.

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.

Grants totalling £250,000 per year are available to registered charities in the UK for projects with a social welfare focus and those working with disadvantaged people. The Directors are particularly interested in supporting the following areas of charitable work: Medical research; care of the elderly; general welfare; hospices; the deaf and blind; care of the physically & mentally disabled; and the Armed Forces.

The Hodge Foundation provides grants of up to £100,000 to UK registered or exempt charities such as special needs schools and universities for projects that address the objectives of the Foundation.  This includes supporting charities working with people who may be vulnerable or disadvantaged and who need assistance to improve their lives;  education and learning, both within formal school settings and practical approaches to learning which support young people to fulfill their potential and thrive including those with special needs; medical related charities specialising in the treatment and support for specific illnesses and research; and providing funds towards projects such as facilities in church buildings and inclusive activities for the wider community.

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.

The Centre for Ageing Better aims to bring about change to improve later lives, bring fresh thinking to the challenges and opportunities that society faces as more people live longer, and to develop, share and apply evidence to help people age better. The Age-friendly and inclusive volunteering fund has been set up to develop and document models of good practice in supporting older people’s voluntary and community activity. The fund will support voluntary organisations to do more to tackle the barriers that prevent older people from taking part, contributing to their communities or remaining involved as life changes. Grants of between £40,000 and £60,000 are available for projects in England.

UnLtd finds, funds and supports social entrepreneurs. The Solutions for an Ageing Society Programme aims to support people in later life and ensure that living longer goes hand in hand with living well. The programme is looking to support social entrepreneurs that can offer innovative and inclusive solutions that contribute to ageing well, including improving outcomes for independence, connectedness and health and wellbeing. The programme also looks to support ventures that have a direct positive impact for carers and the care system. Up to £50,000 of investment funding is available along with six months of intensive support

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 Home Instead Charities (Previously Bring Joy Foundation) make donations to not-for-profit groups, organisations and charities that can demonstrate their commitment to creating activities designed to improve the lives of the elderly. Home Instead Charities will fund events, activities or pastimes that bring the joy and fun back into ageing.

The Rhododendron Trust makes grants of £500 to £1500 to registered charities supporting the disadvantaged in the developing world and the UK and to those supporting the arts and wildlife. Smaller Charities are prioritised. In the developing world, the Trust prefers to support charities benefitting people affected by poverty and, for example, disability, age, gender, ethnic status, poor medical, welfare or educational infrastructure. In the UK, support is given to charities working with those disadvantaged by disability or mental illness; prisoners and ex-offenders; drug addiction; homelessness; carers; the elderly; disadvantaged children. Arts and Nature funding is mainly through the National Churches Trust and Fauna and Flora International, however proposals for small theatre and music projects, for the protection of cultural and natural heritage or environmental sustainability are accepted.

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

The Louis Baylis Charitable trust is a grant giving charity, whose primary aim is to work for the good of the community, principally in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. The majority of grants are given to local organisations and charities with the balance going to regional and national organisations, however all sections of the local community are encouraged to apply. The bulk of donations have supported projects that benefit the elderly and the young but many other groups including the arts are also supported. In the last financial year grants of over £100,000 were given to more than 100 recipients. Grants of over £1,000 can only be given to organisations and not individuals.

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 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.

The objectives of The Edgar E Lawley Foundation are for general charitable purposes with particular reference to medicine, the needs of elderly persons, and to educational purposes with reference to the arts, commerce and industry. Traditionally the Foundation has given particular assistance to charities in the West Midlands area. The current annual grants programme amounts to approximately £200,000 per annum with a typical grant being in the region of £2,000 per successful applicant. 

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 Royal British Legion provides lifelong support for the armed forces community - serving men and women, veterans, and their families. It can provide grants and loans to those who are suffering financial hardship. Priority is given to projects in the areas of employment and training; family support; homelessness and outreach; mental wellbeing; and supporting the elderly to live independently. Examples of the activities that can be funded include providing a support or welfare service and capital projects, for example, to build a facility or to purchase equipment for the benefit of Royal British Legion beneficiaries.

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.

Forever Manchester is the community foundation for Greater Manchester, it is a charity that funds and supports thousands of community projects in Bury, Bolton, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Salford, Trafford, Tameside and Wigan. Through generous contributions from individuals and businesses, Forever Manchester strengthens communities and enriches local life by inspiring local people to do extraordinary things together. Forever Manchester manages a wide range of different funds that community groups can apply for depending on the funding criteria, details of all funds available can be found on the Forever Manchester website.

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.