Grant Directories

The Rural England Prosperity Fund is part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and supports the aims of the government's Levelling Up White Paper and Future Farming Programme. The Fund provides funding for small businesses and community infrastructure in rural areas of England. It aims to improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities. The Rural Fund provides capital funding for projects that support new and existing rural businesses to develop new products and facilities, and for new and improved community infrastructure that provides essential services and assets for local people and businesses. The funding can be used to fund capital projects that benefit businesses or communities in rural areas.

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.

Organisations that have a Community Directplus account with the Co-operative Bank can apply for funding from the Customer Donation Fund. Grants can be used to support special projects and fundraising activities. The fund grows in relation to the deposits made; for every £100 increase in collective deposits across Community Directplus accounts the Co-Operative Bank adds 20p to the fund and promises to distribute a minimum of £5,000 twice a year.

As part of BT's Community Fibre Partnerships programme eligible communities in the final 5% of the UK not covered by fibre broadband rollout plans can apply for a match-funded grant of up to £30,000 toward the cost of their new fibre infrastructure where that new infrastructure could also serve their local school. Community Partnerships must first register to find out if they are eligible to apply.

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.

Two Ridings Community Foundation (TRCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation's aim is to provide funding that will directly address the needs of York, Hull, North and East Yorkshire's most vulnerable people and communities. TRCF encourages applications for activities that: Support particularly disadvantaged and marginalised communities; tackle challenging issues; encourage inclusive community activity and participation; respond to their communities' needs; engage people who face discrimination or disadvantage; produce a wide range of benefits and provide good value for money. A wide range of project costs may be funded including capital purchases and revenue costs.

County Durham Community Foundation (CDCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation's aim is dedicated to helping communities across County Durham to grow by creating opportunities and tackling issues of disadvantage and exclusion. Support generally falls under the broad heading of social welfare with grants specifically targeted in ways that will enable people and communities to fulfil their potential. The community projects supported will be working at a grassroots level to improve the vitality of their neighbourhoods. Projects might include training and skills development for the unemployed, environmental improvements, activities for children and young people or reducing the isolation of rural communities. Grants to individuals and families who are in need of some help are also available.

The Community Foundation for Tyne & Wear and Northumberland is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation's aim is to provide grants and other support to groups and individuals by matching applications to donors' interests. The Foundation supports a wide range of people and causes across three broad themes: supporting people to overcome disadvantage, creating stronger communities and making the area a good place to live. The Foundation is particularly keen to help grassroots community groups and small-to-medium-sized voluntary organisations. Grants to large UK-wide charities are not normally made but may be considered where there are strong relationships in the Tyne & Wear and Northumberland area and the proposal has potential to achieve a substantial impact.

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.

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.