April's funding news

Welcome to April’s funding update.

This update is split into two parts. Section A features funders with a local or regional focus. Section B features funders who work across England. In both sections, funders are listed in order of deadline date, soonest first. Funders without a deadline date appear after this.

This update can only provide a snapshot of these funders so we recommend visiting the funders’ websites for full details before you apply. Most funders in this list have a website, which you can access by clicking on the name of the funder. Full contact details have been provided for funders that do not have a website.

A. Funders with a local/regional interest

West Midlands – Citizen Local Fund

Who can apply: Local groups, organisations and charities may apply

Size of grant available: The total fund value is £50,000.

Grants of between £50 and £3,000 are available.

Priorities: The aim of the fund is to support Citizen Housing residents and communities to thrive. Grants are available for projects which will promote positive mental and physical health, reduce loneliness, promote community cohesion and being improvements to the local area.

How to apply: Applications can be made at any time and are considered at periodic trustees meetings. Due to the high volume of applications, the funder recommends groups request funding for projects starting in late 2025/2026. An online application form is available on the funder’s website.

How to apply: Applications are now open and the deadline for submission is 23 May 2025 (5pm).

An online application form is available on the Citizen Housing website, alternatively a Microsoft Word format version of the application form can be requested via email: engagement@citizenhousing.org.uk

Severn Trent Community Fund – New Project Funding

Who can apply: Applications are accepted from organisations that are:

Not-for-profit, with a governing document and a bank account in the legal name of the organisation (with dual signatories).
Foundation schools, colleges or academy trusts.
Statutory bodies (including local authorities, town, parish or community councils).

CICs limited by shares, community benefit societies and co-operative societies can also apply. The organisation must have a charitable dissolution clause to be eligible and meet the rest of the eligibility criteria.

Projects must be located in the Severn Trent region and be benefiting the communities that are Severn Trent customers. (Severn Trent’s catchment region stretches across the heart of the UK, from the Bristol Channel to the Humber, and from the West Midlands to the East Midlands.)

Applicants can check if their project is in the eligible region using the map on the Severn Trent website or Water UK’s water supply postcode checker.

Only one application can be accepted per organisation each year.
Size of grant available: Two levels of grants are available from February 2025:

£2,000 to £20,000 – up to 24 months for project completion (organisations do not need to be registered to apply).
£20,001 to £100,000 – up to 24 months for project completion.

NB Severn Trent must be the majority funder of the project, so applicants need to be applying for at least 50% of the total project cost.
Priorities: The funding is for local projects, charities and community groups across the Severn Trent region to improve community wellbeing.

The funders have made some changes to their fund offering and from 2025 will be providing two levels of grant for new projects, with an updated application procedure. They expect to be able to support around 45 projects each year.

How to apply: The next deadline for applications is 31 July 2025 for requests of £20,000 to £100,000 (for consideration at the September 2025 panel).

The fund is open to applications at any time, with applications reviewed by the Customer Panel every six months.

The remaining 2025 panel deadlines are:

31 July 2025 – grants of £20,000 to £100,000 (for consideration at the September 2025 panel).
31 August 2025 – grants of £2,000 to £20,000 (for consideration at the October 2025 panel).

The criteria and full details of how to make an application are given in the guidelines which can be downloaded from the Severn Trent website.

Philip Bates Trust

Who can apply: Individuals and organisations from anywhere in the UK are eligible to apply.

Priority is given to organisations which have charitable status or which are not-for profit bodies with a track record of serving the community in a field relevant to the Trust’s aims and objectives.

Preference is given to applicants from the West Midlands or organisations with projects in the West Midlands.

Size of grant available: The Trust’s resources are limited and the number of grants made each year depends on the level of income received by the Trust from its fundraising activities and investments.

The Trust offers two levels of grants:

Grants for individuals are usually in the range of £100 to £250.
Grants to organisations are usually up to £500

Priorities: The Trust aims to advance the education of young people in the arts by providing awards to encourage and support their pursuit of creative and artistic achievement, plus offering financial support to projects that develop creative and artistic interests and skills.

How to apply: The Trustees meet three times a year – usually in February, June and October to assess applications. Applicants should therefore aim to submit their application by the end of the month before the next meeting is due i.e. January, May or September.

A set of guidelines can be found on the Trust’s website.

Applications should address the following points:

What is the grant for?
Why is the grant required?
What are the total costs of the activity for which the grant is being sought?
What other sources of funding have been secured?
What difference will a grant from the Philip Bates Trust make?
How are the objectives of the Philip Bates Trust met?
How will the Trust’s support be acknowledged?

A minimum of two references should be included with each application.

The Trust accepts postal and online applications.

Contact the Trust for further information.

The Philip Bates Trust
24 Elmfield Road
Castle Bromwich
Birmingham
B36 OHL
Tel: 0121 747 5705
Email: info@philipbatestrust.org.uk

Angus Irvine Playing Fields Fund

Who can apply: Applications are accepted from local community groups and sports clubs (with priority given to sports clubs):

Based in Greater Manchester, Oxfordshire, Greater London or the West Midlands Combined Authority, supported by Access Sport’s Changing Places programme, and
Based in or serving a borough or ward within the top 20% Indices of Multiple Deprivation.

Priority will be give to organisations/groups that are already supported by Access Sport.

Size of grant available: Grants in the range from £2,500 to £5,000 are typically available, although a larger grant may be possible in some circumstances.

Priorities: The funding is intended to improve the lives of children and young people (up to the age of 25 years), enabling them to access the transformative benefits of inclusive community sport.

How to apply: The committee meet four times a year. Applications that meet the criteria will be considered in January, April, July and October.

An online application form is available on the Access Sport website.

B. National Funders

Screwfix Foundation

Deadline: 10th May 2025

Who can apply: Registered charities and not-for-profit organisations based in the UK (including specialist not-for-profit schools) can apply.

Applications will be accepted from:

Registered Charities with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
Registered Charities with OSCR
Registered Charities with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland
Registered Community Benefit Society with the FCA
Registered Cooperative Society with the FCA
Registered Community Interest Company (CIC) with Companies House.

To be eligible, applicants must:

Be supporting people in need in the UK by reason of financial hardship, sickness, disability or other disadvantage or distress. The main beneficiaries could be:
- People suffering from sickness or disabilities.
- People from diverse groups.
- Disadvantaged or vulnerable people.
- People suffering from financial hardship.
- People suffering from mental health issues.
- Other.
Be looking for funding to support projects that relate to the repair, maintenance, improvement or construction of homes, community buildings and other buildings.
Have suitable governance to manage funds, eg, financial reporting, committee meetings, etc.

Both national and local charities can apply.

Size of grant available: Grants of up to £5,000 are available.

Funding needs to be spent within 12 months from receipt of payment.

Priorities: The funding is intended for both national and local charities across the UK so that they can fix, repair, maintain and improve properties and community facilities specifically for those in need (by reason of financial hardship, sickness, disability or other disadvantage or distress) in the UK.

How to apply: The guidelines and online application form can be found on The Screwfix Foundation website.

The trustees meet to review applications in March, June, September and December. The cut off date for applications is 12pm on the 10th of the month prior to the Trustee meeting.

The application windows are:

11 November to 10 February for the March meeting with a decision by 30 March.
11 February to 10 May for the June Trustee meeting with a decision by 30 June.
11 May to 10 August for the September Trustee meeting with a decision by 30 September.
11 August to 10 November for the December Trustee meeting with a decision by 30 December.

All projects that are successful will be listed on the Screwfix Foundation website.

Contact The Screwfix Foundation for further information.

Enquiries
The Screwfix Foundation
Trade House
Mead Avenue
Houndstone Business Park
Yeovil
BA22 8RT
Tel: 01935 414100
Email: foundation@screwfix.com

Triangle Trust 1949 Fund

Deadline: 22nd May 2025

Who can apply: Registered charities, not-for-profit social enterprises and community interest companies that are working within the UK and have a UK office can apply.

Only organisations exclusively led by and for women and girls are eligible to apply.

To be eligible, applicants must:

Have previous experience of working with vulnerable young women or girls either on the edge of the criminal justice system or who already have criminal convictions.
Be requesting funding for a project working exclusively with young women and girls aged between 11 and 30 years. It is unlikely that the Trust will fund a project across the whole age range.
Work solely with women and girls.
Have a proven track record of running projects working with young women and girls that is both gender and trauma informed.
Be proposing a project with targets that are specifically linked to either reducing the number of young women or girls who reoffend or reduce the number of young women and girls who receive a first conviction.
Have an average annual income over the past three years of less than £1.5 million.
Be a registered charity or an organisation set up with a clear social purpose and appropriate governing documents stating this.

Social enterprise and community interest companies must have a governing document which shows the name, aim/purpose, objects of the group, including a dissolution clause. This clause should show that the organisation is a not-for-profit group by confirming that any assets remaining after all debts are paid will be given to another voluntary group with similar aims. This document should also include details of the organisation’s Trustees or management committee.

The Trust particularly welcomes applications from organisations working in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Size of grant available: Grants of between £10,000 and £80,000 for a duration of 12 months to two years.

A maximum of £40,000 per year can be requested.

The amount of funding must be proportional to the project being undertaken.

Priorities: The Trust holds two grants rounds per year:

The Spring round is for proposals wanting to work with young people who already have a criminal conviction.
The Autumn round is for proposals focused on targeted work with high-risk young people on the edge of the criminal justice system.

This year both rounds will once again be focused on funding for organisations working with vulnerable young women and girls who have been in the criminal justice system or who are at a high risk of entering it. Applicants must demonstrate significant expertise working with vulnerable and challenging young women and girls.

How to apply: There are two funding rounds per year.

There is a two-stage application process.

Stage one is to complete the online application form on the Triangle Trust website.
Stage two will involve a visit from the Trust’s Director to the shortlisted applicants (usually between six and eight organisations).

Applications for the:

First round open on 15 April 2025 and close 22 May 2025. All applicants notified if shortlisted on 1 July 2025.
Second round open 16 September 2025 and close 28 October 2025. All applicants notified if shortlisted on 18 December 2025.

Full details and the online application form can be found on the Triangle Trust website.

Contact the Triangle Trust for further information.

The Triangle Trust 1949 Fund
Brighton Eco Centre
39-41 Surrey Street
Brighton
East Sussex
BN1 3PB
Tel: 07716 378564
Email: info@triangletrust.org.uk

Patagonia International Environmental Grants

Deadline: 31st May 2025

Who can apply: Non-profit organisations with a non-governmental status, doing environmental work in the UK or the Republic of Ireland can apply for funding.

The Company is happy to fund risk-taking, off-the-beaten-track groups.

Size of grant available: Grants of between US$5,000 and US$15,000 are available.

Only one proposal is accepted per group, per fiscal year (1 May – 30 April).

Priorities: Patagonia believes that “local battles to protect a specific stand of forest, a stretch of river, an indigenous wild species or a community from a polluting refinery are both effective at building public support and confronting larger, more complicated issues – like climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental justice” and accordingly provides grants for grassroot initiatives in the UK and the Republic of Ireland that are addressing these issues.

How to apply: There are two annual deadlines:

31 May for a response by the end of August.
30 September for a response by the end of December.

Applicants should take the eligibility quiz on the Patagonia website. If the proposed work is eligible, applicants will be directed to the application form.

Contact Patagonia for further information.

Grants Team
Patagonia Europe
Jollemanhof 11
1019 GW Amsterdam
NETHERLANDS
Email: grants@patagonia.com

Roots & Routes Fund

Deadline: 2nd June 2025

Who can apply: To apply, groups must:

Be based in England with the majority of their work taking place within England.
Be a youth-led organisation with a minimum of 55% of their leadership between the ages of 18 and 30.
Be led by at least 55% of people who are the characteristics of communities most impacted by climate injustice, or those underrepresented in the climate justice sector.
Have at least three people leading the organisation.
Have a UK bank account or be willing to be fiscally hosted by one that does.
Organisations that have a group agreement or constitution in place that sets out how the group intends to work together.
Have an annual revenue of between £10,000 and £500,000.

Size of grant available: One-year grants of up to £20,000 are available.

Priorities: This fund aims to support youth-led organisations that are fighting for climate justice in England to deliver projects that empower young people to take climate justice action in ways that are meaningful for them and their communities.

Funding will support existing youth-led organisations that are trialling new climate justice initiatives, ideas at an early stage, and organisations that want to add a climate justice lens to their existing work.

How to apply: The deadline for applications is 2 June 2025 (23:59).

It is expected that applicants will be notified of any decisions made on 4 July 2025.

An online webinar will be held on 28 April 2025 (17:00 – 18:00).

Guidance notes and an online application form are available from the Blagrave Trust website.

abrdn Financial Fairness Trust

Deadline: 3rd June 2025

Who can apply: Organisations that are undertaking charitable activities can apply and the Trust welcomes applications from a wide range of organisations, including registered charities, voluntary organisations, think tanks, campaigning groups, research bodies and universities.

To be eligible organisations must have a governing body with at least three non-executive directors/trustees (at least three who are not employees of the organisation or afﬁliated to it in any other way).

Size of grant available: There is no minimum or maximum size of grant, but typically grants range between £10,000 and £200,000, with most being between £50,000 and £120,000 in total.

The funding may be spread over one, two or three years, and sometimes shorter periods, for example six months.

The Foundation makes between 15 and 20 grants each year, and intends to award around £3 million annually.

Priorities: The funding is intended for strategic work, including policy work, campaigning and research, which has the potential to improve ﬁnancial wellbeing at a national scale. The Foundation is interested in funding projects that examine and promote measures to:

Increase incomes for those on low-to-middle incomes.
Ensure people have an adequate safety net, building savings and assets.
Reduce the cost of living, making sure those on lower incomes are not paying more.
Address issues related to spending and borrowing, particularly where it becomes problematic.
Ensure that there is fair taxation.
Improving the household finances of people on low-to-middle incomes in the UK during the transition to Net Zero and adjustment to climate change.

How to apply: The next deadline for applications is 3 June 2025 (13:00).

It takes around four to ﬁve months from the application deadline to receiving a decision from the Trustees. Applicants will ﬁnd out if they are shortlisted within two months of the application deadline.

There is a two-stage application process:

Organisations need to submit an outline application via email. A template for this is available to download from the Foundation’s website.
Short-listed organisations are asked to complete a full application, based on their original submission but with the opportunity to make further changes.

Applicants must contact the abrdn Financial Fairness Trust to discuss their application with a Grants Officer before applying to the Climate Change and Household Finances in the UK programme.

Guidelines and the template for the outline application are available on the abrdn Financial Fairness Trust’s website.

D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust

Deadline: 3rd June 2025

Who can apply: Applications are accepted from UK registered charities working within the UK for the benefit of UK residents. Only Registered, Exempt or Excepted charities will be considered.

To be eligible, an organisation’s annual returns to the Charity Commission, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland must be up to date.

Size of grant available: Grants generally range from £500 to £6,000.

The majority of grants are one-off grants for one year.

Priorities: The funding is for charitable work in the UK that addresses the objectives of the Trust, which are:

The advancement of the arts.
Health and medical welfare.
Environmental protection or improvement.

How to apply: The Trustees usually consider applications three times a year in March, July and November.

The next deadline for applications is 3 June 2025 (23:59) for consideration at the 8 July 2025 meeting.

Application forms are available to complete online at the Trust’s website. Applicants should read the guidelines before starting the application form.

Applicants are encouraged to apply well ahead of the deadline if possible as the Trust is always overwhelmed with applications, with many submitted on the closing date, which means the Trust may not be able to fully assess all last-minute applications ahead of the meeting.

Project applications should have a start date of at least three months after the meeting date as grants awarded will be paid up to a month after the meeting, or longer if conditions apply.

The application process can take between three and six months depending on when the application is submitted.

Contact the D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust for further information.

Grants Administrator
D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
6 Trull Farm Buildings
Tetbury
Gloucestershire
GL8 8SQ
Tel: 0203 637 3003
Email: info@doylycartecharitabletrust.org

Heart Research UK – Healthy Heart Grants

Deadline: 4th June 2025

Who can apply: Registered charities and community interest companies (CICs) in the UK with an annual income of less than £1 million are eligible to apply.

Groups are expected to have an in-depth knowledge of the specific needs and demographics of the communities they intend to work with and their project activities need to specifically address the problems within that community.

Size of grant available: Five grants of £15,000 each will be awarded throughout the year as follows:

One in Scotland
One in Wales
Two in England (one for the North of England and one for the South of England)
One in Northern Ireland

Priorities: The funding is for new projects being delivered in small local communities that work with adults and that actively promote heart health or reduce the risk of heart disease through primary or secondary prevention.

For both focus areas, priority will be given to charities supporting people in the top 50% of the UK Index of Multiple Deprivation

How to apply: The grants are available in specific regions at certain times of the year.

The application windows for 2025 are:

Wales – 26 March to 23 April
England North – 7 May to 4 June
Scotland – 11 June to 9 July
England South – 16 July to 13 August
Northern Ireland – 20 August to 17 September.

Applications open at 9am and close at 5pm for all regions.

Application forms are available to complete online at the Heart Research UK website.

The Hedley Foundation

Deadline: 4th June 2025

Who can apply: Small to mid-sized UK registered charities that are based and working in the UK can apply.Applicants may apply if they have not received a grant from the Foundation within the previous two years (or submitted an unsuccessful application within the last 12 months).Size of grant available: Although funding is at the discretion of the Trustees, the Foundation notes:

Typically, grants of up to £5,000 are regularly made and occasional larger sums are given to charities where high impact can be achieved.
Smaller charities may receive smaller grants of £250 upwards.

Priorities: The scheme is intended to support smaller charitable organisations undertaking projects for young people, the disabled, terminally ill patients and others in need. The main objective of the Trustees’ grant-making is to improve lives and to lift people’s aspirations.

How to apply: Applications are considered at Trustee meetings which are held four times a year. Submissions should be received at least six weeks before the meeting.

Applicants are advised to check the website for deadline updates. The next closing dates for applications are:

11 December 2024 for the meeting at the end of January
4 March 2025 for the meeting in early April
4 June 2025 for the meeting in mid July
27 August for the meeting in early October

An application form can be downloaded from the Foundation’s website. Additional information to be submitted includes:

A copy of the most recent set of audited accounts.
A breakdown of the costs demonstrating how the grant will be spent.
The anticipated outcomes/impact and who/how many people will benefit.

Completed application forms should be sent by post or email (applications@hedleyfoundation.org.uk).

The Foundation receives more than 1,000 applications per year of which around 250 are successful.

Contact The Hedley Trust for further information.

Lucy Janes
Appeals Secretary
The Hedley Foundation
1-3 College Hill
London
EC4R 2RA
Email: ljanes@hedleyfoundation.org.uk

Better Community Business Network Grant Initiative

Deadline: 8th June 2025

Who can apply: The following types of organisation may apply:

Community, self-help or voluntary groups.
Charities, including local branches of national charities.
Organisations with charitable aims.

To be eligible, all organisations and community interest groups must:

Be registered with a recognised governing body (such as the Charity Commission or Companies House) for a minimum of 18 months (they should have annual accounts available and submitted).

If selected for a grant award, applicants will also need to provide their organisation’s articles of association or constitution, demonstrating clear objectives related to community interest and improvements.

Size of grant available: Grants of up to £3,000 are available.

There is a total funding pot of £36,000 each year, with 12 grants awarded annually.

Priorities: Funding is intended to improve the quality of life and expectations of people and their communities, especially those who come from disadvantaged or socially deprived backgrounds.

How to apply: There are two application rounds in 2025:

Round 1 opens on 28 April and closes on 8 June 2025. Shortlisted applicants notified on 2 July 2025. Awards announced on 16 July 2025.
Round 2 opens on 8 September and closes on 31 October 2025.

Only successful applicants are contacted.

The guidelines, grant eligibility quiz and application form can be found on the BCBN website.

The application form must be downloaded, completed and submitted by email to BCBN before the deadline in order to be considered.

Contact Better Community Business Network for more information.

Better Community Business Network
50 Havelock Terrace
Nine Elms
London
SW8 4AL
Tel: 02072029129
Email: grants@bcbn.org.uk

Toy Trust

Deadline: 13th June 2025

Who can apply: Registered charities in support of disadvantaged children aged below 13 years and that are based in the UK or Ireland are eligible to apply. Applications will also be considered from organisations around the world that have a UK based office.

To be eligible, organisations must:

Be supported by a registered charity number.
Have supporting up to date financial accounts.
Have been running for a minimum of one full year.
Show a ratio of administration and overhead costs to income of less than 30%.
Have unrestricted net assets of not more than £200,000 or of less than one year’s income.

Currently, applications are welcome from small UK-based children’s charities.

Successful applicants cannot re-apply for a grant for two years.

Size of grant available: Grants of up to £5,000 are considered. However, the Trust may make larger and longer commitment for special projects.

The organisation’s accounts must show a ratio of administration/overhead costs to income of less than 30%.

Priorities: The funding is intended for UK based children’s charities who are working for the benefit of disadvantaged children under the age of 13 years and their families.

Currently, applications from small UK-based charities are accepted.
How to apply: Applications can be made at any time throughout the year and will be considered at the next Trustee meeting.

The following deadlines normally apply:

Mid February for the March meeting
Mid June for the July meeting
Mid August for the September meeting
Mid November for the December meeting

The online application form and application guidance can be found on the Toy Trust website.

Contact the Toy Trust for further information.

Tracey Butcher
Charity Co-ordinator
British Toy and Hobby Association
BTHA House
142-144 Long Lane
London
SE1 4BS
Tel: 020 7701 7271
Email: tracey@btha.co.uk

David Solomans Charitable Trust

Who can apply: UK registered charities, both at the national and local level, can apply.

To be eligible for funding, organisations working with both physically and mentally disabled people must be able to show that at least 75% of those supported have learning difficulties.

Priority will be given to smaller, local charities.

Size of grant available: The amount of funding given each year fluctuates depending on the Trust’s income. Last year, around £90,000 was awarded

Funding is provided at the discretion of the Trustees. Grants tend to be in the range of £500 to £1,000, with an occasional grant made for a larger amount.

Priorities: In particular, the scheme wishes to support the following:

Smaller, local projects which focus on care and treatment of those with learning difficulties.
Research into learning disabilities.

In particular, the welfare of children and the emergency services sector are supported by the Foundation

How to apply: Applications may be submitted at any time and are considered three times a year.

Applications must be made in writing and submitted to the Trust.

This Trust does not maintain a website.

Enquiries
David Solomons Charitable Trust
2 Highfield Road
Collier Row
Romford
RM5 3RA
Tel: 01708 502 488
Email: davidsolomonscharitabletrust@gmail.com

De Brye Charitable Trust

Who can apply: Charitable organisations based and working in the UK may apply.

From time to time, the Trust may fund charitable projects taking place overseas.

Size of grant available: Funding is at the discretion of the Trustees. The majority of grants are between £500 and £5,000 but a couple of larger grants are also awarded.

Priorities: Funding is intended to support charitable projects that provide care and housing for the aged, orphans and neglected children or aid physically disabled children and/or the blind.

How to apply: The Trust does not have a website or an email address.

Applications can be made at any time and should be submitted in writing to the de Brye Charitable Trust.

de Brye Charitable Trust (Stanley Smith General Charitable Trust)
Mercer & Hole Trustees Ltd
72 London Road
St Albans
Hertfordshire
AL1 1NS
Tel: 01727 869141

Network Rail Community Tree Planting Fund

Who can apply: The following can apply:

Schools.
Further education colleges and universities.
Constituted community groups.
Tenant and resident associations.
Childcare nurseries or care homes (charity or community funded).
Parish/town/community councils.
Tree warden networks.
Community interest companies that are limited by guarantee.
Registered charities (smaller local charities will be given preference).
County/borough/district councils or unitary authorities.

Groups must have a bank account registered in the name of the organisation.

Size of grant available: The following award categories are available:

Main grants for projects between £2,500 and £5,000.
Large grants for projects between £5,000 and £10,000.
Flagship grants for projects between £10,000 and £15,000.

Flagship Grants will be awarded in limited numbers to projects that deliver a significant impact across the Tree Council’s programme priorities.

Priorities: This fund aims to support community tree-planting projects that are well-planned, sustainable, and will directly benefit people and communities.

How to apply: Applications are currently being accepted.

Groups should email the Tree Council for more information on how to apply.

Guidance notes are available from the Tree Council website.