February’s funding news

Welcome to February’s funding update.

This update is split into three parts. Section A features funders that can support organisations and individuals with the cost-of-living crisis.

Section B features funders with upcoming deadlines. You’ll find funders with a local or regional focus first, and national funders second. The funders are listed in order of deadline date, soonest first.

Section C features funders who welcome applications at any time. Again, you’ll find funders with a local or regional focus first, and national funders second.

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. Grants to support groups and individuals with the cost-of-living crisis 

UK Youth – Cost of Living Fund 

Who can apply: Charitable and not-for-profit youth organisations with an annual turnover of £500,000 or less and have been running for at least two year
Size of grant available: Organisations can apply for unrestricted three-year grants of up to 10% of their current turnover (for example, an organisation with a turnover of £250,000 can apply for up to £25,000 per year). Applications for £10,000 or under will be fast-tracked
Priorities: Grants are to help bring stability to youth organisations over a period of three years and to help mitigate the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, ensuring groups can continue to operate, cover bills, and pay staff salaries. At least 70% of an organisation’s beneficiaries should be 8-25
How to apply: Guidance notes and the online application are available on the UK Youth website – register on the website to access. UK Youth is also providing weekly Q&A webinars until 30th May. Book a place on the UK Youth website 

 BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials 

Who can apply: Applications must be made through an organisation that is supporting a family or young person and is capable of assessing their needs, and that can also administer the grant
Size of grant available: Up to £300
Priorities: This programme provides items for the most basic needs of vulnerable children and young people who may be: 

•  Living in severe poverty and suffering deprivation as a result
• Affected by additional social issues such as domestic abuse, substance misuse, estrangement, disability or serious illness, mental health or behavioural difficulties, abuse or neglect

 The support is for the following: 

• Children aged under 18 years who are experiencing a crisis or emergency
• UK or EU citizens who are normally resident in the UK
• Where the child or young person’s family do not have access to support and have insufficient resources to meet their needs
• Where a child or young person’s family are experiencing poverty or destitution or are in receipt of a means tested benefits
• Where vulnerable low income families have been affected by the recent severe floods

Consideration may be given where a child or young person, or their family, have an asylum application under assessment or in circumstances where residency criteria is not consistent across the family unit.

Due to the high demand for BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials grants, only one application per household within a 12 month period will be accepted  

The application for each household will take into account the needs of all children under the one application, it does not mean only one child per household can be supported 

Types of costs covered: Funding is available for critical household items as follows: 

• Electric cookers 
• Furniture, kitchen equipment and small appliances 
• Clothing 
• Baby equipment 
• Fridges and freezers 
• Washing machines
• Tumble dryers 
• Children’s beds and bedding, including cots 
• Support may also be available for vulnerable low income families have been affected by the recent severe floods 

How to apply: The guidance notes and online application form can be found on the Family Fund Business Services website 

Friends of the Elderly – Grants for Older People 

Who can apply: Applications are only accepted from a Referral Agent who knows the older person in a professional or community capacity. Referral Agents can include: housing associations, local authorities, charities, community organisations, social workers, advice providers, health centres, cultural and religious centres etc
Size of grant available: Up to £500
Priorities: The funding is intended to support older people who are of, or over, state pension age (66 years) and living on low incomes in England or Wales. Four grant streams are available to help with home essentials, digital connection, financial support and essential living costs. The older person must be: 

• Currently residing in England or Wales 
• In privately owned, privately rented, or social housing (not in residential care or a nursing home) 
• Of/over UK state pension age 
• On a low income and with savings of less than £4,000
• A civilian (cannot have served in the UK Armed Forces) 

Types of costs supported: There are four grant streams: 

• Home Essentials – to help with the cost of replacing everyday items in the home (white goods such as washing machines, fridges, freezers etc. and furnishings), small home repairs and mobility adaptations 
• Digital Connections – to help older people get online and stay connected and can be used towards the cost of equipment such as tablets and smartphones as well as Broadband/Wi-Fi/Mi-Fi (mobile Wi-Fi) costs
• Financial Support – to help with unexpected bills and large costs such as utility bills, funeral costs for loved ones, moving fees etc 
• Essential Living Costs – to help with clothing, food, medicines, books, and anything that has become unmanageable either because of the Covid-19 pandemic or due to some pre-existing need 

How to apply: Applications, guidance notes and FAQ are available on the Friends of the Elderly website 

Cash for Kids – Cost of Living Grants 

Who can apply: Professionals within an organisation or service such as social services, GPs, teachers, charities and constituted community groups can apply on behalf of families in need
Size of grant available: £50 per child per household
Priorities: The aim of the new Cost of Living Grant is to provide emergency essentials to support the physical and mental wellbeing of disadvantaged children in the UK
Types of costs that can be covered: Costs such as food, clothing (including school uniform) and household energy are supported by the grant but any other item or cost is considered if children’s most basic needs are to be met. Items such as household fuel vouchers, food parcels, food vouchers, toiletries, clothing and wellbeing packs should be provided from the grant
How to apply: Applications should be made through the Cash for Kids website 

COSARAF Hardship Grants (for individuals) 

Who can apply: Applications will only be accepted from recognised social organisations, such as charities, housing associations, schools and social services who are acting on behalf of a family or individual in need
Size of grant available: Up to £2,000 to cover a year’s worth of expenses but only in exceptional circumstances will a grant of over £500 be awarded
Priorities: Priority will be given to: 

• The most financially excluded people 
• Families over individuals 
• Those with caring responsibilities 
• Items that will make the most difference to the individual/family’s long-term future 

Organisations can only apply once in a single year. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they are taking advantage of all support offered by local services, including the referring social organisation
Types of costs supported:  

• Household items (white goods and occasionally other items such as sofas or wardrobes) 
• Basic living expenses (utilities or food) 
• Work or education-related expenses (such as interview clothes, school uniforms, or laptops) 
• Rent arrears and Council tax arrears, but only where there is a clear risk of homelessness (for rent arrears involving a social landlord applicants should outline what support has already been offered to the tenant) 
• Contribution to immigration-related costs, where the current immigration status directly causes financial hardship to the applicant. 

How to apply: Guidance notes and the application form is available from the COSARAF website 

British Gas Energy Trust 

Who can apply: Individuals who are being supported by a money advice organisation
Size of grant available: Up to £1,500
Priorities: There are two funds available which aim to tackle fuel poverty. Successful applicants will not receive payment, but their household account will be credited. The two funds are: 

• Individuals and Families Fund 
• British Gas Energy Support Fund – British Gas customers only 

How to apply: Full guidance and applications are provided on the British Gas Energy Trust website, where you can also find information about money advice organisations that can offer support. 

Crowdfunder UK/Sport England 

Who can apply: Local sports clubs, Charities, community, voluntary and social enterprise sector organisations that deliver sport and/or physical activity in their local community, including organisations that are not solely or primarily sports organisations, town or parish councils delivering activity within their communities and educational establishments that provide access for their whole community
Size of grant available: Up to £10,000
Priorities: You will need a crowdfunding project in order to apply for this funding. If your application is approved, you will receive match funding of 50% up to a value of £10,000. To receive a pledge, you will need to have raised 25% of your initial target and raised it from a minimum number of supporters. Following receipt of a pledge, you will need to raise 100% of your target in order to receive the funds from Sport England.  

The fund is focussed on recovery, reinvention and building resilience for organisations facing a broad spectrum of issues, including the emerging energy crisis. 

How to apply: Full guidance how to start a crowdfunding campaign and more details on the eligibility criteria can be found on the Crowdfunder website 

Energy Saving Trust Energy Redress Scheme 

Who can apply: Charities, Community Interest Companies, Co-operative societies and Community Benefit Societies
Size of grant available: The amount of funding available through the scheme is reviewed on a quarterly basis. The minimum grant amount that can be requested is £20,000. The scheme can fund 100% of project costs and can cover revenue and capital costs
Priorities: The Energy Saving Trust has been appointed by Ofgem to distribute payments from companies who may have breached Ofgem rules. Eligible organisations can apply for funds to deliver energy related projects. These include: 

• Supporting energy consumers in vulnerable situations – This core priority aims to help people who are most at risk from cold homes and high energy bills. Occasionally there may be additional priorities linked to a funding round e.g., a specific geographical focus or type of energy consumer. Any additional priorities will be made clear to applicants when a funding round opens 
• Innovation projects – Innovative products and services related to energy that have a realistic prospect of delivering benefits to existing and/or future energy consumers and that help to reduce the environmental impact of energy use 
• Carbon Emissions Reduction Fund – energy-related activities aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions from energy use. These projects must focus on energy generation, distribution or energy use

The scheme is not presently designed to support energy saving improvements or energy generation technology in individual community buildings or facilities.  

How to apply: More information about applying for funding, including online registration and an application/guidance pack can be found on the funder’s website 

B. Get in quick – deadlines are coming up!
1. Funders with a local / regional interest 

Cole Charitable Trust  

Deadline: 10th March 2023 

Types of organisation supported: Small and local registered charities and local branches of national charities
Size of grant available: Grants in the region of £500-£1,200
Priorities: The funder is interested in the following themes:  

• social welfare, all age groups  
• housing/homelessness  
• community and environmental development  
• opportunities for young people  
• promotion of improved quality of life  
• personal or community empowerment  

How to apply: Email applications are preferred, but postal applications will be accepted. See funder’s website for instructions 

Enovert Community Trust 

Deadline: 10th March 2023
Types of organisation supported: Any constituted not-for-profit / voluntary and community organisation
Size of grant available: Usually up to £50,000
Priorities: Capital funding for community facilities within 10 miles of Enovert’s Kingswinford site. Projects must fall within one of these areas:  

• Opening up access for the public to an area of land that has been closed or partially closed  
• Cleaning up land that has been polluted because of now ceased activity  
• Helping to improve, protect, provide and / or maintain land or a building as a public amenity  
• Protecting the environment and conserving or promoting biological diversity  
• Helping to preserve, maintain, restore and / or repair a religious building or one of historical or architectural interest  

How to apply: Download an application form from the funder’s website. Return completed applications with all paperwork to Angela Haymonds ahaymonds@enovertct.org. You can also request a hard copy application form or discuss your project with Angela first
Further deadlines: 2nd June 2023 and 8th September 2023 

Baron Davenport’s Charity (Children’s Organisations)   

Deadline: 15th March 2023
Types of organisation supported: Not-for-profit organisations, public sector organisations. Beneficiaries must live in one of the West Midlands counties, within 60 miles of Birmingham Town Hall
Size of grant available: £200 – £1,000
Priorities: Children and young people under the age of 25
How to apply: Via the funder’s website 

 Hays Travel Foundation  

Deadline: No deadline as such but applications will be considered at the next meeting on 25th April 2023
Who can apply: Registered charities working with children and young people up to the age of 25 and operating in areas where Hays Travel have a branch (Stourbridge and Halesowen)
Size of grant available: Not stipulated
Priorities: The funding is for local groups  whose project helps young people up to 25 years of age develop in at least one of these areas: education, prevention of poverty, health, arts, culture or sports
Types of costs supported: Project costs
How to apply: The online application form is available on the Hays Travel Foundation website 

2. National funders 

 

 KFC Foundation Community Grants Programme 

Deadline: 13th March 2023 (for initial expression of interest)
Who can apply: Any type of constituted not-for-profit with a turnover of less than £300,000. Uniformed groups like Scots, Guides and Sea Cadets cannot apply
Size of grant available: Up to £2,500
Priorities: Grants are available to support grassroots organisations providing safe social spaces, mentoring, work, or social skills for young people aged 11 to 25 years old in the UK. The funding is intended for projects and activities that: 

• Benefit young people aged 11-25 years old 
• Support those in a position of social disadvantage (i.e. care leavers, those experiencing homelessness, young carers, young parents, refugees, young people at risk of or with experience of the criminal justice system) 
• Provide spaces that allow young people to feel safe and secure, helping to unlock talent and build life skills, provide mentoring, and improve their chances of gaining meaningful employment 
• Empower all young people to fulfil their potential and build a positive future 
• Will demonstrate positive results within 12 months of the receipt of funding 

 Funding is for projects that work with groups such as: 

• Young people 
• Care experienced young people 
• Young carers 
• Young homeless people 
• Young people with experience of the criminal justice system 
• Young parents 

How to apply: There is a two-stage application process: 

Expression of interest: 

• Applicants should first submit a two minute video about their organisation
• Applicants should then complete and submit an Expression of Interest form, via the link on the KFC Foundation’s website

Successful groups will be notified of their outcome and invited to complete a full application. Guidance notes are available on the KFC Foundation’s website  

 Help The Homeless Grant Scheme 

Deadline: 15th March 2023
Who can apply: Registered charities with a turnover of £500,000 or less
Size of grant available: Up to £5,000
Priorities:

• Grants for capital projects that help homeless people to rebuild their lives and return to the community
• Grants for capital projects are available to small and medium-sized charities registered in the UK working to assist homeless people to rebuild their lives and return to the community 

Types of costs supported: Capital only, excluding building work and IT equipment
How to apply: Full guidance and application form are available on the Help The Homeless website
Further deadlines: 15th June, 15th September and 15th December 

 National Citizen Service – Open to All Grants 

Deadline: 20th March 2023
Who can apply: Any constituted not-for-profit including voluntary and community groups, charities and social enterprises
Size of grant available: Undefined
Priorities: The funding is intended for projects for young people (aged 16 and 17) that meet all of the following objectives:   

• Develop life skills and support independent living 
• Build employability and work-readiness 
• Provide opportunities for volunteering and social action 
• Enable social mixing of young people from all backgrounds 

Projects should be delivered across a particular geographic area within England. Within these geographic areas, the funder would like to see a broad spread of opportunities available so as many young people as possible can engage close to home. Preference for projects that achieve a good geographic spread across their area
How to apply: Full details , guidance notes and application form are available on the NCS website 

 TRANSforming Futures Fund 

Deadline: 20th March 2023
Who can apply: Communities-led, grassroots organisations that are led by trans people. Broader LGBTQ+ organisations undertaking trans-specific activity that is being run by trans people will also be considered
Size of grant available: Up to £25,000
Priorities: Equality-focused projects which improve outcomes for trans people in the following areas:   

• Healthcare 
• Criminal Justice 
• Under 18s (relating to health and justice) 

How to apply: Application forms and guidance are available form the TRANSforming Futures website 

Margaret Dobson Further Education Trust 

Deadline: 31st March 2023
Who can apply: Registered charities and CICs
Size of grant available: £5,000
Priorities: Grants are for projects that support young adults with a learning disability, with the aim of giving them practical skills to better prepare them to be able to lead independent lives when they leave school. Priority will be given to applications from projects which additionally meet at least two of the following criteria:   

• Designed for, and aimed, at people with learning disabilities aged 18 to 25 outside the school environment. Those age 16+ who are not in formal education, training or work will also be considered 
• Have been adversely affected by Covid-19 and its implications 
• Offer the opportunity for people to gain transferable life skills, which may include how to access support
• Offer employment experience 
• Build in accredited training 
• Enable social interaction with other people and allow self-expression and confidence building 
• Applications from smaller organisations which are demonstrating an entrepreneurial approach to a locally identified issue 
• Working in partnership with relevant local organisations and service providers 

How to apply: Apply by email using the application form on the trust’s website. Full guidance is also available at the website 

 Tweed Family Charitable Trust 

Deadline: 31st March 2023
Who can apply: Registered charities or social enterprises with a turnover of less than £1million and which make a difference to people under the age of 25
Size of grant available: £5,000-£10,000 per year for up to three years
Priorities: Grants for projects that inspire socially disadvantaged young people to achieve their full potential. Activities may be educational or vocational and should provide experiences that would otherwise be inaccessible to young people under the age of 25. Initiatives which have a lasting impact will be given priority. Projects should meet at least one of the following aims of the Foundation: 

• Helping young people develop their skills, capacities and enabling them to participate in society and independent, mature and responsible adults 
• Advancing education 
• Relieving unemployment 
• Providing recreational and leisure time activity in the interests of social welfare with a view to improving conditions of life 

How to apply: Full guidance and online application enquiry form are available on the Tweed Family Charitable Trust website 

 UnLtd Award for Social Entrepreneurs 

Deadline: 31st March 2023
Who can apply: Social entrepreneurs aged 16 and over and are the founder of a social business
Size of grant available: Start up funding of £500-£8,000 and scaling up funding of up to £18,000
Priorities: Funding to support social entrepreneurs by helping them nurture their social ventures and grow their impact. The following levels of funding and support are available:   

• Start Up – for social entrepreneurs with an idea or who are in the early stages of development 
  • Funding of between £500 and £8,000 to support essential start-up costs (except wages) 
  • Support from an UnLtd Social Entrepreneur Support Manager 
  • Access to UnLtd Connect, a network of skilled experts for advice and mentors 

• Scaling Up – for social entrepreneurs to grow their existing social venture to help it make a bigger difference 
  • Funding of up to £18,000 to support wages and living costs 
  • 12 months’ mentoring and tailored support from an UnLtd Social Entrepreneur Support Manager, providing advice on operations and growth strategies 
  • Expert advice including access to workshops and masterclasses 
  • Connections to investors, corporate partners and other successful entrepreneurs, helping the social entrepreneur to develop their networks. 

The social entrepreneur must:   

• Have identified a social issue and developed a business model that works to solve it 
• Be committed to, and have a track record of, delivering local, regional or national social impact at scale 
• Be experienced, ambitious and capable of growing their venture 
• Have a realistic growth plan 
• Be committed to working full-time in their social venture 

The social venture must:   

• Be at least one year old and less than four years old 
• Have a turnover of less than £250,000 in their last financial year 
• Be dynamic and ready to grow to local, regional or national scale and have a logical and appropriate plan to deliver this 
• Have a compelling performance to date and/or a logical and appropriate plan for rapid growth to reach local, regional or national scale 
• Not solely exist to secure investment in the year ahead 
• Target beneficiaries predominantly based in the UK 

How to apply: Full guidance and online application form are accessible on the UnLtd website 

 National Allotment Gardens Trust 

Deadline: 1st April 2023
Who can apply: Not-for-profit allotments associations, societies or committees
Size of grant available: £250-£2,000
Priorities: Grants for projects that will improve or develop the facilities of permanent and registered allotment gardens
How to apply: At the time of writing, the funder’s website was down, so contact the funder on Tel: 01159 877347 / email: enquiries@nagtrust.co.uk to request and application form

 Woodward Charitable Trust – Children’s Summer Playscheme Grants 

Deadline: 6th April 2023
Who can apply: Registered charities or CICs with turnover of under £100,000
Size of grant available: £500-£1,000. Grants awarded will be no more than 50% of the total cost of the project
Priorities: Funding is available for the provision of children’s summer playschemes for children from disadvantaged backgrounds between the ages of 5-16 years. Preference is given to: 

• Small local playschemes that provide a wide-ranging programme of activities. Trustees prefer activities that are relatively inexpensive such as crafts and cooking, as well as outdoor activities and sport 
• Schemes that involve a large number of children 
• Schemes where past users are encouraged to come back and help as volunteers 

Only projects that run for a minimum of 2 weeks, 10 full days or 20 half days across the summer holidays will be considered. Trustees prefer to fund trips that are educational and motivational or relate to the natural environment such as to the seaside or countryside
How to apply: Guidelines and application form are available on the funder’s website 

 Steel Charitable Trust 

Deadline: 15th April 2023
Who can apply: Registered charities and legally exempt charities with a turnover of more than £50,000
Size of grant available: £10,000-£25,000
Priorities: The Trust awards funding in the following five core categories: 

• Arts and heritage 
• Education 
• Environment 
• Health 
• Social or economic disadvantage 

 Applications made until October 2023, for the Health category, should have a focus on one of the following: 

•  Programmes and activities that aim to support, maintain and improve mental health in any demographic 
• Health care for older people 

 Applications made until October 2023, for the Social or Economic Disadvantage category, should have a focus on one of the following: 

• Disadvantaged children 
• Housing and homeless people 

How to apply: An eligibility checker, guidelines and application are on the Steel Charitable Trust website
Further deadlines: 15th July and 15th October 2023 

 A B Charitable Trust 

Deadline: 28th April 2023
Who can apply: Registered charities only
Size of grant available: Usually £10,000-£20,000
Priorities: Projects should address at least one of the following categories:   

• Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers – In this priority area, funding is available for charities which do any or all of the following:   

• • Deliver services directly targeting migrant communities, and people who are refugees or seeking asylum 
  • Influence policy and/or counter negative narrative
  • Strengthen the voluntary sector and support charities delivering work in this area 

•  The justice system and penal reform – In this priority area, funding is available for charities which do any or all of the following: 

• • Deliver services to improve outcomes for individuals (and their families) who are in the justice system (at any stage, from contact with police to courts and prison) 
  • Support effective rehabilitation in the community 
  • Work to influence policy and to reform the justice system 
  • Strengthen the sector and support charities delivering work in this area 

• Human rights, particularly access to justice – In this priority area, funding is available for charities which do any or all of the following: 
  • Provide specialist legal advice and representation 
  • Work to influence policy through eg strategic litigation or public law challenges 
  • Strengthen the sector and supports charities delivering work in this area 
  • Deliver activities to protect the principles of human rights and the rule of law, including campaigning, advocacy and narrative change work 

For all priority areas, the Trust usually supports single focus organisations working solely in priority areas. For these organisations, core funding (unrestricted grants) or project funding (restricted grants) are both available. On occasion it also accepts restricted grant applications from charities working more broadly, where the project is particularly focused, forms a significant strand, and the charity can show it is best placed to deliver the work
How to apply: Guidance and online applications for each category are available on the funder’s website
Further deadline: 28th July 

C. No deadlines
1. Funders with a local / regional interest  

 Anthony and Gwendoline Wylde Memorial Charity 

Who can apply: Charitable organisations operating in the following postcode areas: WV5, DY3, then DY6, DY7, DY8, DY9, DY10 and D11
Size of grant available: Up to £1,000
Priorities: Projects that benefit the local community
How to apply: Guidance and application forms are available on the funder’s website 

 Midcounties Co-Operative Your Community Fund 

Who can apply: Constituted not-for-profit organisations (community groups, charities and social enterprises) that are members of the Midcounties Co-Operative
Size of grant available: Up to £500
Priorities: The Midcounties Co-operative will prioritise funding projects that align with their values:   

• Positive Environmental impacts – for example projects that focus on the reduction of single use plastics, recycling or energy saving. This can include educational or promotional activities 
• Development of young people (aged 16 – 24) – developing individuals to be the best they can be through educational, training or community-led projects 
• Community cohesion projects – that promote work towards building better community cohesion and trust, encouraging respect and understanding in the local area. 
• Social inclusion – through the provision of services for members of the community to overcome inequality and disadvantage. For example the provision of foodbanks, bespoke community run support groups or projects that develop life skills 

How to apply: Guidance and online application are available on the Midcounties Co-Operative website 

2. National funders 

 B&Q Foundation  

Who can apply: Registered charities only
Size of grant available: Up to £5,000
Priorities: The funding is for charities working with people in need and who need funding for the following:   

• Projects that provide, maintain, repair or improve housing or community space 
• Supporting people experiencing bad housing or homelessness 

Types of costs supported: Capital costs only
How to apply: There is a two-step application process which is managed by Neighbourly:  

• Step 1 – complete the Expression of Interest form which can be found on the B&Q Foundation website. EOIs can be made at any time. 
• Step 2 – complete a full application form which is by invitation only. Neighbourly will send an email to eligible groups. The application window opens for two weeks every quarter. Eligible groups will be notified by Neighbourly when it is time to apply 

Full guidance is provided on the B&Q Foundation website 

 Hollyhock Charitable Foundation 

Who can apply: Registered charities and CICs only
Size of grant available: Undefined
Priorities: Grants will be used to:  

• prevent or relieve poverty worldwide for individuals in need 
• advance the health and wellbeing of the general public (including preventing or relieving sickness, disease or suffering, as well as the promotion of good health) 
• support programmes which promote and advance the education of the general public; and 
• promote and support Christianity for the benefit of the general public 

How to apply: Download the application form from the funder’s website and apply by email