February’s funding news

Welcome to February’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.

Many grants to support groups and individuals with the cost-of-living crisis have now closed. You will find those that are still open in our April funding update.

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

Baron Davenport’s Charity

 National Churches Trust – Medium Grants Programme

 Clothworkers’ Foundation

Who can apply: Registered charities, CICs and other registered not-for-profit organisations with an annual income under £10million
Size of grant available: Funding is at the discretion of the trustees who will determine what level of grant they will give

• For larger projects (£100,000+), the Foundation generally funds 10% or more of the balance to be raised. For example, if the project cost was £200,000 and the applicant had £150,000 left to raise, the grant award would be at least £15,000. The larger a project, the larger the grant is likely to be
• For smaller projects (with a balance of less than £10,000), the Foundation generally funds between 50% and 100% of the balance

Priorities: This Foundation awards grants in the following areas:

• Substance misuse and addiction – organisations supporting people and families affected by drugs and/or alcohol misuse
• Disabilities (inc. mental health and visual impairment) – organisations supporting people who have physical and/or learning disabilities, and/or people experiencing mental health issues. The Foundation has a long-standing commitment to visual impairment, so it welcomes applications from organisations focused in this area
• Communities experiencing racial inequalities – organisations supporting communities affected by racism, and organisations working to promote racial equity
• Young people facing disadvantage – organisations supporting young people facing disadvantages, particularly (but not limited to) young people in care or leaving care and young people not in employment, education or training
• Domestic and sexual abuse – organisations supporting adults and children affected by any form of domestic or sexual abuse
• Older people facing disadvantage – organisations providing services for older people facing disadvantage, particularly (but not limited to) economic disadvantage and isolation
• Homelessness – organisations providing services for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
• Prison and rehabilitation – organisations supporting people in prison and their families, those at risk of offending, and the rehabilitation of those leaving prison
• LGBT+ and communities – organisations providing support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people facing disadvantage or discrimination
• Economic disadvantage – organisations supporting individuals or communities experiencing poverty and deprivation

At least 50% of an applying organisation’s service users benefiting from the capital project must be from one or more of the above groups. Funding is available for capital costs. This means tangible items or work, including:

• Buildings – purchase, construction, renovation and/or refurbishment
• Fittings, fixtures, and equipment – this includes but is not limited to office equipment/furniture, sports/gym equipment, digital/audio visual equipment, software and websites, garden equipment, specialist therapeutic (excluding medical) equipment
• Vehicles – includes (but is not exclusive to) minibuses, cars, caravans, people-carriers, 4×4 and boats. The Foundation is unlikely to fund the total cost of a new vehicle or award funding to an organisation that already owns a large number of vehicles

How to apply: Applicants must first complete an online eligibility quiz on the funder’s website to get access to an online application form.

 Masonic Charitable Foundation

Who can apply: Registered charities only
Size of grant available: There are two funding levels:

• Large grants of between £10,000 and £60,000 in total which can be spread over three years are available to charities with an annual income of between £500,000 and £5 million
• Small grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 per year for up to three years are available to charities with an income of between £25,000 and £500,000

Priorities: The funder has a range of grant programmes for:

• Children and young people with SEND (aged 0 to 25 years) for projects that will:
  • Increase their social inclusion
  • Increase their independence and connections to their local community
  • Improve their access to early intervention services and therapies, for diagnosed, suspected conditions and pre diagnosis
  • Ensure their parents/carers are better able to cope in their caring role and meet their child’s needs
  • Enable their parents/carers to be better informed of their child’s options and rights, and the services available to them
• Vulnerable and disadvantaged children (aged 0 to 5 years) for projects that will:
  • Increase the likelihood of children achieving developmental milestones
  • Support children to make successful transitions to primary school
  • Improve children’s physical health through access to healthcare, nutrition, check-ups, immunisations etc.
  • Give families a better understanding of their child’s needs and improves confidence in parenting / caring so they are better able to meet the child’s needs
  • Increase families’ positive engagement in services enabling targeted support to address specific issues, such as domestic violence, mental health, substance abuse, neglect.
• Children and young people (domestic abuse) for projects that work toward the following outcomes:
  • Learning coping strategies and tools to effectively handle challenges
  • Increased self-esteem, resilience, confidence, and feelings of safety and wellbeing
  • Families experience positive behavioural changes
  • Children will have better relationships with their family and peers
  • Decreased feelings of anxiety and isolation
  • Improved engagement with education and other related support services
• People with dementia and their carers for projects that will work toward the following outcomes
  • Improved ability of carers to meet the needs of people with dementia (ie, resources, knowledge, skills)
  • Reducing loneliness, isolation and creating social connection
  • Improvements to physical health and cognitive function
  • Better access to support services
  • Increased independence and influence over their own lives and treatment

How to apply: The application process is as follows:

• Complete the online eligibility checker on the MCF website
• Those who are eligible may then complete a short online expression of interest. It takes about a month to receive a response
• Organisations will then be invited to complete a full application.

 Seven Friends Foundation

Who can apply: Registered charities and other not-for-profit organisations seeking funding for charitable work
Size of grant available: Up to £3,000
Priorities: The funding is for charitable organisations and causes that are unpopular or do not receive widespread public attention. This could be due to negative focus within the media; due to difficulty in accessing statutory, voluntary and institutional funding; due to the cause being seen as politically controversial; or because the issue is not typically seen as a charitable cause. Examples of these types of causes or groups may be:

• Asylum seekers and refugees
• Migrant communities
• Offenders and ex-offenders
• People experiencing violence or abuse
• Sex workers
• Trafficking and modern slavery
• Dependency or addiction
• LGBT+
• Sexual and reproductive health

This is not an exclusive list and groups with charitable causes that do not fall within this list are encouraged to contact the Foundation to discuss their work
How to apply: Applicants should first read the Aims and Criteria and Application Process which can be found on the Seven Friends Foundation website. There is no standard application form, and the instructions on how to apply are in the ‘application process’. Applications are to be made by email.

 Constance Travis Charitable Trust

Who can apply: Registered and exempt charities and registered community amateur sports clubs
Size of grant available: Up to £20,000 for small, local organisations. Up to £50,000 for larger national charities
Priorities: The trust offers grants to local, national and international charities in line with its strategic allocation covering activities in the following categories:

• Medical, health, sickness
• Economic, community, development, and employment
• Environment, conservation and heritage
• Arts and culture
• Animals
• Overseas aid and familne relief
• Education and training
• Relief of poverty
• Disability
• Accommodation and housing
• Religious activities
• Sports and recreation

How to apply: Applications must be made in writing. The Trustees may make grants with no formal application; however, if considered appropriate, organisations may be invited to submit a formal application. Write to: Administrative Manager, Constance Travis Charitable Trust, 86 Drayton Gardens, London, SW10 9SB. Email travistrust86@yahoo.co.uk