January’s funding news

 Dischma Charitable Trust

Who can apply: Registered charities only
Size of grant available: £1,000-£3,000
Priorities: Ffunding is intended for UK based charities whose work addresses the following:

• Wildlife and conservation
• General medical, mental health and disability
• Children and youth welfare
• General
• Elderly welfare
• The arts, theatres and museums
• Animal welfare
• Homelessness

How to apply: Apply in writing to Dischma Charitable Trust, Rathbones Trust Company Limited, 30 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7QN.

 Forte Charitable Foundation

Who can apply: Any type of not-for-profit including registered charities, not-for-profit companies, constituted voluntary and community organisations except CICs. Applicant organisations must have at least one full year’s set of accounts
Size of grant available: Two levels of grants are available:

• Small grants of £2,000 to £10,000 for one year (open to organisations with annual income under £250,000)
• Major grants of £10,000 to £50,000 for one year or multi-year grants for a maximum of three years not to exceed £100,000 in total over this period (open to organisations with annual income under £500,000)

Priorities: For urban locations like Dudley, applicants must be working within the most deprived 15% areas of the index of multiple deprivation (IMD). To find this out: The 2025 statistics on deprivation in England including the index of multiple deprivation (IMD). Type in your postcode in the box underneath ‘search for a postcode’ and then click the blue search icon. Your ranking will be shown in the paragraph immediately above the first colour bar chart and is contained in brackets e.g. (ranked 8,862 out of 33,755 neighbourhoods). For urban areas, your postcode should be ranked under 5,064

• Small grants: Projects will be expected to focus on community support. This could include the following types of activities:
  • Community services – information, advice and guidance services; community transport schemes; employability training; volunteering; healthy eating and living; foodbanks which support clients out of crisis into long-term sustainability; intergenerational projects, befriending, community cohesion
  • Community centres – salary or running costs for community centres or village halls which offer a range of activities for all ages
  • Alternative education – support schemes for young people struggling in mainstream education; homework clubs; supplementary education classes for vulnerable individuals
  • Training, mentoring, employment and volunteering opportunities
  • Youth – youth clubs and detached youth work; after school and holiday clubs; opportunities for NEETs
  • Counselling – for any age in areas where statutory services are unable to cope with demand
  • Family support services – early intervention; families coping with addiction; prisoners’ families
  • Substance misuse – recovery projects
• Major grants: Projects will be expected to focus on family support, in the following priority areas:
  • Early intervention – ie identifying and providing effective early support to children and families at risk of experiencing poor life outcomes. The Trust is interested in supporting charities that provide:
    • Family support services/family hubs
    • Parenting workshops and training, reducing parental conflict
    • Engaging parents in their child’s early education
    • Supporting mothers’ peri and postnatal mental health
    • Supporting attachment between child and caregiver
    • Supporting family relationships and lone parents
  • Families coping with addiction – the Trust is interested in supporting charities that provide:
    • Counselling and peer support groups for families where addiction is evident
    • Advice and support for families where addiction is evident
    • Befriending and listening services for families where addiction is evident
  • Prisoners’ families – the Trust is interested in supporting charities that provide:
    • Parenting education and relationship support for offenders
    • Counselling and coaching for prisoners’ family members
    • Befriending and peer support groups for prisoners’ families

How to apply: The guidelines, frequently asked questions and the eligibility quiz can be found on the Forte Charitable Foundation website. The online application forms are available once applicants have completed the eligibility quiz.

 Energy Resilience Fund

NB. This is a blended funding package of loan (60%) and grant (40%) to improve their energy resilience

Who can apply: Incorporated not-for-profit organisations (charitable companies, charitable incorporated organisations, CICs, community benefit societies) with at least £100,000 turnover in their last end of year accounts
Size of grant available: £25,000-£250,000 as a blend of grant (40%) and loan (60%). The loan repayment term is two to ten years. Loans have a 2.5% arrangement fee and an interest rate of 8.5% fixed per annum
Priorities: The funds can be used for:

• Installing energy-saving measures or generation technology to buildings or land (including new builds)
• Purchasing energy-efficient or environmentally friendly vehicles or equipment

Common interventions could include (but are not limited to):

• Energy efficient/saving lighting systems
• Insulation installation/upgrades
• Glazing upgrades
• Solar PV panel systems
• Battery storage systems
• Solar water heating systems
• Heat pumps or other forms of energy efficient heating systems (including gas boiler upgrades)
• Small scale wind turbines
• Low head hydro systems
• Electric vehicles
• Energy efficient/ environmentally friendly equipment eg catering or manufacturing equipment

How to apply: An online application form is available on the Social Investment Business website.

 Flexible Finance Fund

NB. This is a blended funding package of loan and grant to support Black and Racially Minoritised charities and social enterprises in England that need funds to help them to grow and and become more resilient

Who can apply: Registered charities or social enterprises (CICs, community benefit societies or companies limited by guarantee) set up to improve people’s lives or their environment. Applicant organisations must be led by Black or racially minoritised people, with at least 51% making up the board of directors or trustees
Size of grant available: A blended loan and grant is available:

• Loans are £50,000 to £1.5 million with a term of one to six years
• Unrestricted grants of £50,000 to £200,000 (ranges from 50% to 100% of the loan amount capped at £200,000)

Priorities: Funding can be used for anything that benefits the community the organisation operates in. It is an unrestricted fund, so the funding could be used to take on more staff, undertake building work or increase capacity through new projects, for example
How to apply: An online application form and guidance documents are available on the SIB website. Applicants are encouraged to contact SIB to discuss their eligibility or for further information about the fund.