Welcome to October’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
Severn Trent Community Fund Core Funding
Deadline: 30th November 2025
Who can apply: Applications are accepted from organisations that:
- Are not-for-profit, have a governing document and a bank account in their name.
- Are located in the Severn Trent region.
- Have been operating since 2022 or before.
- Have a gross annual income of £250,000 or less (averaged over the past three years).
- Do not have unrestricted reserves exceeding 12 months of standard operating costs and are struggling financially to maintain current activities.
- Do not have significant and unmanageable debt.
Faith-based organisations are eligible to apply as long as the request is for community work eg food banks or warm hubs. The practice of religion or any activities that actively promote religion or particular belief systems are not eligible.
Only one application can be accepted from an organisation in a 12-month period.
Applicants can check their location eligibility using the map on the Severn Trent website or entering their postcode on the Water UK website.
Size of grant available: Restricted grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 (depending on the size of the organisation) are available for one year.
The funders expect to be able to support around 55 organisations each year.
Priorities: The fund aims to help local charitable groups with essential running expenses so that they can continue to provide services to support communities in the Severn Trent region.
How to apply: Applications are currently closed. The next round opens 1 November 2025.
There are two funding windows per year in May and November. Each window will be open for one month. The 2025 application rounds are:
- Round 1 – 1 May to 1 June 2025 (Closed.)
- Round 2 – 1 November to 30 November 2025.
An online application form and criteria are available on the Severn Trent website.
Enovert Community Trust
Deadline: 5th December 2025
Who can apply: Non-profit distributing organisations can apply. It is not necessary to be a charity, but any surplus made must be used to further their organisation’s aims and objectives.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Have a constitution and/or memorandum and articles of association/trust deed.
- Have secured all permissions and consents required for the project before submitting their application.
- Be able to deliver their project within six months of receiving a grant.
Their project must be located within 10 miles of a landfill site operated by Enovert Limited in in Billingham, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Colchester, Gloucester, Kingswinford, Lydney, Middlesbrough, Southend-On-Sea, Walsall or Weston-Super-Mare.
Applicants should note that Sevenoaks (Greatness), St Helens (Lyme and Wood) and Mucking Landfill Sites are now closed and the Trust no longer supports projects in the vicinity of Bristol/South Gloucestershire (Shortwood). There will be no future funding rounds for these areas.
To be eligible, organisations must be one of the following:
- Not-for-profit companies limited by guarantee
- Charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs)
- Community interest companies (CICs)
- Registered co-operatives or community benefit societies
- Schools
- Statutory bodies (including local authorities, town, parish or community councils)
Size of grant available: There is no fixed maximum grant value, however the Trust give a figure of £50,000 as a guide.
If the project requires higher levels of funding at least 60% of the total funding required must be secured before making a submission to the Trust.
The Trust requires all applicants to secure 10% independent third party funding (e.g., for a grant of £20,000 a third party must be found who will be willing to contribute £2,000 to Enovert Management Ltd to reimburse it for the tax credit).
ENTRUST, the scheme’s regulator, has now said that the project proposer can provide this 10% contribution, as long as it does not use landfill tax credits to make the payment, or funds from a contractor that is working on the project, nor should they derive a unique benefit from the project going ahead. Different rules apply to registered Environmental Bodies. Please see attached ENTRUST guidance note.
Priorities: The funding is intended to support community and environmental projects in the vicinity of Enovert’s operations across the UK. These include improving community halls, the creation of new play areas and skate parks, and restoring green spaces.
The Trust funds projects within 10 miles of Enovert Management Limited’s waste management operations in:
- Cheltenham (GL52 7RS)
- Cirencester (GL7 1YG)
- Colchester (CO3 0NN)
- Gloucester (GL2 5FR)
- Kingswinford (DY6 7JS)
- Lydney (GL14 4EJ)
- Walsall Wood (WS9 9AH)
- Weston-Super-Mare (BS22 8NA)
How to apply: Applications are open and the remaining deadline for 2025 is:
5 December 2025 for consideration at the January 2026 meeting (date tbc).
Application forms and guidelines can be found on the Enovert Trust website.
Who can apply: Organisations from anywhere in the UK are eligible to apply. Applications from individuals are also accepted. 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.
Groups may submit more than one application but the new application must be for a different project or initiative. Applications from the same organisation in two consecutive years will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.
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 encourage talent, increase confidence and create opportunities for young people (under the age of 25 years old) in the arts through:
- Recognition of achievement.
- The provision of financial support.
- Support art education.
- Encourage performance and exhibition.
- Promote artistic diversity.
How to apply: The Trustees meet three times a year – usually in February, June and October to assess applications. Applicants should submit their application by the end of the month before the next meeting is due (i.e. January, May or September).
Guidelines are available on the Trust’s website.
A minimum of two references should be included with each application.
The Trust accepts postal and online applications.
Administrator
Philip Bates Trust
24 Elmfield Road
Castle Bromwich
Birmingham
B36 OHL
Tel: 0121 747 5705
Email: info@philipbatestrust.co.uk
Sir John Middlemore Charitable Trust
Who can apply: Not-for-profit organisations working with children and young people are eligible to apply.
Applications will be considered from the following:
- Registered charities.
- Unincorporated charities.
- Not-for-profit organisations.
- Community Interest Companies (CICs).
- Community groups that have a constitution and can produce accounts.
The Trustees are particularly keen to support smaller organisations.
Applicants may apply for funding year on year for a maximum of three years.
Organisations with an income of more than £250,000 can apply but must have a project with an annual income of less than £250,000 that has a distinct ring-fenced bank account either in the name of the project or held in restricted funds within the organisation’s audited accounts.
Size of grant available: Funding is not available for the following:
- Organisations with an annual income over £250,000.
- Organisations with unrestricted reserves of more than six months of operating costs.
- Political organisations.
- Medical treatment or research.
- Applications from individuals.
Rejected applications cannot be resubmitted within a 12 month period.
Priorities: The Foundation aims ‘to make a difference’. The funding is intended to provide support to charitable organisations, especially where it can seek to be a catalyst to unlock other funding sources for good causes and ensure sustainability and transformational change. The funding is for projects within the following categories:
- Education
- Medical including hospitals and hospices
- Heritage
- Arts
How to apply: Applications may be submitted at any time and are considered at meetings held four times a year in January, April, July and October.
To be considered at the next panel meeting applications should be submitted at least 21 days prior to the beginning of the month in which the meeting is being held.
Application forms can be downloaded from the Trust’s website or requested by email.
The Trust prefers completed application forms to be returned by email, but will accept postal applications if this is not possible.
For further information contact the Trust. In an effort to reduce administration costs, no correspondence or telephone conversations will be entered into with regard to applications that have already been submitted.
Enquiries
The Sir John Middlemore Charitable Trust
PO Box 7228
Stourbridge
DY8 9FZ
Tel: 01562 883900
Email: office@middlemore.org.uk
Who can apply: UK registered charities are eligible to apply. Priority is given to charities based in the West Midlands.
Size of grant available: Funding is at the discretion of the Trustees. The Trust awards around £50,000 in grants each year to some 50 charitable organisations, with an average grant of £1,000.The Trust is unlikely to give a grant of more than £2,000 or £3,000.
Priorities: The Oakley Charitable Trust offers grants to UK registered charities for a wide range of charitable activities.The trustees’ current policy is to support a number of core charities. However, a small amount of the funding budget is set aside for which other charities may apply.
How to apply: There is no application form.
Applications must be made in writing and the letter should be posted to the Grants Administrator.
The Trustees generally meet in March, July and November to consider applications.
Decisions are typically communicated within two weeks of the meeting.
Unsuccessful applicants may apply again the next year.
Grants Administrator
The Oakley Charitable Trust
10 St Mary’s Rd
Harborne
Birmingham
B17 0HA
B. National Funders
Gardens Trust Community Grants
Deadline: 14th November 2025
Who can apply: Volunteer groups across the UK can apply.
Preference will be given to smaller charities.
Size of grant available: Grants of up to £8,000 are available.
Priorities: This fund aims to help seed-fund volunteer projects that will support historic designed landscapes in the UK.
How to apply: The deadline for applications is 14 November 2025.
Applicants will be notified of any decisions made in mid-November 2025.
Guidance notes and an application form are available from the Gardens Trust website.
Completed applications should be submitted by email to Catherine.ford@thegardenstrust.org.
Youth Music Shift the Scene Fund
Deadline: 28th November 2025
Who can apply: Constituted UK based organisations may apply.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Work across any creative discipline – not just music.
- Already actively work with Disabled people across all parts of their organisation (i.e. as participants, volunteers, freelancers and staff).
- Have built trust with Disabled people.
- Be anti-ableist, advocate for the rights of Disabled people, and operate in line with the social model of disability.
- Be able to amplify young Disabled voices and already have established ways of co-creating with Disabled young people.
- Be ambitious, want to push boundaries within their creative practice, and have Disabled young people’s creative ambitions at the heart.
- Prioritise Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access. In particular, those who design-in access from the start, and think about diversity and inclusion through an intersectional lens.
- Prioritise participant and staff wellbeing and safety.
- Actively reflect on what they do, and be open to learning and change.
- Have strong partnerships in place.
Size of grant available: Grants of up to £200,000 will be made, for work that is sustained over a four-year period.
Priorities: The funding is intended to promote equality of creative opportunities and outcomes for disabled young people. It aims to transform the way creative programmes are designed and delivered, ensuring they are inclusive and accessible, while also challenging perceptions and increasing recognition of the talent and contributions of young disabled creatives.
It is anticipated that funding will be provided to a number of music projects, but music will not be the majority focus of this fund.
How to apply: Applications will be accepted from 31 October 2025 to 28 November 2025 (5pm).
Guidance notes can be found on the Youth Music website.
England and Wales Cricket Board – County Grants Fund
Deadline: 30th November 2025
Who can apply: Cricket clubs in England and Wales that are affiliated to the ECB via their County Cricket Board (CCB) may apply.
As a minimum, clubs will need to have the following:
- A constitution, articles of association or equivalent governing document.
- Valid buildings, contents and public liability insurance.
- Security of tenure – leasehold, freehold or rental (minimum one year).
- A bank account in the club’s name.
- Financial accounts from the club’s last budget year.
- A Club Safeguarding Officer (fully compliant on ECB Safe Hands Management System).
- Adoption of the ECB Safe Hands Policy.
- Adoption of the ECB Anti-Discrimination Code of Conduct.
Size of grant available: Grants of £1,000 to £10,000 are available.
Clubs may apply for up to one grant per ECB budget year (1 February to 31 January) but will not be able to apply for a second grant for the same project before 2026.
Priorities: The funding is intended to support projects and activities that may include:
- Creating welcoming environments – open to affiliated cricket clubs registered for All Stars or Dynamos, or actively involved with women’s and girls’ competitive cricket and / or disability cricket. It is an expectation that any junior programme will include and actively engage with girls. It is an expectation that any junior programme will include and actively engage with girls.
- Enhanced facilities and playing opportunities for women’s and girls’ cricket and/or disability cricket – open to affiliated cricket clubs actively engaged in competitive female-only cricket and/or disability cricket.
- Tackling climate change (supported by Sport England) – open to any affiliated cricket clubs.
How to apply: Applications will be accepted between 1 February 2025 and 30 November 2025.
Guidance notes and the online application portal can be accessed from the England and Wales Cricket Board website.
Contact the England and Wales Cricket Board for further information.
Deadline: 3oth November 2025
Who can apply: Applications are accepted from individuals and registered charities who are Christian and involved, or intending to be involved, in ministry which advances the Christian faith.
To be eligible, applicants must be based in the UK or supported by a UK-based mission agency.
Size of grant available: The average grant is £2,000.
Priorities: The overall aims of the Trust are as follows:
- Promote education in the Christian faith amongst children and young people.
- Support people in training for Christian ministry.
The Trust now supports those seeking to undertake theological training courses by making grants to a number of selected Christian training organisations through bursary schemes, rather than by making grants to individual student applicants. This change has been made because the Trustees believe that organisations are better placed to allocate funds to students most in need of support. The Trust will still consider applications from those in church-based, Minister in training roles.
How to apply: Applications can be submitted during the months of April and November only.
The guidance and online application form can be found on the John James Charitable Trust’s website.
Ockenden International Prize
Deadline: 30th November 2025
Who can apply: Registered charities in the UK can apply either on their own organisation’s behalf or nominate a non-profit partner or affiliated organisation legally registered in their home country.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Have high standards of financial and administrative governance.
- Be able to include a copy of their organisation’s most recent accounts with their application. (If nominating a partner or affiliate, provide a copy of that organisation’s most recent accounts.)
The project or programme entered must have been established and operational for a minimum of six months (ie, before 1 March 2025) to be eligible for the 2026 Prizes.
Size of grant available: There are five awards of £25,000 to be won in the 2026 competition.
Priorities: The Ockenden International Prize is awarded to registered charities with existing projects/programmes that have been successful in improving the lives of refugees and/or internally displaced people. Projects can take place anywhere in the world.
The judges are looking for projects primarily from small-to-medium-scale organisations that promote self-reliance among refugees and/or displaced people.
These may be projects that are led by or have a high level of participation from displaced people themselves; projects providing education, legal assistance and/or livelihood assistance; or any other projects that help refugees and/or displaced people build stable, independent lives.
All projects deemed to be benefiting refugees and/or asylum-seekers living in the United Kingdom will be considered for the UK Prize.
Entries for the UK Prize, a new prize introduced in 2025, must be projects operational on the ground in the UK with the primary focus of the project entered demonstrably advancing the self-reliance of refugees and/or asylum-seekers living in the UK.
How to apply: Applications for the 2026 prize are now open with a deadline of 30 November 2025 (midnight).
Applications should be made via the online entry form or by post.
The winners will be announced by 31 March 2026.
Schroder Charity Trust
Deadline: 30th November 2025
Who can apply: Registered charities in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland with an income of between £150,000 and £1 million may apply.
Size of grant available: The Trust generally makes grants of up to £5,000. Grants are for a one-year period rather than over multiple years.
Priorities: Following a strategic review of the Trust’s grant-making programme, applications will be considered for work under the following two objectives:
- Enabling children and young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds to thrive and achieve their potential in education and employment:
- Enhancing early years school readiness for children in vulnerable families
- Developing reading and literacy skills
- Enhancing financial literacy
- Helping young people pursue vocational careers and apprenticeships
- Enhancing employment outcomes for young offenders (aged 18-25)
- Providing tutoring to develop attainment at primary and secondary school
- Strengthening communities through services and opportunities which enhance the wellbeing and life outcomes of vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
- Strengthening communities through services and opportunities which enhance the wellbeing and life outcomes of vulnerable and disadvantaged people:
- Providing services and advice to help people out of financial hardship and material poverty
- Enhancing life outcomes for children in the care system
- Reducing social isolation and maximising independence for older people
- Building confidence, resilience, life skills and wellbeing through youthwork
- Supporting the homeless and those at risk of homelessness into sustainable housing.
How to apply: The Schroder Charity Trust has announced that it is will open to applications with a more focussed grant-making strategy. There will be two application windows each year. The application windows for 2026 will be published by 31 December 2025.
There will be one application window in 2025 with applications opening at 9am on 1 October and closing on 30 November 2025. The Trust anticipates making decisions on grants within four months of the application window closing.
Applications should be submitted via the online form on the Schroder Charity Trust website.
The Primary Club
Deadline: 30th November 2025
Who can apply: While there is no geographical limitation to the support which can be provided anywhere within the UK, the trustees are keen to encourage applications from clubs and schools in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are under-represented at the moment.
Size of grant available: Funding is at the discretion of the Trustees.
Priorities: The funding is intended to support projects that are either innovative (in the sense of enabling support to be provided in new ways, or to a wider community) and/or collaborative (for example enabling schools and other organisations to deliver support together which they could not achieve alone).
How to apply: The guidance notes and application form can be found on The Primary Club website.
The deadline for applications is 30 November.
The trustees generally allocate funding annually in February and distribute funds in March. They will not normally consider applications that arrive after the 30 November deadline. In exceptional cases, however, an application may be considered outside of this timetable, provided that it is accompanied by an explanation of why the funds are required urgently and why it was not possible to submit a timely application.
Deadline: 1st December 2025
Who can apply: Applications are accepted from UK registered charities working in the UK or abroad. (Charities with an annual income under £5,000 do not need to be registered to be eligible.)The Trust favours applications from:
- Smaller animal welfare charities registered as above and working in the UK and/or abroad:
- Which have independently examined up-to-date annual accounts.
- Demonstrate an active re-homing and rehabilitation policy for animals taken into their care, unless the animals are endangered species.
- Are involved with conservation of wildlife, where the rescue, rehabilitation and (when possible) the release of animals is their main aim.
- Charities which also import animals from overseas into the UK must satisfy the additional criteria in order to be able to apply for a grant:
- Support work within the country of origin which benefits animals remaining within that country.
- Ensure each animal is imported legally and in accordance with current DEFRA guidelines applicable to the particular country of origin.
- Ensure each animal has been examined by a vet following its arrival in the UK.
- Have their own permanent premises in the UK suitable for assessing the animal.
- Have assessed the behaviour of the animal both in its country of origin and, for a period of at least three weeks, in its UK premises and found it to be suitable for its prospective adopter.
- Ensure the animal has been neutered or spayed before being rehomed (or have made arrangements to do this once it is safe to do so).
- Have arranged a face-to-face meeting between the animal and its prospective adopter in advance of the animal being rehomed.
- Ensure the new owner is given the option of returning the animal to the charity’s UK premises if it is found unsuitable for any reason. No such animal should then be sent back to its country of origin.
Size of grant available: Funding is at the discretion of the Trustees.Grants range from £1,000 to a normal maximum of £10,000. Applications for these grants are considered three times a year by a panel of the trustees.
Grants of less than £1,000 may be awarded between the panel meetings at the discretion of the Chairman and Administrator of the Trust.
The Trust may pledge funds towards large capital building projects (this would only be released when all other funding is in place and the work is ready to commence). The maximum grant given in the past was £35,000.
Priorities: The objectives of the Trust are to donate to projects or activities encompassing one or more of the following areas:
- The benefit and protection of animals.
- The relief of suffering in animals.
- The conservation of wildlife.
- The encouragement of a greater understanding of animals.
How to apply: The deadlines for applications each year are:
- 1 December (for the Spring meeting).
- 1 April (for the Summer meeting)
- 1 August (for the Autumn meeting).
Application forms and guidance are available on the Trust’s website. The forms (one for new applicants and one for past applicants) can be completed online or downloaded and returned by email.
The Hospital Saturday Fund
Deadline: 2nd December 2025
Who can apply: Applications will be accepted from registered charities with medical/health objectives, hospices and medical organisations based and operating within the UK or the Republic of Ireland.
Size of grant available: There are two levels of awards:
- Standard Grants of £2,000 or €3,000
- Larger Grants of up to £10,000 or €13,500
Priorities: The Hospital Saturday Fund provides grant funding to registered health charities such as hospitals, hospices and medical organisations for medical projects, care, research or support of medical training taking place in the United Kingdom.
How to apply: The Grant Making Committee meets quarterly. Applications should be submitted online by close of business on the deadline date.
The 2025 deadlines for:
- Standard grant applications are 9 April 2025, 9 July 2025, 14 October 2025, 5 January 2026.
- Large grant applications are 12 March 2025, 11 June 2025, 16 September 2025, and 2 December 2025.
Guidelines and an online application form are available on the HSF website. Paper and letter applications will not be accepted.
All applicants will receive an email indicating the result of their application as soon as possible after the relevant Grant Making Committee.
The Fore
Deadline: 3rd December 2025
Who can apply: Applications are accepted from the following types of organisation with an annual revenue of less than £500,000 in the previous completed financial year:
- Registered charities (including those constituted as charitable trusts, charitable unincorporated associations, charitable incorporated organisations and charitable companies limited by guarantee).
- Charitable Incorporated Organisations.
- Community Interest Companies (CICs) limited by guarantee.
- Community Benefit Societies.
- Social enterprises that are charitable companies limited by guarantee
Size of grant available: The Fore is increasing its maximum unrestricted grant from £30,000 to £45,000.Grants of up to £45,000, which may be spread over one to three years, will be available from the Autumn 2025 round.
In addition, non-financial support such as access to a network of skilled, pro-bono volunteers, online training workshops and seminars are available to successful charities for life.
Priorities: The Fore provides unrestricted grants to small charities and social enterprises based in the UK.The funding is intended to have a transformational impact on the organisations being supported by unlocking exponential growth, sustainability, efficiency or some other major step forward.
There is particular interest in grassroots organisations working with underserved communities.
The grants are viewed by the Fore as investments in the organisations it supports.
The Fore funds work across the following charitable sectors:
- Arts and culture
- Disability
- Economic development and employability
- Environment
- Health and well being
- Housing and homelessness
- Human rights, law and justice
- Poverty and disadvantage
- Sport
- Women and girls
- Youth and education
How to apply: There are three funding rounds each year (Spring, Summer, Autumn).
The registration period for Spring 2026 will be open from 26 November (12 noon) to 3 December 2025 (12 noon).
Once open for registration, the application process is as follows:
- The first step is to register an interest on the Applying for Funding page which takes about two to three minutes.
- Registered applicants will receive confirmation that they have been allocated a place on the funding round. Details of how to apply will be included.
- If there are more applicants registered than places available, places will be allocated at random.
- There follows a three-stage application
- Stage 1 – confirmed applicants have around three weeks to complete their application.
- Stage 2 – online meeting for long listed applicants who are invited via email for a meeting with one of the Fore’s Strategic Applicant Consultants.
- Stage 3 – shortlisted applications go to the funding panels.
- Announcement of successful applicants is typically within 12 weeks of the application deadline.
- Unsuccessful applicants are offered feedback and can apply for future rounds.
The eligibility quiz, guidelines, frequently asked questions and case studies can all be found on The Fore’s website.
Deadline: 12th December 2025
Who can apply: Community-based organisations, such as a school, community group, social enterprise, non-governmental organisation, or parish council, can apply.
Groups must:
- Have a bank account in the name of the organisation.
- Have signed permission from the owner or manager of the land indicating that the project meets all legal requirements.
- Be based in the UK.
Size of grant available: Grants are available for community woodlands/hedging projects that range from 100 – 25,000 trees planted per year, with a maximum price equivalent to £2.05 per tree (inclusive of tree protection and mulch).
In addition, these projects also receive two maintenance grants equivalent to £0.10 per tree, disbursed in the first and second summers after planting.
Priorities: The UK Community Tree Planting Programme supports projects run by community groups and voluntary organisations that engage communities in planting and caring for native species of trees.
The Programme supports community projects that will:
- Conserve, restore and protect indigenous trees and woodlands, forests, habitats and associated biodiversity.
- Support community engagement in tree planting to promote reforestation and to increase awareness of the importance of trees and forests to environmental and human well-being.
- Encourage social cohesion and inclusion.
How to apply: There is a two-stage application process:
- Groups must first submit an online Expression of Interest form which will be assessed within one month of the date of submission.
- Successful applicants will then be short-listed to complete a full application.
The next deadline for applications is 12 December 2025 (noon).
Guidance notes are available from the International Tree Foundation’s website.
Deadline: 12th December 2025
Who can apply: UK-registered charities can apply. To be eligible, applicants must have:
- A written constitution, charitable aims, and impact in local, UK, or international settings.
- A minimum of three Trustees who are not related.
- A core focus on supporting mental health and well-being.
Size of grant available: For this round, there is a total funding budget of £400,000, which will be divided as follows:
- A total of £100,000 is available for the breaking the link between homelessness and poor mental health theme. The level of the grant will be at the discretion of the trustees.
- A total of £100,000 is available for the reduction in the effects of social media on mental health theme. Four grants will be awarded, with a maximum grant of £50,000.
- A total of £100,000 is available for the reduction of social isolation theme. The level of the grant will be at the discretion of the trustees.
- A total of £100,000 is available for the improving mental health outcomes for children and young people theme. The level of the grant will be at the discretion of the trustees.
Priorities: The current funding round is for the following themes:
- Breaking the link between homelessness and poor mental health. Priority will be given to those applications that break this link and provide meaningful differences to those affected. This theme is open to UK-registered charities that provide support for housing accommodation for those who are currently homeless and ongoing support for the improvement of their mental health thereafter.
- Reduction in the effects of social media on mental health. This theme is for UK-registered charities that create significant pathways from online to physical community participation, for example, through volunteering, peer/influencer/educator, or paid work. The communities could operate in local, national, or international settings. There is particular interest in innovative approaches, from long-established or newly formed charities, where young people themselves may drive the charity.
- Reduction of Social Isolation – This theme is aimed at charities that own or operate a community hub which is used to improve social inclusion, reduce isolation, provide support services and activities that support mental health and loneliness within their community. Priority will be given to applications that demonstrate positive change to service users, engagement of a variety of volunteers, and are driven or supported by young people. Funds can be for a specific project or for core costs, but core costs must relate to a specific activity/service provided.
- Improving mental health outcomes for children and young people. This theme is for charities that have demonstrable experience improving mental health outcomes for children and young people through projects that:
- Improve early identification of mental health concerns, thereby facilitating early intervention. This could include, but is not limited to, innovative screening (in line with the channels the service users are comfortable using) and the provision of training and resources for teachers, parents, and community support workers.
- Improve the provision of resources, activities, and programs to support positive mental health experiences.
How to apply: This fund will open for applications on 24 October 2025 with a deadline on 12 December 2025.
Please note: The Trust received over 400 applications worth a total of £6.25 million compared with the £240,000 available for distribution in the last grant round.
Criteria and the application form can be found on the Trust’s website.
Deadline: 12th December 2025
Who can apply: UK registered charities may apply. To be eligible, charities must:
- Be based in the UK.
- Have, for at least three years, been registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, or the Regulator for Charities in Northern Ireland.
- Have as their aim ‘to help people over the age of 65’ and be able to show how they are making a difference to peoples’ lives.
In order to apply, 100% of their beneficiaries must be over the age of 65.
The trustees are interested in supporting a diverse range of charities which support older people, from large institutions to small community-run organisations. There is no upper limit in regard to annual turnover.
If a charity has received a grant from the Foundation, it must wait five years before applying for another award.
Size of grant available: Funding is at the discretion of the Trustees. Although there is no set minimum or maximum grant, grants tend to be between £1,000 and £1,500.
Around 100 organisations are awarded a grant each year.
Priorities: The funding is for UK registered charities which promote a proactive approach to the physical and mental wellbeing of people who are over 65 years of age.The charity’s work should fall into one of the following categories:
- Health and welfare – grants are for the refurbishment of residential care housing for the elderly and for building projects which are nearing completion. Consideration will also be given to the provision of equipment and furniture to enhance care and improve quality of life.
- Community and innovation – grants for community initiatives such as exercise classes for the over-65s, lunch clubs, horticultural therapy and day trips. Consideration will also be given to technology projects aimed at benefitting the over-65s.
Due to the high demand for grants, priority is given to applications from charities working in areas of deprivation and those which have a focus on arts and wellbeing.
How to apply: Meetings of the Foundation take place quarterly, in January, April, July and October.
The next application window will be open from 8 December to 12 December 2025 for consideration at the January 2026 meeting.
Successful applicants will be paid by the end of February 2026.
There is no formal application form. The details of how to make an application can be found on the Foundation’s website on the ‘How to Apply’ page.
Applications should be submitted by email to the Trustees.
Groups that have received a previous grant must wait three years before applying for another grant.
Motability Foundation – Better Access to Active Travel Experiences and Equipment
Deadline: 15th December 2025
Who can apply: There is particular interest in applications from DDPOs (Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations).
Applications will be accepted from the following:
- Incorporated Charity
- Company Limited by Guarantee
- Community Interest Company (CIC)
- Community Benefit Society
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Have a board of at least three members and the majority of the board members should be unrelated to each other.
- Have been active for at least three years.
- Have an annual income of at least £50,000 for each of the last three financial years.
- Hold reserves equivalent to at least three months’ worth of unrestricted expenditure at the point of applications
Size of grant available: Grants of between £50,000 and £1 million are available over a period of up to three years.
Applications can be for one, two or three years’ funding. For example, an application can be made for £750,000 in total over three years, which would be £250,000 per year.
Priorities: The funding is intended to develop, expand and improve active travel options for disabled people. This may include:
- Active travel equipment hire.
- Grant programmes for active travel equipment.
- Services supporting disabled people to engage in active travel.
- Training for disabled people that want to engage in active travel.
- Pilots to test new models or solutions.
Active travel is defined as all modes of travel that allow people to get around using their own efforts – whether by walking, cycling, push scooters, or use of other mobility aids.
Active travel is making a journey by walking, cycling, using a wheelchair, push scooters, or other mobility aids.
Applications are welcome from organisations providing services and equipment, and those testing new ideas or approaches that could deliver future change.
Projects can provide support on a national scale or focus on specific regions, addressing local needs and challenges.
How to apply: There is a two-stage application process:
- Stage One – the first step is to submit an online Expression of Interest (EoI) form. Decisions can be expected within four to six weeks.
- Stage Two – those with a successful EoI will be invited to submit a full application form.
Full guidelines and the Stage One application form can be found on the Motability Foundation website.
Motability Foundation – Support for Travel Training Schemes
Deadline: 15th December 2025
Who can apply: There is particular interest in applications from DDPOs (Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations).
Applications will be accepted from the following:
- Incorporated Charity
- Company Limited by Guarantee
- Community Interest Company (CIC)
- Community Benefit Society
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Have a board of at least three members and the majority of the board members should be unrelated to each other.
- Have been active for at least three years.
- Have an annual income of at least £50,000 for each of the last three financial years.
- Hold reserves equivalent to at least three months’ worth of unrestricted expenditure at the point of application.
Size of grant available: Grants of between £50,000 and £1 million are available over a period of up to three years.
Applications can be for one, two or three years’ funding. For example, an application can be made for £750,000 in total over three years, which would be £250,000 per year.
Priorities: The funding aims to increase disabled people’s confidence when travelling, by supporting organisations to deliver and grow impactful travel support programmes.
The Foundation welcomes applications that deliver immediate impact, such as expanding existing travel training or buddy schemes as well as applications that focus on future impact, such as piloting new approaches to service delivery.
Projects can provide support on a national scale or focus on specific regions, addressing local needs and challenges.
There is particular interest in projects that deliver meaningful impact in deprived areas or to underrepresented groups.
How to apply: There is a two-stage application process:
- Stage One – the first step is to submit an online Expression of Interest (EoI) form. Decisions can be expected within four to six weeks.
- Stage Two – those with a successful EoI will be invited to submit a full application form.
Full guidelines and the Stage One application form can be found on the Motability Foundation website.
Motability Foundation – Better Access to Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids (Small Grants)
Deadline: 15th December 2025
Who can apply: There is particular interest in applications from DDPOs (Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations).
Applications will be accepted from the following:
- Incorporated Charity
- Company Limited by Guarantee
- Community Interest Company (CIC)
- Community Benefit Society
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Have a board of at least three members and the majority of the board members should be unrelated to each other.
- Have been active for at least three years.
- Have an annual income of at least £50,000 for each of the last three financial years.
- Hold reserves equivalent to at least three months’ worth of unrestricted expenditure at the point of application.
Size of grant available: Grants of between £50,000 and £249,000 are available over a period of up to three years.
Applications can be for one, two or three years’ funding. For example, an application can be made for £150,000 in total over three years, which would be £50,000 per year.
Priorities: The funding is intended to improve and expand access to good quality, affordable wheelchairs and mobility equipment for disabled people within the UK.
This includes:
- Grant programmes for wheelchairs and mobility equipment.
- Loan schemes for wheelchairs and mobility equipment.
- Assessments.
- Maintenance.
Projects can provide support on a national scale or focus on specific regions, addressing local needs and challenges.
There is particular interest in funding projects that deliver meaningful impact in deprived areas, or to underrepresented groups.
The funding is intended to improve and expand access to good quality, affordable wheelchairs and mobility equipment for disabled people within the UK.
This includes:
- Grant programmes for wheelchairs and mobility equipment.
- Loan schemes for wheelchairs and mobility equipment.
- Assessments.
- Maintenance.
Projects can provide support on a national scale or focus on specific regions, addressing local needs and challenges.
There is particular interest in funding projects that deliver meaningful impact in deprived areas, or to underrepresented groups.
How to apply: Full guidelines and the online application form can be found on the Motability Foundation website.
There is a single stage application.
National Churches Trust – Medium Grants Programme
Deadline: 16th December 2025
Who can apply: Places of worship of any Christian denomination and age can apply.
Applications will be considered from listed and unlisted Christian places of worship across the UK.
Applications from the Trust’s priority areas are encouraged: North East England, Northern Ireland and Wales, though this is not to the exclusion of churches in other areas.
To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate that:
- The building is a Christian place of worship (but not a cathedral) within the UK, and open for at least six services of public worship each year.
- They own the building or have the right to carry out the work. If the church is not part of a major denomination, then the denomination must be registered with Churches Together in Britain and Ireland or have charitable status.
- The place of worship was built as a place of worship originally and is more than 30 years old.
- The works must be to the main church building either directly part of the building or attached to it.
- The building is open to the public for a minimum of 100 days a year beyond worship use.
- Have already raised at least 50% of the total project cost.
- The project has not yet started.
- The project is being led by a qualified professional, with conservation accreditation from a recognised institution if it is a listed building.
- Have two quotes in place for each element of the work in the application.
- Have any necessary permissions in place.
Size of grant available: Grants of up to £10,000 are available to cover project costs up to £80,000 (including VAT and fees).
Priorities: The Medium Grants programme (formerly Gateway Grants) will support churches preparing for a major project, and in developing their project to the point at which they can approach a major grant funder. Some funding will be awarded to local church trusts for strategic or capacity building projects.
How to apply: The Grants Committee meets three times a year (usually in March, July and November).
The next deadline for application is 16 December 2025.
Guidance notes and the online application form can be found on the Trust’s website.
National Lottery Awards for All England – Environment
Deadline: 17th December 2025
Who can apply: Applications are accepted from:
- Constituted voluntary or community organisations
- Constituted groups or clubs
- Registered charities
- Charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs)
- Not-for-profit companies
- Community interest company (CICs)
- Schools, if the project helps the local community, not just the school
- Statutory bodies (including local authorities, town, parish, and community councils)
- Community benefit societies.
To be eligible for funding applicants must have:
- At least two directors who are not related.
- A UK bank account in the name of their organisation
Size of grant available: Grants of between £300 and £20,000 for up to two years are available.
Priorities: The funding is for projects that meet one or both of these aims:
- Help people connect with and care for nature in their area.
- Make a positive difference to the environment.
The funding can be used to:
- Start a new activity or continue an existing one.
- Help organisations adapt to new challenges.
- Run one-off events that have a clear environmental benefit.
All projects must benefit the local community and involve local people from the start.
Who can apply: Guidance notes and the online application form are available on the NLCF website.
Groups should submit their application at least 16 weeks before the funding is needed. NLCF is receiving more applications than usual so it may take longer to respond. Applicants should wait for approval before starting their project or spending money.
National Lottery Community Fund – Climate Action Fund – Our Shared Future
Deadline: 17th December 2025
Who can apply: Applications will only be accepted from not-for-profit organisations working in a formal partnership.
This includes partnerships that:
- Are based around a local area or region.
- Cover one of the countries that make up the UK.
- Cover the whole UK
- Are based on a shared theme or identity rather than a place.
- Are new or already work together.
To get funding, a partner organisation must be a:
- Constituted voluntary or community organisation.
- Registered charity.
- Charitable incorporated organisation (CIO or SCIO).
- Not-for-profit company limited by guarantee that is a registered charity or has a not-for-profit ‘asset lock’ clause in their articles of association.
- Community Interest Company (CIC).
- School, college, university (as long as their project benefits and involves the wider local communities).
- Statutory body (including local authorities, town, parish or community councils).
- Community benefit society.
- Co-operative society with a not-for-profit ‘asset lock’ clause in their society rules and also be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority.
It is not necessary to be a climate or environment-focused organisation to apply. However, at least one partner should have experience of climate or environment work.
Schools must have a project that involves and benefits the community outside of the school, not just teachers, pupils, and parents of pupils.
Size of grant available: A total of £30 million is available.
The minimum grant is £500,000.
It is expected that most grants will be between £1 million and £1.5 million over three to five years.
Consideration will also be given to larger or longer-term projects.
Priorities: The funding is for formal partnership working across sectors, led by community and voluntary organisations or public sector organisations for projects that reach more people by either:
- Influencing communities at a regional, national or UK level, for example by linking larger campaigns or projects that will inspire people to take action on climate issues, or helping communities to influence the people that make policies that affect them.
- Linking climate action to the everyday lives and interests of local communities and using people’s day-to-day activities to inspire them to do things differently and work towards lasting impact.
NLCF is actively encouraging partnerships that are led by, or include, non-climate or environment-focused organisations.
How to apply: Full guidance and the online application form can be found on the NLCF website.
It normally takes at least 12 weeks from the receipt of the first stage application to find out whether applicants will be invited to the second stage.
There is high demand for this fund so only the strongest applications will be progressed to the next stage.
Thomas Wall Trust – Grants for Registered Charities
Deadline: 22nd December 2025
Who can apply: To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a UK charity that has been registered with the Charity Commission for at least three years.
- Have an annual turnover of between £25,000 and £500,000
Size of grant available: Grants of up to £5,000 are available.
The Trust will support annual repeat funding for up to three years – subject to satisfactory annual reviews of progress and impact.
Priorities: The Trust views communication skills as critical capabilities for people who want to improve their employment prospects, self-confidence, resilience, and life chances.
The funding is for registered charities that are working to develop communication skills for people from disadvantaged groups who want to improve their employment prospects.
As an inclusive charity, the Trust welcomes proposals which target people experiencing multiple deprivation or other groups demonstrably facing major hurdles to employment, especially women, people with physical, mental, or learning disabilities, and refugees.
How to apply: Applications for the March 2026 meeting will open on 1 November 2025.
There is a two-stage application process.
- Stage one is to complete an online Expression of Interest form (available on the Trust’s website) which requires some basic contact details and a description of what the funding is required for. The deadline for first stage applications is 22 December 2025.
- Stage two is by invitation only and involves completing a more in-depth application form and to submit a Project Plan, budget, latest set of financial accounts and any relevant policies.
Successful applicants will be notified in writing along with the terms and conditions of the grant and asked for their payment details.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email unless the Trust receives an unusually high volume of applications.
Applicants must wait for two years from the date of submission until they can reapply.
Groups that would like to contact the Trust will need to use the Trust’s online message form which is on Trust’s website contact page.
UnLtd – Awards for Social Entrepreneurs
Deadline: 31st December 2025
Who can apply: Applications will be accepted from social entrepreneurs aged 16 and over who are living in the UK and who are the founder of the social business.
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 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.
Priority will be given to social ventures which are tackling inequality and focusing on the most marginalised communities and those with high levels of need.
Size of grant available: The following levels of funding are available:
- Starting Up- funding of up to £8,000 for social entrepreneurs with an idea for a venture which has not yet been established, or which has been running for less than a year.
- Scaling Up – funding of up to £18,000 to grow an existing social enterprise that has been operating for between one and four years.
Together with funding, award recipients will be assigned to one of UnLtd’s dedicated programmes to provide support aligned with the needs of their social venture for up to one year.
Priorities: The funding is intended to support social entrepreneurs by helping them nurture their social ventures and grow their impact.
UnLtd are committed to providing 50% of their awards to Black, Asian and minority ethnic social entrepreneurs, and/or disabled social entrepreneurs.
How to apply: The next deadlines for applications are:
- 30 September 2025.
- 31 December 2025.
Guidance notes and the online application form can be found on the UnLtd website.
Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation – Small Change Big Difference Fund
Deadline: 31st December 2025
Who can apply: The Foundation makes grants to registered charities or good causes operating in the UK.
The Foundation only accepts recommendations of UK registered charities from members and colleagues, rather than directly from the charities.
The following eligibility criteria apply:
- Organisations must be registered with the Charity Commission, the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland or the Scottish Charity Regulator.
- Funding will either help alleviate poverty, improve health or save lives.
- Applicants must be nominated by a Yorkshire Building Society member or colleague.
- Beneficiaries must be resident in the UK.
- Annual returns must be submitted to the Charity Commission, the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland or the Scottish Charity Regulator.
- Groups that have an income turnover less than £100,000.
Priority will be given to charities:
- Whose aims are a strong fit with the Foundation’s priorities to alleviate poverty, improve health, and save lives.
- Based in areas of high deprivation.
- Who support marginalised groups e.g. ethnic minorities, women and girls, people with physical and mental disabilities, LGBTQ+.
Size of grant available: The grants offered range between £250 up to £2,500
Priorities: The aims of the Fund are to alleviate poverty and improve health/save lives, particularly for those living in areas of deprivation.
How to apply: The remaining 2025 closing date for applications is:
- 31st December
Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis.
The online Charitable Foundation Member Nomination form can be found on the Foundation’s website.
Who can apply: The following can apply:
- Charities registered with the Charity Commission.
- Not-for-profit organisations.
- Companies that are limited by guarantee and registered with the Companies House.
Priority will be given to:
- Organisations with strong community links that can provide firm evidence that any funding provided will improve young people’s lives.
- Organisations working with victims of violence or extremism based on political affiliation, race, gender, and/or faith.
Size of grant available: Grants of up to £10,000 are available.
Priorities: This Foundation aims to support projects and activities that promote non-violence against young people and support the victims of violent crime/terrorism.
How to apply: Applications can be submitted at any time.
Guidance notes and an application form are available from the TPJB Foundation website.
Applicants will typically be notified of any decisions made within three months of the application date.
Bailey Thomas Charitable Fund
Who can apply: Applications will only be considered from voluntary organisations which are registered charities or are associated with a registered charity. Exempt charities such as schools, Parent Teacher Associations and Industrial & Provident Societies can also apply.
Size of grant available: The Charity operates the following grant schemes:
- Small Grants: from £250 up to £9,000.
- General Grants: over £9,000.
Normally one-off grants are awarded but exceptionally a new project may be funded over two or three years, subject to satisfactory reports of progress.
Appeals received with funding requests of £10,000 and below will initially be considered under the Small Grants programme and will be referred to the next Main Grant Board Meeting.
Priorities: The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund describes people with learning disabilities as having three things:
- Global intellectual impairment (intelligence quotient less than 70)
- Need for support/help to fulfil ordinary daily activities
- Onset before the age of 18 years.
Learning disabilities may have a recognised cause, e.g. Down syndrome, Williams syndrome, but often the cause is not known.
Children, young people, and adults with learning disabilities often also have other physical and mental health conditions, disabilities, and/or impairments as well as having learning disabilities.
How to apply: Small Grant applications are accepted at any time and will be considered monthly, or as demand decrees.
The annual deadlines for submitting a General Grant are:
- 1 March for consideration in June
- 1 August for consideration in November
- 1 December for consideration in March
Applicants should check the website as submission deadline dates may be subject to change.
Application forms are available to complete online at the Fund’s website.
All applications to the fund will be subject to an independent review. Applications should be supported by two referees.
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