Learn More About What We Fund

Our Open Grants Programme accepts applications from UK registered charities or not-for-profits and who meet our eligibility criteria, for funding towards capital projects. The work of the organisation must fit within one or more of our specified programme areas. This Programme does not award grants for work outside the UK, even if the organisation is a UK-registered charity.

The Proactive Grants Programme allows us to fund more strategically, and to develop a greater level of knowledge and understanding of specific sectors. Unlike the Open Grants Programme, most of our Proactive Grants are for multi-year revenue projects where we are often the sole funder. Please note that our Proactive Grants Programme is not open to applications.

Open Grants Programme

We award grants to UK registered charities, CICs, and other registered UK not-for-profit organisations (including special schools). Grants are awarded towards capital projects, which we define as:

  • Buildings: purchase, construction, renovation 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 (more guidance on digital infrastructure can be found here), garden equipment, specialist therapeutic (excluding medical) equipment. It does not include equipment for one-off use, or which will be given to service users for personal use on a permanent basis.
  • Vehicles: This includes a minibus, car, caravan, people-carrier, or 4X4. We are unlikely to fund the total cost of a new vehicle and do not provide grants towards vehicle leasing.

We fund both large and small projects. The size of grant awarded will depend on a number of factors including the size of your organisation and the cost and scale of your capital project. 

You must be able to demonstrate that the work of your organisation fits within one or more of our programme areas, and that at least 50% of service users benefiting from the capital project are from one or more of those groups. 

Learn more about applying for a grant here

FUNDING EXCLUSIONS

Please read our 'Exclusions' page for a detailed list of organisations and types of project that are excluded from applying to us.

Click here to read about what we do not fund

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Open Grants Programme Areas

Communities Experiencing Racial Inequalities
Communities Experiencing Racial Inequalities
Communities Experiencing Racial Inequalities
Disabilities (Inc. Mental Health & Visual Impairment)
Disabilities (Inc. Mental Health & Visual Impairment)
Disabilities (Inc. Mental Health & Visual Impairment)
Domestic & Sexual Abuse
Domestic & Sexual Abuse
Domestic & Sexual Abuse
Economic Disadvantage
Economic Disadvantage
Economic Disadvantage
Homelessness
Homelessness
Homelessness
LGBT+ Communities
LGBT+ Communities
LGBT+ Communities
Older People Facing Disadvantage
Older People Facing Disadvantage
Older People Facing Disadvantage
Prison & Rehabilitation
Prison & Rehabilitation
Prison & Rehabilitation
Substance Misuse & Addiction
Substance Misuse & Addiction
Substance Misuse & Addiction
Young People Facing Disadvantage
Young People Facing Disadvantage
Young People Facing Disadvantage

Proactive Grants

Launched in 2007 and currently featuring five initiatives, our Proactive Grants Programme is not open to funding enquiries or applications. Initiatives are developed following extensive research and consultation with organisations working in the selected sectors. 

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Proactive Grants Programme Areas

Better Futures
Better Futures
Better Futures
Care Leavers
Care Leavers
Care Leavers
Dramatic Arts
Dramatic Arts
Dramatic Arts
Visual Impairment in Developing Countries
Visual Impairment in Developing Countries
Visual Impairment in Developing Countries
Social Investment
Social Investment
Social Investment
Learning, Development & Research
Learning, Development & Research
Learning, Development & Research
We funded projects like refurbishments to the Trelya holistic training and support centre in Penzance.
Electric Umbrella was awarded a grant to fund a 17-seater minibus suitable for wheelchair users.
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