Discover Funding Opportunities

Hardship Grants

The National Benevolent Charity's Hardship Grants are aimed at individuals experiencing poverty or hardship in Bristol, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Swindon. Grant awards range from £150 to £750 (with an average of £379) and are normally made in the form of e-vouchers, bank transfers, or direct payment to suppliers. The grants support essential needs including white goods, household items, food, clothing, priority debts, bankruptcy costs, training or work tools, and floor coverings. In exceptional circumstances, grants may also cover disability aids, minor home repairs, or rent arrears. Applications can be made by individuals themselves with support from a professional support worker, or by support workers on behalf of clients. The charity processes applications through Lightning Reach portal and aims to respond within 15 working days. Households can receive only one grant in any 12-month period, up to a maximum of three grants in any five-year period.

Learning Fund for Young Adults (LFYA)

The Learning Fund for Young Adults (LFYA) is a one-time $1,500 grant offered by the Province of British Columbia to help young adults with care experience access learning opportunities. The grant supports young people who have been in government care (such as foster care, youth agreements, or under various custody orders) to pursue education, employment training, life-skills development, or other learning activities. The program emphasizes flexibility and autonomy, allowing eligible recipients to choose their own learning paths based on their personal interests and goals. Young adults can apply directly or have a representative such as a caregiver or social worker apply on their behalf. Once eligibility is confirmed and the application is reviewed, payments are typically received within four to six weeks.

Learning for Future Grant

The Learning for Future Grant is a financial assistance program offered by StudentAid BC to support students who were formerly in government care. The grant provides $3,500 annually (per program year from August 1 to July 31) to help cover education-related costs not covered by the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program, such as textbooks, computers, and supplies. To be eligible, students must meet all eligibility criteria for the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program and be enrolled in a program or course below graduate level that leads to a credential (citation, certificate, diploma or degree). Each study period must be a minimum of 6 weeks or 35 tuition hours in duration. First-time applicants must submit an application through their institution's Financial Aid Office to StudentAid BC, while returning students need only submit an annual Declaration form.

Adult Upgrading Grant

The Adult Upgrading Grant is a financial assistance program offered by StudentAid BC that helps adults demonstrating financial need who are enrolled in skills upgrading, education and training courses at public post-secondary institutions in British Columbia. This grant helps with costs related to fees, books, supplies, transportation, and unsubsidized childcare. It also supports the cost of tuition for Adult Special Education programs. Eligible applicants must be adults attending a public post-secondary institution in B.C. and enrolled in skills upgrading or education and training courses such as Adult basic education, Adult special education, or English as a second language. The program is administered through approved B.C. public post-secondary institutions, and applicants must submit their completed application forms to the Financial Aid Office at their institution.

BHF Free Community Defibrillator Programme

The British Heart Foundation offers free defibrillators to eligible non-profit community-focused groups across the UK. The programme aims to increase public access to defibrillators in areas with fewer registered devices and higher risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Each award package includes a defibrillator with pads and accessories, a non-lockable cabinet for 24/7 public access, replacement pads and batteries, and resources for RevivR online CPR training. Applications are reviewed monthly against criteria prioritizing communities that need them most. Recipients must install the defibrillator within 4 weeks, register it on The Circuit national defibrillator network, and commit to learning and teaching CPR in their community. The defibrillator must be accessible 24/7 in a non-lockable cabinet on an external wall with constant electricity supply, located at least 200 metres from the nearest public access defibrillator. This initiative is made possible through partnerships with Royal Mail, AJ Bell Futures Foundation, and Sky Bet.

Travel Award for Bands

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has designed this rolling programme to provide support to enable established Bands based in Northern Ireland to travel outside of Northern Ireland. The programme aims to develop bands' performance skills, networks and audiences via opportunities to showcase outside of Northern Ireland, and to contribute to the growth of equality of access to and opportunities in the arts for groups within the bands sector in Northern Ireland. Particular priority will be given to applications which can demonstrate high quality musicianship, a commitment to training and musical education (particularly of young people), and a commitment to repertoire and technique development in relation to the band's existing repertoire and technical standards. Eligible bands include Accordion Orchestra/Band, Brass Band, Concert Band, Flute Band, Pipe Band, and Wind Band. Applicants must provide evidence that they have been invited to showcase or perform by a relevant organisation, event, festival, promoter, or tour operator in the location to which they intend to travel. The scheme covers travel costs including flight, boat, train, and bus tickets, vehicle hire, and fuel costs.

Ulysses Trust Expedition and Adventurous Training Grant

The Ulysses Trust provides financial support for members of the UK Volunteer Reserve Forces, University Officer Training Corps (UOTC), and Cadet Forces to undertake challenging expeditions and adventurous training activities. The Trust aims to help units organize expeditions and adventurous training experiences that build leadership skills and resilience. Applications are accepted from units rather than individuals, and the Trust has been supporting expeditions worldwide for many years. The grant program requires submission of an expedition report following the activity, demonstrating the Trust's commitment to documenting the impact and outcomes of funded expeditions.

Arctic Club Award

The Arctic Club Award seeks to promote and support interesting, innovative and adventurous expeditions in the Arctic, particularly for young people. Awards are made annually from the Arctic Club Award Fund, held within the Gino Watkins Memorial Fund (Charity 208791), and administered by Members of the Gino Watkins Memorial Committee (which includes Arctic Club members). Each year, one or more expeditions are given an Arctic Club Award. Applicants may receive a combined award from both the Gino Watkins Memorial Fund and the Arctic Club Award Fund. Members of these expeditions are invited as guests to the Arctic Club Dinner. The Arctic Club also makes small awards to individuals for training purposes such as expedition training, polar bear safety, and ice safety.

Journey in Audio

Journey in Audio offers professional training and access to high-quality equipment to document travel, fieldwork or a research expedition through audio recorded in the field. This unique opportunity provides participants with a one-day, in-person workshop led by a professional audio producer at the Royal Geographical Society in London, scheduled for spring 2026. The workshop provides an introduction to soundscapes, how sound is used in storytelling, and how to build a narrative, along with practical training on using audio recording equipment and capturing sounds in the field. Participants receive the loan of professional-standard handheld audio recording equipment for use in the field, a non-commercial license for REAPER digital audio production software, and a financial contribution for travel and accommodation to attend the workshop. After returning from the field, participants will receive group and one-to-one feedback sessions online on the first cut of their audio work. The workshop is open to geographical journeys, fieldwork, or research expeditions being undertaken by individuals or small teams between mid-April and the end of October 2026. Applicants are expected to have a clear plan for their travel, fieldwork, or research expedition and the financial and practical means to undertake it. Eligible projects may focus on any geography-related topic, and applicants with all levels of experience can apply. The opportunity to share audio work through the Society's channels is available, subject to review for quality and content.

The Gino Watkins Fund Awards

The Gino Watkins Fund Awards support expeditions guiding and inspiring enterprising people towards scientific research and exploration in the polar regions. The Gino Watkins Memorial Fund gives grants annually of up to £4,000 towards expeditions that meet its objective of the diffusion and improvement of knowledge of the polar regions. The Fund endeavours to increase our knowledge of one of the least known, but most important parts of our planet, and also to stimulate the lasting qualities of enterprise, endurance and leadership gained in this uniquely arduous environment. The Fund was established in 1933 in memory of Henry George ('Gino') Watkins, who revolutionised polar exploration. Expeditions supported by the Fund visit Greenland and other high Arctic lands, as well as the Antarctic. Applications come from researchers, expeditioners, adventurers and organised groups, with particular favour given to expeditions that bring experience and training to young people or those early in their career.

Andrew Croft Memorial Fund Grants

The Andrew Croft Memorial Fund was established in 1998 to preserve and promote the life, spirit and hopes of Colonel Andrew Croft DSO OBE, Arctic explorer and wartime commando. The Fund provides grants annually for expeditions and research in the Arctic regions, as well as supporting other initiatives within its charitable objectives. The Fund advances education of young people below the age of thirty in subjects which can be advanced by research and field work particularly in the Arctic, by providing grants to enable participation in scientific expeditions. The Fund also supports charitable purposes for the benefit of Arctic communities and assists members of Her Majesty's Constabulary with the cost of further education and training to enhance their effectiveness within the community. Grants are approved annually in March/April each year. The Fund operates as a registered charity (number 1078106) and evaluates applications at the discretion of its Trustees, supporting expeditions and initiatives that align with Colonel Croft's legacy of developing talent, leadership, and Arctic exploration. Applications are welcomed from young people seeking to participate in Arctic research and field work, as well as from police officers pursuing further education and training opportunities.

Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust Grants

The Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust continues Dame Catherine's generous philanthropy through grants and funding to charitable organizations. The Trust primarily supports local charities within the North East of England, or those in which Dame Catherine had an interest and/or have a local benefit. The Trustees prefer projects and schemes which involve or are directed towards capital expenditure. Areas of support include education and training, medical health and sickness, children and young people, religious activities, animal welfare, disability, and arts and culture. As a matter of general policy, the Trustees do not consider applications which would involve core funding or on-going financing, applications with a foreign element, personal applications, or applications for sports clubs and associations.