Discover Funding Opportunities

Research, Advocacy and Development Fund

The Pilgrim Trust's Research, Advocacy and Development Fund allows the Trust to make strategic interventions in their areas of interest, where they may bring about systemic change, drive forward policy and practice, or strengthen the sector. The fund supports projects, ideas and organisations that do research, advocacy and sector development work in young women's mental health and preservation and conservation of historic buildings and collections. The Trust aims to be more conversational rather than transactional in their approach. Normally they build partnerships and then invite applications for initiatives they are interested in supporting. This is a strategic fund with a small pot of funding set aside for this work. The Trust emphasizes being flexible, unbureaucratic, collaborative and pioneering in their approach. While they are always happy to hear about projects and ideas, at the moment they are unlikely to support further research and advocacy work in the young women's mental health field as they already have a couple of proposals under development. Interested applicants are encouraged to email the Director directly to discuss proposals.

Young Women in Mind programme

The Young Women in Mind programme was established to help improve the mental health of women aged 16-25 in the UK. The Pilgrim Trust has committed £5 million in funding over five years (2021-2026). Grants support organisations that increase young women's access to high quality, age and gender specific mental health services in North East England and Yorkshire and the Humber. The programme addresses the sharp rise in mental ill health among young women, with over 25% experiencing mental health problems. Social factors and structural inequalities exacerbate these problems and make it difficult for them to access resources and services. The 16 to 25 age group experiences many life challenges, with most mental health problems revealing themselves before age 24. Grants range from £60,000 to £100,000 spread over three years and cover project costs, staff costs and fees, advocacy, learning and evaluation costs. Eligible organisations must directly engage with young women aged 16-25, offer age, gender and trauma informed mental health services, provide safe women-only services and spaces, involve those with lived experience in service design, and create fully integrated 'wrap around' programmes of mental health support. The programme requires grantees to form a cohort throughout the 3-year grant period to explore best practice and advocate for wider change, creating impact that reaches beyond immediate beneficiaries.

Awards for All

National Lottery Awards for All Scotland provides quick and straightforward access to small amounts of lottery funding for community projects. The programme is administered by the Big Lottery Fund and run in partnership with sportscotland. It gives groups a chance to apply for grants between £300 and £10,000 to support what matters to people and communities. The programme supports a wide variety of one-off costs for not-for-profit/voluntary or community groups, social enterprises, community councils, schools, and statutory bodies. The fund particularly encourages applications from smaller organizations and considers organizational income when making decisions. Community involvement in the design, development, and delivery of planned activities is a key priority. For sports projects specifically, sportscotland prioritizes projects that engage young people from the most deprived areas, engage girls and young women, and engage disabled young people. Applicants must demonstrate how their project or activity will bring people together and build strong relationships in and across communities, and improve the places and spaces that matter to communities.