Discover Funding Opportunities

UK Small Grants

The UK Small Grants programme is designed to support excellent local organisations and projects that work with disabled children and young people, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families. It provides grants of up to £10,000, although many grants are smaller than this. The programme is open to applications at any time and aims to respond with a final decision within twelve weeks. The programme supports projects including activities for disabled children and their families, activities which support siblings, bereavement support for children and families, family support and parent-led peer support, and respite which supports the whole family. It also funds equipment and materials such as renovation and upgrading of hydrotherapy pools and multi-sensory rooms, minibuses, and specialised play equipment. The Trust funds UK registered charitable organisations and CICs with annual income less than £350,000 that deliver projects in the UK. The organisation is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and is particularly keen to receive applications from organisations operating in areas of high deprivation. Recipients must adhere to the Trust's safeguarding policy and provide a report within 12 months of payment. Organisations are unlikely to be funded in consecutive years.

Community Grant Scheme

The Community Grant Scheme is an opportunity for voluntary and community sector organisations to apply for a grant to run projects to support Dover district residents. This grant scheme supports community organisations and groups based within the Dover District, or seeking grants for activities that will benefit a community within the Dover District. Applicants can apply for a grant between £100 and £5,000 to support various community projects. Applications are welcomed from registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations, community interest companies, social enterprises, constituted voluntary/community groups, constituted sports clubs, constituted youth clubs, constituted school-related groups, and constituted church/faith groups. Projects should be completed within 8 months of award, and the scheme cannot back-fund applications that have already started.

Youth Futures Education Fund

The Youth Futures Education Fund has been established to provide a grant to recipients of the Former Youth in Care Provincial Tuition Waiver, to assist with supplemental educational funding for expenses such as books, housing, utilities, or emergency situations. The amount of funding is determined by the information provided on the application and the outcome of the assessment by institutional officials. This fund specifically supports former youth in care who are pursuing post-secondary education at public institutions in British Columbia, Canada.

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.

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.

The Rob George Foundation Grant

The Rob George Foundation provides support to young people in two distinct areas. First, it offers practical and/or financial support to young people with life threatening or terminal illnesses who find themselves struggling to access financial assistance during their treatment. The Foundation was established in memory of Rob George, who died aged 21 following a battle with leukaemia and experienced frustration with the process of seeking financial support during his illness. Second, the Foundation provides financial support to young people who demonstrate exceptional commitment and/or ability in the worlds of sport or the performing arts but may be held back by their financial situation from pursuing their goals. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. The Foundation operates in partnership with Essex Community Foundation and accepts applications from young people within specific geographical areas in the UK: Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, and any London Borough. The Foundation aims to make a difference one individual at a time by removing financial barriers that prevent young people from pursuing their goals or accessing support during serious illness.

Cam and Bear Fund for Adventure

The Cam and Bear Fund for Adventure is a memorial fund established in honor of Andrew Foster, described as the ultimate outdoorsman. The fund's mission is to provide disadvantaged young people with increased opportunities to experience outdoor activities that Andrew loved, including climbing and other adventure pursuits. The program aims to help young participants develop and grow while learning the importance of protecting the natural environment. Named after Andrew and his wife's adventure blog 'Cam and Bear UK,' the fund seeks to inspire others through outdoor experiences and environmental stewardship. The fund accepts applications from young people who would benefit from outdoor adventure opportunities but may lack the resources to access them.

The Yapp Charitable Trust Grant Programme

The Yapp Charitable Trust provides grants exclusively to small registered charities with total annual expenditure of less than £50,000. The Trust funds ongoing core costs associated with regular activities or services that have been operating for at least a year. Priority is given to charities working with elderly people, children and young people, people with physical impairments, learning difficulties or mental health challenges, people overcoming life-limiting social problems such as addiction or abuse, and education and learning particularly for the educationally disadvantaged. The Trust prioritises charities delivering services in areas of high deprivation, work that is unattractive to the general public or unpopular with other funders, services helping marginalised, disadvantaged or isolated people, and applicants demonstrating effective use of volunteers and elements of self-sustainability through user fees or subscriptions.

Organisation Grants

Variety's Organisation Grants provide equipment funding to youth clubs and other organizations supporting disadvantaged young people through informal education, positive activity, and skills development. The program supports youth clubs affiliated with national youth organizations to acquire essential equipment that enables young people to play, learn, have fun, develop a sense of community and participation, foster peer relationships and understand the world around them. Equipment grants cover items costing more than £1,000 including sports and gym equipment, computers and IT equipment, photography and film equipment, consoles and games, arts and crafts materials, and musical instruments and recording equipment. Note: The program is currently not accepting new applications due to increasing demand for individual grants for wheelchairs and special equipment for children.

Children's Summer Playschemes

The Woodward Charitable Trust sets aside funds each year for summer play schemes for children from disadvantaged backgrounds between the ages of 5-16 years. The program supports small local play schemes that provide wide-ranging activities including crafts, cooking, outdoor activities, and sport. Trustees review applications in May and fund programmes that run for a minimum of 2 weeks, 10 full days, or 20 half days across the summer holidays. The Trust prioritizes schemes that involve a large number of children and encourage past users to return as volunteers. Grants can only be paid to registered charities, CICs, CIOs, or exempt charities. The Trust will only fund up to 50% of the total cost of a scheme, with most grants awarded in the range of £500 to £1,000. Around 35 grants are made each year. The program emphasizes relatively inexpensive activities and educational trips rather than purely social outings. Organizations must have an annual turnover of less than £100,000 and must submit a Safeguarding and/or Child Protection Policy with their application.

The Thomas Farr Charity Grant

The Thomas Farr Charity is a grant-making trust established in 1989 following the sale of the Home Brewery. The charity supports charitable projects and activities in Nottinghamshire, focusing on areas where the Home Brewery had a historical presence. The main areas of giving include education, youth, health, and the elderly. The charity operates as a general charitable trust, allowing the Trustees to apply income for charitable purposes at their absolute discretion. Trustees meet three times each year in March, July, and November to review applications. Grant amounts distributed annually depend on the income generated from the charity's investments. Applications are welcomed from organizations working in community healthcare, health education, lifelong learning projects, community development, personal social services addressing social deprivation, crime prevention schemes, and community social activities promoting engagement for vulnerable people. The charity does not support individuals, large national charities based outside Nottinghamshire, loans or business finance, campaigning or political work, activities that have already taken place, or general mail shot appeals.

Holiday Grants

The Holiday Grants Programme offers one-off grants for schools, youth groups and non-profit organisations to take children aged 13 and under on recreational day trips or short residential trips. The programme helps provide memorable experiences that can have a lasting impact, boosting wellbeing, building confidence, and offering a break from daily pressures for children who face financial hardship, systemic inequity or disability. The foundation prioritises groups supporting disabled children and those with limited access to funds to go on holiday, with 60% of grants in 2025 going to organisations working in the UK's most deprived areas. Trips must be recreational only with no educational or religious aims, and must take place within the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands.

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.

Tesco Bags of Help Community Grant

Bags of Help is Tesco's local community grant scheme, which funds thousands of community projects every year. The scheme is always open for applications from charities and community organisations. Three community projects in each local area are voted on by customers in Tesco stores throughout the UK, with projects changing every three months. The project that receives the most votes in its area will receive a grant of up to £1,000. The scheme is administered by Groundwork, working with greenspace scotland to support successful projects in Scotland. Projects must bring benefits to the community and can cover a wide range of local causes including equipment for schools and youth groups, environmental improvements, play areas, counselling services, mental health activities, equipment to reduce social isolation, sports equipment, support for health issues, and equipment for community halls. Bags of Help can fund 100% of project costs, and projects must be completed within twelve months of receiving the grant.

ReQuest Foundation Youth Polar Projects Grant

The ReQuest Foundation provides grants to support young people aged 16-24 undertaking polar projects. These projects can include research/technical work, education, creative/artistic endeavors, or expeditions/explorations related to the polar regions. The foundation welcomes applications for polar-relevant projects of various kinds. Applicants must be UK residents or British citizens and be members of a youth organisation. Each applicant must have an advocate (a non-family adult supporter) from their youth organisation. The foundation reviews applications on a six-monthly cycle with deadlines of 31st January and 31st July each year. Initially, grants of up to £500 per six months are offered, rolling over to no more than £1000 per year. The financial contribution may be contingent on other funds being raised and/or achieving staged milestones. Recipients must provide a case study within two months of completing their project.

Now on Earth Youth Adventure Grant

The Now on Earth Youth Adventure Grant is designed to enable young adults to undertake adventurous expeditions that help develop self-confidence, resilience and mental wellbeing. The grant is intended to support those who would otherwise struggle to finance their adventure. A significant role in the organisation of any trip is considered a key part of the learning experience, so grants are not awarded to individuals seeking to partake in organised trips, races, courses or events. The grant supports human-powered expeditions involving physical exertion with clearly defined goals that are as original as possible and span a minimum of 3 days. Expeditions must be self-organised and recorded afterwards in a blog post with photographs or film format for sharing on the website and social media. Applications for adventures with purpose (environmental, social etc) and close to home UK-based expeditions receive extra scoring points. Grant awards generally range between £100-£500 depending on the expedition, although potentially more in a minority of cases. The expedition must take place within 12 months of the grant being awarded. The grant is currently closed with plans for the next fundraiser in June/July 2026.