Please see below funding streams around children, young people and education available to you and your organisation, both local and national opportunities.
BBC Children in Need: New funding streams opening in October 2022, Organisations will only be able to apply for one stream per year, and so should choose the one most appropriate to their work. New funds include a separate grants stream for core costs and an additional stream for smaller, emerging organisations who may need greater support to access funding.
Blue Spark Foundation: Supports a wide range of projects (with some exclusions, such as holiday clubs, counselling services, and life skill mentoring services) initiated by both organisations and individuals for the benefit of children or young people aged 5 – 22. “We value academic, vocational, artistic and sporting endeavour in equal measure but we are particularly keen to support projects which will help enhance the self-confidence, team working skills and future employability of children and young people.” Most grants awarded are under £2000, all are under £5000. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis approximately every 8 weeks.
The British & Foreign School Society – The fund aims to support charitable organisations running in the UK to improve access to education and the quality of education for vulnerable or deprived children and young people under the age of 25.
Central Social and Recreational Trust: Grants of up to £1,000 are available for sports clubs and organisations in England to provide or assist in the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation for the benefit of disadvantaged children under 21 years old.
Dickie Bird Foundation: The vision of the Foundation is to assist young people under 16 years of age to participate, to the best of their ability, in the sport of their choice irrespective of their social circumstances, culture or ethnicity and to ensure that, in doing so, they improve their chances both inside and outside sport. Please note that Grants are payable to disadvantaged children aged under 16 for essential sports equipment.
Erasmus+ – Youth Funding: Erasmus+ is the European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport. Each year, UK youth organisations and young people can access Erasmus+ funding to support life-changing international opportunities.
The Henry Smith Charity – The purpose of the Holiday Grants programme is to provide access to recreational trips or holidays for groups of children who experience disadvantage or who have disabilities. In particular we are interested in contributing to trips that would not take place without our funding.
The Happiness Fund: The Happiness Fund is enabling and supporting projects which aim to improve mental health & wellbeing, inclusion, learning and skills development in local communities throughout the UK. The Fund will award up to £2,500 per quarter to support groups setting up and supporting new projects and activities. To be successful, applicants must demonstrate how the group/activity can be self-sustainable and attract further long-term funding from other sources.
The Ironmonger’s Company – Funding is available for disadvantaged children and young people to reach their full potential. Deadline: 15th December 2022.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation: Youth Fund – The Youth Fund supports organisations with the main focus of working with and for young people aged between 14 and 25 years old who face complex transitions to adulthood.
Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust (England and Wales) – Early years’ preventative work: small and medium-sized charities working with disadvantaged children aged 0-3yrs in England and Wales can apply for small grants to help them during the Covid-19 pandemic. Deadline: March 2023.
Tesco Community Grants: Supporting local good causes that focus on helping children and families. Customers vote in store for nominated groups, who receive either £1,500, £1,000 or £500. To be nominated registered charities and not-for-profit organisations can apply directly or Tesco customers and staff members can nominate a cause that they would like to see supported and Tesco will contact the organisation to encourage them to apply.
Toy Trust Fund: The Toy Trust Fund is welcoming applications from small registered children’s charities for the benefit of children across the UK. Applications should be in support of disadvantaged children aged below 13 years, regardless of faith, sex or disability. Applications may be for equipment (books excluded) and services but generally not for salaries, wages or research. Deadline: quarterly.
True Colours Trust: The trust provides grants of up to £10,000 to support organisations and projects that work with: disabled children and young people; children and young people with life-limiting conditions; and their families. The programme is open to applications at any time.
Variety Club – Youth Club Grants: Variety Club Youth Club Grants in the region of £200 – £600 to part-fund equipment costing over £1000, for youth clubs that are affiliated to national bodies (but they don’t fund uniformed organisations).
Warburtons: Warburtons supports charities and the community in three ways: with financial support, product donations and the personal involvement of individual people – both Warburton family members and employees. Our main focus is on grass roots activities that have a positive effect on the aspirations, education, skills and employability of young people, as well as projects that are centred on family life, promoting healthier lifestyles and contributing to improvements in the local community.
The Weavers Company Benevolent Fund – The fund is aimed to support any project surrounding people in trouble, particularly young offenders and ex offenders. Preference is given to those projects that are innovative and can serve as a model of operation elsewhere.
Wooden Spoon Equipment Grants: Capital grants funding is available to schools and not for profit organisations for permanent projects which make a positive impact on the lives of children and young people (under 25) that are disadvantaged physically, mentally or socially. Funding may cover: buildings and extensions equipment and activity aids sensory rooms and gardens playgrounds and sports areas soft playrooms. Projects that are educational or disability sports focussed must have a key rugby element and grants for these projects will be considered for kit and equipment, salaries and administration costs. There is no maximum limit – applications are expected for £5,000 or more and can be submitted at any time. It is recommended to complete an expression of wish form before making an application.
The Woodland Trust: Free trees available to school and communities.
Youth Music: Youth Music are offering grants to help children and young people make, learn and earn in music.