Funding
Scroll through our comprehensive list of funders below to find the help you need
The Community Foundation award grants to support causes in Northumberland from nearly 300 different funds set up by their donors. Sign up to their fortnightly newsletter to stay informed about the latest funding opportunities
The National Lottery Community Fund distributes over £600m a year to communities across the UK, raised by players of The National Lottery
GrantFinder and Northumberland County Council Open 4 Community is a user-friendly, accurate UK wide professional funding tool which has helped users to secure millions of pounds worth of support. Sign up here
Arts Council England are looking for organisations, artists, events, initiatives and others to apply for their funding and help them achieve their strategy
The monthly funding eBulletin from Northumberland County Council is free and provides opportunities available in the local area. Sign up here
Heritage Fund are the largest funder of UK heritage. They believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
The free charity Funding Finder charitable grants directory enables you to search for funders
We provide unrestricted funding for charities and good causes across Britain
The Albert Hunt Trust supports UK registered charities that provide hospice care; provide support for the homeless or promote health and well-being
The Ballinger Charitable Trust was founded in 1994 and seeks to support charities, CICs and community groups in North-East England, through grants and funding
The Barbour Foundation (originally called The Barbour Trust) was set up to support charities and good causes primarily in the North East of England
The Bernard Sunley Foundation support charities in England and Wales working to raise the quality of life and provide greater opportunities for the young, the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged.
BlueSpark Foundation is a registered charity which supports the education and development of children and young people by providing grants for educational, cultural, sporting and other projects.
The Catherine Cookson Trust supports a wide range of activities including education and training, environment and conservation, arts and culture as well as general charitable purposes
Garfield Weston Foundation support charities that make a positive difference, working in different sectors in the UK. These include welfare, youth, community, environment, education, health, arts, heritage and faith.
Grants for Good is designed to direct funding only to small and growing local charities, voluntary groups or social enterprises that are making a big impact on communities, people or the environment
The Greggs Foundation Community Grants Programme offers grants of up to £20,000 per year to local organisations helping to tackle the challenges facing local communities
The Hedley Foundation provides grants to smaller charities operating across the spectrum of social need. Last year, they supported hundreds of small charities, improving lives and lifting people’s aspirations.
Sir James Knott Trust support charitable activity in Northumberland by making grants to organisations, with the aim of improving the conditions of people living and working in the North East of England
The Joicey Trust make grants across a wide spectrum for either revenue (including ‘core funding’) or capital expenditure
The Mercers’ Company aim to support churches, other faith and community-based organisations that strengthen communities and families
The Morrisons Foundation supports registered charities that make a positive difference in local communities across England, Scotland and Wales
The Northumberland Estates Community Fund was developed to provide support to community groups, charities and organisations that operate in the locality of their operations
Northumberland National Park Communities Fund provides small amounts of funding to projects, community groups, businesses, charities and organisations that wish to deliver a project which is in line with its key aims and priorities.
The Paul Hamlyn Foundation Youth Fund want to fund organisations who support young people (ages 14–25) who face challenging or complex transitions to adulthood
The Rose Education Foundation is pleased and excited to be able to offer financial support to youth projects in North-East England
The Rothley Trust focuses on the needs of children and young people in areas of disadvantage. It also supports community development and the groups which help people with disabilities
The Schroder Charity Trust is an independent grant-making family trust which supports a wide range of charitable activities.
Screwfix Foundation are a grant giving charity with a clear purpose to support projects that improve, repair and maintain homes and community facilities used by those in need throughout the UK
The Veterans’ Foundation provides grants to eligible organisations that provide assistance to serving and former members of the armed forces community, operational qualified seafarers and their immediate families
The Wellbank Foundation is a small, family run, grant-making charity that supports registered charities based in the North East of England
Funding Opportunities
Grants for Practical Forestry and Arboriculture Training (England)
There is no deadline for applications, however, funding for courses is limited and interested parties are encouraged to apply early.
Through this programme, grants are available to support individuals who are looking to undertake forestry and arboriculture training courses to learn new skills and develop their career. Forestry short courses cover topics including coppicing and chainsaw maintenance, and broader learning on managing woodland, such as: Planning and planting a new woodland; Deer stalking; Marketing and selling timber; Fencing and hedge laying. Arboriculture short courses cover topics including Aerial tree pruning, Branch removal and crown reduction and Assisted felling and tree surveying. Grants can cover 100% of the training costs for short, practical forestry and arboriculture courses. Funding will be paid directly to the training provider. Applications are welcome from people who are looking to develop new or existing skills in forestry or arboriculture in England.
Addressing issues experienced by vulnerable people in Tyne & Wear and Northumberland
The Ringtons advisory panel are expected to hold the grant decision meeting in late September 2024.
The purpose of the Ringtons Fund is to support charitable organisations working with people experiencing hardship and/or disadvantage it is keen to see applications supporting one or more of the following: – children; disability; family; older people; poverty, and women. Organisations based and operating within Tyne & Wear and Northumberland can be supported with grants of up to £5,000, mainly for activities, materials and equipment required to deliver projects. There is a preference for the Ringtons Fund to support the entire request rather than contributing to a larger amount. The fund will support: Direct activity costs; Staffing costs and volunteer expenses as part of an activity or project or Project resources and equipment.
Apart Not Alone: Support for Serving Families programme 2024-25
There will be one deadline for applications this year: apply by 12 noon on 25 September 2024 to receive a decision before end of December 2024.
Under the Apart, Not Alone programme the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust will award grants of between £5,000 and £15,000 for projects that will help to mitigate the impact of long or frequent involuntary separation for families, spouses, and serving personnel, including reservists and their families. Applications are invited from: A registered charity with substantial recent experience of supporting Armed Forces communities; Community interest Company (CIC) with substantial recent experience of supporting Armed Forces communities or An Armed Forces unit or base. Grants of between £5,000 and £15,000 towards a project being delivered over a period of up to 12 months can be applied for.
The Foyle School Library Scheme Final Deadline Announced – Reminder (UK)
The Foyle Foundation has announced that its School Library Scheme will finally close to applications on the 30th September 2024.
The scheme awards grants of between £2,000 and £10,000 to UK state schools to improve or establish their libraries. Priority is given to primary schools up to Key Stage 2, but secondary schools that need books and reading resources for catch-up reading programmes for Key Stage 3 pupils and/or transition reading programmes for feeder/local primary schools will also be considered. The Foundation can also consider applications from special schools for all SEN age groups. Applications can be submitted at any time up to the final deadline.
Music for All’s funding round 3 is NOW OPEN!
Applications for these awards categories should be made by 8am on 30 September 2024.
Music for All’s next funding round is NOW OPEN to applicants! They are delighted to be offering an instrument-only funding round to community projects. Eligibility criteria and instructions should be read carefully before applying.
Peter Harrison Foundation Active Lives Programme (UK)
The next closing date for applications is the 1st October 2024.
Charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) throughout the United Kingdom can apply for grants of up to £50,000 to the Peter Harrison Foundation Active grant scheme. The grant scheme aims to provide opportunities for sport and physical activity at a grassroots level that enable physically, mentally, socially or economically disadvantaged people to develop personal and life skills to fulfil their potential. The grants can be used for various purposes, such as funding new sports programmes, improving existing sports facilities, or providing training and support for sports coaches. Priority will be given to organisations with an annual turnover of up to £500,000.
New programme to focus on prevention of Veteran suicide
The deadline for submission is 12 noon on 2 October. A decision will be made before end of December 2024.
This Veteran-focused programme will address this aim by supporting projects that meet one or more of the following outcomes: To support staff who work with vulnerable beneficiaries; To address mental health wellbeing, help-seeking, and stigma within the Armed Forces community and To address the needs of under-represented groups. Organisations can either apply for a one-year grant of up to £50,000 or a two-year grant of up to £100,000, with the option to apply for enhanced funding in some cases. Applications are invited from registered charities and statutory organisations. They are particularly seeking applications from organisations looking to collaborate with stakeholders and wider service providers, to widen the potential reach and benefits of your project and provide a common way which is safe, streamlined, Veteran-centred and holistic in nature. There will be a single round of applications for this programme.
The7Stars Foundation – Social Impact fund
There are three deadlines for submission – see below
The7stars Foundation provides grants to charities supporting young people aged 16 years and under. They have various funding streams open throughout the year, so it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on their funding page. The Social Impact Fund is currently open for applications. Grant funding of up to £1,500 is available throughout the year, aligned with specific awareness days (please see below). A maximum of three charities will be shortlisted for each award, with the7stars agency team voting on which charity will receive the funding. Deadlines coming up: Thursday 10 October 2024 – World Homeless Day; Thursday 31 October 2024 – Black History Month; Tuesday 10 December 2024 – Human Rights Day
Community Energy Fund for North East and Yorkshire
Applications for Round 3 will open on 19th August 2024 and close on 13 October 2024
The Community Energy Fund (CEF) is a £10m grant scheme for urban and rural communities to develop energy services to benefit their local area. The funding will help to kickstart clean energy projects including small-scale wind farms and rooftop solar partnerships, as well as battery storage, rural heat networks, electric vehicle charging points. It can also be used to fund fuel poverty alleviation schemes such as energy efficiency, retrofit, and advice projects. The new fund follows the success of the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF), with an expanded remit to include both rural and urban areas in England.
Fight for Sight Social Change Fund
Deadline: 11:59PM, Monday 14 October, 2024
We’re seeking applications from projects that support and empower children and young people with the tools to live independent and fulfilling lives. Specifically, we are interested in work that builds social, digital and self-advocacy skills, so that vision impaired children and young people feel connected with each other, with their sighted peers, and with the wider communities around them. We know that provision differs across the country and particularly welcome applications from organisations who are collaborating in order to share best practice, deliver at scale or meet previously unmet need.
Northern Powergrid Foundation
The next round of funding for community resilience projects is open 2 September until 14 October. Applications accepted online.
Northern Powergrid Foundation is an independent charity serving the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, we have enduring plans to empower communities with projects across three key funding priorities: 1. Community resilience – supporting projects that embed greater energy resilience within communities; 2. Fuel poverty innovation – supporting innovative and scalable solutions for addressing fuel poverty in our region; 3. Net zero networks – supporting programmes that builds awareness, educates and develops skills in our region to support the net zero transition. We are committed to empowering communities across our region to address some of the biggest energy related challenges. Communities are invited to apply for funds at set times during the year.
Free from Fear Programme
The deadline for applications is Wednesday 16 October 2024, 12 noon
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust offers grants ranging from £75,000 to £150,000 for registered charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs), and Armed Forces bases/units. These grants support initiatives that address the impact of domestic abuse and aim to have a long-term effect in preventing domestic abuse within serving Armed Forces communities or assisting those affected. The Trust seeks to fund projects focussing on preventive measures or providing effective support routes for victim survivors of domestic abuse.
Awards to organisations in Northumberland supporting young people aged 10 to 25 years
Closing date: 27 October 2024.
The Northumberland High Sheriff Awards Fund makes awards to community youth projects and other similar not for profit organisations which engage young people aged 10 to 25 in constructive and developmental activities, encourage their personal development, and deter them from anti-social activities. It also acknowledges the work of volunteers and encourages the development of young volunteers. Awards are made to voluntary and community groups and registered charities based and working in Northumberland. An application could be for a specific project, to purchase equipment, or towards the core costs of your organisation. Please note: There will only be one round of applications for this fund in 2024 / 2025 with awards announced in January / February 2025.
Community Gardens Grant
Closing date: 28 October 2024
The 2025 Community Garden Grants scheme is open for applications from Monday 9th September until noon on 28th October 2024. Eligible community garden projects from England, Wales and Northern Ireland are welcome to apply for grants of between £1,000 and £5,000. All applications will be assessed on their merits and the successful groups will be notified in March 2025.
Linnean Society Accepting Applications for ‘Our Local Nature’ Grant Programme
Closing date: end of October 2024
The Our Local Nature Grant scheme is designed to provide young people with an opportunity to take the lead on projects that involve their local nature and natural spaces, to aid young people in realising their influence to affect positive change, to have their voices heard, and see their ideas come to life. We therefore fund innovative projects that are designed and led by young people in the UK. Adult applicants should develop their proposal alongside young people and the projects should seek to empower local young people to enact changes they want to see, such as increasing access to natural spaces and improving understanding of their local biodiversity. The maximum award is £1,000 per proposal. We welcome and encourage applications for significantly lower amounts – in the last two years we have funded a wide spread of projects ranging from £150 to £1,000. The Society is happy to co-fund any project with other organisations. This grant is purposefully broad and welcomes novel ideas. Some examples of possible proposals could be: running a school festival about nature; painting community murals showcasing biodiversity in the area; building a community garden; creating a nature walk; hiring a speaker to come and talk about local foraging.
Asda Foundation Offers Grants to Support Grassroots Community Groups
The deadline for all applications is 8 November 2024 (but may close early if funds are depleted).
Each year, the Asda Foundation receives a donation from Asda Stores which is used to provide grant funding to grassroots groups at the heart of communities throughout the UK. The Foundation works with In-store Asda Community Champions to award grants to the local groups that need them most. The Asda Foundation Grassroots programme has three funding streams and applications are now accepted: Empowering Local Communities: initiatives to address diverse local challenges and support local initiatives for residents over the age of 18 years; Under 18 Better Starts: projects to tackle poverty, address inclusion and boost wellbeing for children and young people under 18 years; Cost of Living: support for local community groups to help with volunteer-related costs, rent/utilities expenses and food/essentials.
Charities and not-for-profit organisations based in the UK can apply grants of between £400 and £2,000. The awards are fixed at £400, £500, £800, £1,000, £1,200, £1,600 and £2,000. Application forms can be obtained from Asda Community Champions, who are based in local Asda stores: applicants can use the store locator link on the Asda Foundation website to get in touch with their local store and speak to their Community Champion about their project proposal.
Armed Forces Families Fund: Early Years programme 2024-25
If you apply by 12 noon on 20 November 2024, you’ll receive a decision before the end of March 2025.
Under this programme the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust will award grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 on behalf of the MOD’s Armed Forces Families Fund Early Years Programme, towards projects lasting up to two years, which help enhance early childhood education and childcare settings to meet specific needs of young children from Armed Forces families.
LGBT+ Futures: Equity Fund
The deadline for applications is Thursday 21 November 2024, 12 noon. Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis.
Thanks to further funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, Consortium and its Community Partners are delighted to deliver the second round of the LGBT+ Futures: Equity Fund. A total pot of £500,000 is available through small grants of between £100 and £25,000 for organisational running costs, projects, and organisational and leadership development. The funding is ring-fenced specifically for intersectional LGBT+ organisations that are led by and for LGBT+ people and are working with targeted under-represented and under-resourced communities. Their five communities of focus are: D/deaf, Disabled, and neurodivergent LGBT+ people; LGBTQIA+ Women; LGBT+ People of the Global Majority; Older LGBT+ people and Trans and non-binary people.
Funding for Projects that Address Severe Learning Disabilities (UK)
UK charities, voluntary organisations, and schools can apply for grants to help children and adults suffering from severe learning difficulties and autism. The funding is being made available through the Baily Thomas General grants programme and can be used to purchase equipment, support capital works as well and cover project and core costs. Previous grants have been used to support capital works for residential, nursing and respite care, and schools; employment schemes including woodwork, crafts, printing and horticulture; play schemes and play therapy schemes; day and social activities centres; support for families, including respite schemes; independent living schemes; support in the community schemes; and Snoezelen rooms
New Funding Programme to Encourage People to Get Active (England)
Applications can be made at any time.
Sport England has launched a new fund to encourage more people to get active. The Movement Fund, worth £160 million over the next four years, will offer crowdfunding pledges, grants and resources to provide physical activity opportunities for the people and communities who need it the most. Eligible projects could receive up to £15,000 to cover a wide range of costs and items that will help deliver positive change, particularly for those facing barriers to activity, such as people on lower incomes, disabled people, older people, and people from culturally diverse communities. Applications can be made at any time by sports clubs, charities, schools, local authorities and other not-for-profit organisations looking to deliver projects that promote physical activity, including active travel, walking, cycling, dance, fitness and sporting activities.
Grants of up to £2,000 for Projects Tackling Loneliness Amongst Older People and Adults with a Disability (England, Scotland and Wales)
There are no deadlines, and applications can be submitted at any time.
Grants of up to £2,500 are available to charitable organisations for projects that tackle loneliness amongst older people and adults with a disability. The funding made available through Barchester’s Charitable Foundation offers these grants to support projects that connect or re-connect people with others in their local community. This could include activity projects, equipment and materials, member transport, and day trips. The foundation also offers grants of up to £1,000 to help individuals with mobility issues. Grants can purchase wheelchairs, scooters, bikes, or car adaptations.
Trusthouse Charitable Foundation small grants
This is a rolling programme and there are no deadlines
The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation has small grants of between £2,000 and £10,000 to be used for core costs, salaries, running costs, and project costs. You can apply for a maximum of 50% of the total cost of the project. They do not fund capital projects. They will prioritise projects that address the challenges of local communities, with a preference for front-line organisations working directly with people in need. They are unlikely to support campaigning, organisational development, capacity building, or new work that is a marked shift away from your usual business unless they consider this work to be logical. You can apply if: Your organisation’s postcode falls within the following on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation; Your project has a focus on community support; Your annual income does not exceed £250,000; You can start spending our grant within 1-2 months of receipt and You are embedded in your local community. Please note that they do not fund Community Interest Companies (CICs).
