Application Criteria

Please read our criteria carefully to establish whether your charity has projects that are eligible for consideration:

Applications will only be accepted from charities registered with the Charity Commission for England & Wales and OSCR( The Scottish Charity Regulator).

National charities are generally not considered. However, national charities wishing to apply under funding themes 1, 2 and 3 may only do so where they have a branch in one or more of the defined areas which is responsible for its own financial management and fundraising and can provide separate accounts. 

Grants are provided for specific projects, operating costs, including staff, as well as refurbishment and specific items of equipment. Please note that capital appeals for building costs and vehicles are not considered.

Our focus is on small and medium-sized charities. We do not consider applications from charities with an annual income of over £1 million. Charities should also have a least 1 month’s operating costs in unrestricted reserves but no more that 6 months operating costs in unrestricted reserves(including designated reserves).

The Trustees play a very active role in the Trust and review their policy and criteria regularly. Flexibility is retained to allow for reaction to changes in the environment and the community alike.

Trustees will consider applications for funding of up to £15,000 in a year.  A proportion of income is made available for multi-year grants for a period of two or three years. The Trustees keep the value of these continuing grants under review to avoid over committing their resources.

In addition to the above, the Trustees may put aside a portion of their income for grants for special projects of which they have personal knowledge or an organisation which they have supported in the past.

Previously funded charities will not be considered for further funding for a period of two years following receipt of a grant (or final payment of repeat funding). Previously unsuccessful applicants can re-apply after two years. 

We ask all recipients of our Grants to complete our Monitoring Report which allows us to view the results of the contribution we have made.

Holiday Grants will be considered throughout the year. Please allow up to 8 weeks between submission and notification of the result.