top of page
Search

This week's Funding Bulletin (April 20th - April 24th 2026)

A short summary of funding opportunities that have come to our attention this week.


The Speech Language and Hearing Foundation


The Speech Language and Hearing Foundation has announced funding to support education, therapy and research aimed at improving the lives of children facing communication challenges and complex developmental needs across the United Kingdom.


The Foundation provides grants to small UK-based charities working with children who have hearing impairments, speech delays, language and communication difficulties, or broader complex needs. In addition to direct educational and therapeutic support, funding is also available for medical innovation and research initiatives that advance understanding and treatment in these areas.


The Foundation prioritises projects that:

  • Support children with hearing impairment, speech and language delay, or complex developmental needs

  • Advance medical innovation and new developments relevant to these children

  • Promote research across topics related to childhood deafness, communication disorders and associated conditions


Recent awards have ranged between £500 and £15,000, although no fixed grant ceiling has been formally specified.


By targeting small charities and focused initiatives, the Foundation aims to deliver practical, measurable improvements in access to specialist support and inclusive education for vulnerable children.


Applications for funding may be submitted at any time throughout the year.


To read more: SLHF


The King Charles III Charitable Fund's Small Grants Programme


The King Charles III Charitable Fund has reopened its Small Grants Programme, offering grants of up to £3,000 per year for up to 3 years. The funding supports small UK non-profit organisations working in areas such as the environment, countryside, education, heritage, health, and social inclusion.


To be eligible, organisations must:

  • Be a non-profit based in the UK with an annual income between £25,000 and £500,000.

  • Have been operating for at least two years.

  • Hold less than six months of unrestricted reserves.

  • Submit a project with a total cost of under £50,000.


The programme runs three funding rounds per year, each focusing on two of the fund’s six themes. This funding round will support projects under the Fund's Environment and Countryside theme.


Under the Environment theme, the Fund supports projects that protect and promote the natural world. The examples include:

  • Work on habitat restoration

  • Species conservation

  • Carbon savings and sequestration

  • Circular economy activity


Current deadline: 7th May 2026



The National Lottery Community Fund


The National Lottery Community Fund is inviting applications from community-led organisations for its National Lottery Awards for All England – Environment grant programme. This funding is aimed at tackling environmental challenges at the local level. It supports projects that enable people to connect with, care for, and protect nature and the local environment.


Grants of between £300 and £20,000 are available for projects lasting up to two years.Funding can support a wide range of activities, including:

  • Community gardens

  • Rewilding

  • Outdoor learning such as forest schools

  • Tree planting

  • Repair and reuse sessions

  • Food-growing schemes

  • Energy-saving initiatives


Projects must deliver benefits for both people and the natural environment.


Applications are welcomed from constituted voluntary or community organisations, registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs), not-for-profit companies, community interest companies (CICs), schools (if the project benefits the wider community), statutory bodies, community sports clubs, and community benefit societies.


The grant responds to the growing need for grassroots environmental action amid climate change and habitat loss.


Applications can be submitted at any time, provided they are made at least 16 weeks before the project is due to begin.


UK Youth Fund


UK Youth has announced that the UK Youth Fund is now open for expressions of interest, offering a new £10 million grant round for small youth and outdoor learning organisations across the UK. Delivered in partnership with Pears Foundation, the programme will provide multi-year unrestricted funding alongside capacity-building support. UK Youth is the national organisation for the UK Youth sector, working to strengthen the sector nationally.


The UK Youth Fund aims to strengthen the financial resilience and organisational capacity of smaller grassroots Youth groups and outdoor learning organisations so they can continue delivering safe, dependable and inclusive youth provision. It is intended for organisations working with young people, particularly in under-resourced communities, and prioritises those delivering services in eligible areas across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.


Eligible applicants include charitable organisations, not-for-profits and CICs with turnover below £500,000, at least two years’ operating history, and a primary purpose of benefiting young people, with at least 70% of beneficiaries aged 8 to 25. Grants are worth up to 10% of annual turnover over three years. Funding can support:

  • Core and staffing costs

  • General youth work delivery

  • Basic necessities for young people

  • Training, development and sustainability work


Current deadline: 6th May 2026




The Triangle Trust 1949 Fund


The Triangle Trust 1949 Fund has opened its first 2026 funding round for projects supporting girls aged 11 to 18 who are already in contact with the criminal justice system, or at high risk of entering it. The independent UK grant-maker supports not-for-profit organisations working with vulnerable people and is focusing this round on improving outcomes for young women and girls affected by offending, exploitation and related disadvantage.


Grants of up to £100,000 are available for projects lasting 18, 24, 30 or 36 months, with a maximum request of £50,000 per year.


Funding is available to registered charities, not-for-profit social enterprises and community interest companies with a UK office and the Trust particularly welcomes applications from groups in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.


Applicants must have an annual income of no more than £5 million, independently examined or audited accounts, and relevant experience of working with girls in the criminal justice system through gender- and trauma-informed practice.


Priority will be given to organisations that are led by and for women and girls, or to specialist organisations with expertise in:

  • County lines

  • Gangs

  • Care-experienced young people

  • Young people at risk of exclusion from education

  • Young people excluded from education


The April 2026 round is for projects working solely with girls aged 11 to 18. The age group for the September funding round is 17-30 years old.


Current deadline: 21st May 2026


To read more: The Triangle Trust


The Health Lottery Foundation's Arts & Activity Fund


The Health Lottery Foundation is offering grants through its Arts & Activity – A Fund for Adult Health & Wellbeing programme, which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of adults aged 25 and over through creative, active and therapeutic approaches.


The fund is particularly interested in non clinical projects using music, art, or sport and physical activity to build confidence, improve mental health, strengthen resilience, and increase social connection.


Examples of projects supported could include examples could include dance or movement programmes for adults experiencing loneliness, creative wellbeing groups using painting, crafts or other arts-based activities, walking football or chair-based exercise sessions, and therapeutic drumming, singing or group music projects.


Applications are open to not-for-profit organisations, such as charities, CICs and voluntary groups, that are based in England, Scotland or Wales, have been established for at least two years, can provide audited or independently reviewed accounts, and hold a bank account in the organisation’s name.


Grants of up to £25,000 are available. Projects usually run for up to 12 months, although longer delivery periods may be considered where there is a clear justification.


Eligible costs include staffing, delivery, materials, venue hire and essential equipment, with up to 10% of the total budget allowed for central or overhead costs.


The fund does not support clinical or medical treatment, capital projects, retrospective costs, one-off events, fundraising activities, or projects for private profit.


Current deadline: 1st May 2026



National Deaf Children's Society's Community Grants Programme


Grants of up to £10,000 are available through the National Deaf Children’s Society’s Community Grants Programme for community groups, charities, and not-for-profit organisations supporting deaf children and their families across the UK.


In this round, funding will support projects and activities that promote the development of deaf children in their early years (ages 0–5). This stage is crucial, particularly for children who may face challenges with language, communication, and social skills without the right support.


Projects may involve families, professionals, and older deaf children, provided they contribute to early years development.


Funding can cover costs such as:

  • Venue hire

  • Transport

  • Promotional costs

  • Wages for sessional workers, interpreters and language tutors

  • Equipment that is essential for the project, such as play equipment or technology


Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with set assessment dates throughout the year.



The National Archives' Project Grants Programme


The National Archives has announced that its Project Grants programme is now open for applications, offering grants of up to £30,000 for collaborative heritage projects across the UK.


The programme supports partnerships between GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) or Heritage organisations and community groups. Each application must involve at least one GLAM or Heritage organisation and one community group working collaboratively. The partnership can be an existing one, or a new one created for the purposes of this application.


The programme aims to strengthen relationships between communities and heritage organisations by supporting research, skills development, and resources that reflect diverse voices and experiences.


Eligible costs include:

  • Staff time or freelance fees for project delivery

  • Community engagement and co-design activities

  • Training and skills development for participants

  • Travel and subsistence for project participants

  • Materials, equipment, or venue hire

  • Digital tools, platforms, or content creation

  • Evaluation and dissemination of project outcomes

  • Translation or accessibility services

  • General organisational overheads or core running costs


Proposals must be co-designed and community-led, with an emphasis on inclusion, sustainability, and long-term impact.


Applications may be for new projects or build on earlier Seed Corn work, but must demonstrate how they will deliver clear, lasting benefits for both communities and organisations.


Projects can last up to one year, and all funding must be spent by December 2027.


Current deadline: 12th June 2026


Read more: Project Grants


The Bernard Sunley Foundation's Education Grants


The Bernard Sunley Foundation has announced that applications are open under its Education grants programme, which supports capital projects that improve learning opportunities for children and young adults in England and Wales. The Foundation is a family grant-making charity that awards around £4 million to projects that raise quality of life and provide better facilities for people in need.


Education grants are aimed at charities and other eligible organisations delivering projects in areas such as arts, literacy, music, countryside learning, outdoor learning, mainstream schools and universities, and special needs schools or colleges.


The Foundation is particularly wants to back projects that expand life skills and educational opportunities for children and young adults, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds or with disabilities or special educational needs.


Grants are offered at three levels: small grants of up to £5,000, medium grants of up to £20,000, and large grants of £25,000 and above. Applicants are usually expected to have annual income below £10 million

Projects should normally cost between £10,000 and £5 million. The Foundation has a strong preference for capital projects rather than core running costs.



The Fat Beehive Foundation


UK-registered charities can apply for funding of up to £2,500 to improve their online digital presence.


The Fat Beehive Foundation awards small grants to charities with an average income of less than £1,000,000 yearly to support hard-to-fund digital expenditures that other funders often do not cover.


Funding will help organisations to build websites and apps, digitise services, and purchase digital products.


Trustees are particularly keen to support traditionally hard-to-fund organisations, such as those supporting prisoners, refugees, or disadvantaged youth.


Current deadline: 30th September 2026



The Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation's Small Change Big Difference Fund


Members and colleagues of the Yorkshire Building Society can nominate UK Charities to apply to the Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation's Small Change Big Difference Fund. The Foundation aims to help alleviate poverty, improve health, and save lives.


Once nominated, organisations can apply for grants of up to £2,500 to support initiatives that benefit vulnerable groups in the UK, including children, the seriously ill, the elderly, the homeless, and people with disabilities.


Funding can be used for projects or items that make a positive difference, such as sensory toys for children with special needs, social activities for the elderly, or staff training for programme delivery.


Priority will be given to organisations with an annual income under £100,000 and those supporting marginalised communities.


Current deadline: 30th June 2026



Barchester's Charitable Foundation


Small community groups and local charities can apply for grants of between £100 and £2,600 for equipment and to support projects that tackle loneliness amongst older people (65+) and adults with a disability (18+).


The funding, which is being made available through Barchester’s Charitable Foundation, supports actions that combat loneliness by connecting or re-connecting people with others in their local community.


The types of activities supported can include

  • Activity projects

  • Equipment and materials for use by members

  • Member transport

  • Day trips, outings and group holidays in the UK


The Foundation also makes grants of between £100 and £1,500 to help individuals, but please note that all applications for named individuals must be completed by a third party who knows the individual in a professional or community-based capacity, such as general practitioners, occupational therapists, nurses, social workers, or charity or support group representatives.


The grants can help individuals with:

  • Manual and powered wheelchairs

  • Mobility scooters

  • Specialised trikes / e-bikes / bikes

  • Car adaptations


The Foundation accepts group applications in January, April, July and October. There are no deadlines for individual applications which can be submitted at any time.



Our past Funding Bulletins will also have grant opportunities that are still open!



Need support applying to any of the above? Get in touch with us at groups@wcvs.org.uk to access bespoke advice and one-to-one support with grant funding.



Comments

Rated 0 out of 5 stars.
No ratings yet
Add a rating
bottom of page