Funding & Training Focus - 05 February

This week marks Children’s Mental Health Week and we’re profiling two funds dedicated to alleviating children’s mental health: Cash for Kids and The Prudence Trust, along with a whole host of other funding opportunities to support children and young people. 
 
Our training section also features training from See Me on Good Anti-Stigma Practice in Mental Health Services. This online session will be later in February and will feature lived-experience testimonials and tips. 

Funding

• Art and Music 
• Children and Young People 
• Employment
• Environmental  
• Learning Disability Support Fund
• Miscellaneous
• Older People 
• Sports 
• Veterans

Grants Available to Artists and Creative Businesses to Explore Innovative Methods for Expanding their Business Activities
Grants of up to £10,000 are available to artists, creative practitioners, arts organisations and creative businesses in Scotland through Creative Scotland's Go See Share Creative Industries Fund. This initiative aims to support trips or remote meetings that enable recipients to gain knowledge, build relationships, and explore new methods to expand their business activities and enhance financial sustainability. The closing date for applications is 2 pm on the 06 February 2025, with decisions expected in March 2025. Proposed activities should occur between May and October 2025. Find out more
 

Funding to Support Crafts, Heritage & Classical Music Projects
The Radcliffe Trust is offering grants to UK charities and other not-for-profit organisations for projects in traditional crafts, heritage, and classical music. The funding supports training, education, and skill development in these areas through two schemes: the Music Scheme which supports classical music performance and training, particularly for those with special needs, youth orchestras, and projects at secondary and higher levels, and the Heritage & Crafts Scheme which supports craft and conservation projects that offer training, practical work, and strategic benefits. Grants are generally in the region of £2,500 to £7,500. The next application deadline for both schemes is 31 July 2025. Find out more

Grants of up to £1,000 Available for Performing Arts Projects that Boost Audience Engagement
Grants of up to £1,000 are currently available to support performing arts projects, specifically in theatre, dance, or music—that aim to enhance audience access and participation. The funding is being made available through the Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust's "The Arts: Improving Access" grant. Eligible applicants are UK registered charities or exempt organisations with an operating income and expenditure between £100,000 and £1,000,000. The Trust does not fund other types of non-profit organisations, social enterprises, or community foundations. Projects focusing on performers or non-performing arts are ineligible, and funding for staff salaries is excluded unless the staff are specifically employed for the project. The closing date for applications is 28 February 2025. Find out more

Grants of up to £3,000 Available to Help Children Facing Food Insecurity
Charities, schools, community groups, and organisations that support children affected by poverty can apply for grants of up to £3,000 to provide support for children and young people up to 18 years old who face food insecurity and lack access to activities during school holidays. Cash for Kids, , a grant-giving charity supporting disadvantaged children, is offering the Holiday Hunger Grant Fund to help address child poverty through funding nutritious meals, activities, staffing costs, and equipment. There is no application deadline given. Find out more

Grants of up to £3,000 Available to Support the Mental Health of Children and Young People
Registered charities, schools, and constituted voluntary and community organisations in the UK can apply for grants from £1,000 to £3,000 to improve the mental wellbeing of children and young people up to 18 years old. The Children's Mental Health Grants, offered by the charity Cash for Kids, are designed to support initiatives that directly address young people's psychological and emotional needs through various interventions such as counselling, art therapy, bereavement support, and sensory equipment. The grants are available to organisations with an annual income below £1 million, with applications by individuals also potentially eligible. The programme aims to provide targeted financial support to projects that can demonstrate a clear and meaningful approach to children's mental health interventions. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis and there is no application closing date. Find out more

Access to help Disadvantaged Young People Access Quality Education
UK-registered charities can apply for funding to enhance educational access and quality for individuals under 25, both within the UK and internationally, through the Educational Opportunity Foundation's Main Fund. For UK projects, the foundation focuses on care-experienced young people, offering grants between £30,000 and £90,000 per project (up to £30,000 annually). Internationally, it supports initiatives in marginalised communities, with grants ranging from £10,000 to £60,000 per project (up to £30,000 annually). Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with Stage 1 decisions made within 4 to 8 weeks; successful applicants are then invited to submit a Stage 2 application, with final decisions also within 4 to 8 weeks of submission. Find out more

Funding for Rural Community and Education Projects
Charities supporting rural development, particularly young people's education and poverty relief within rural areas, can apply for funding through the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust. The funding focuses on supporting larger initiatives that would significantly impact rural communities. Grants available are for £1,000 - 50,000.  Larger grants are used to support organisations that significantly impact rural communities nationally. Projects funded in the past have ranged from City farms, Federations of Young Farmers Clubs and farming Community Networks. The next closing date for applications is 23 May 2025. Find out more

Funding to Support the Education of Young People with Physical or Learning Disabilities
Schools, charitable organisations and other groups in Scotland supporting the education of young people under the age of 21 who have a physical or learning disability or are socially disadvantaged can apply for funding to the John Watson Trust. Whilst the Trust operates primarily within Edinburgh and the Lothians, it may also award grants Scotland-wide to eligible individuals and organisations, including schools, established charitable organisations and other groups supporting disadvantaged young people. Grants can cover expenses such as special or additional tuition, school trips, bus passes, school expenses such as books and equipment, and laptops where there is a special education need.  Although applicants can apply for grants of any size, most grants made to individuals by John Watson’s Trust will be in a range between £200 and £2000. The next closing date is 07 March 2025. Find out more

Funding to Support Families in Need
Voluntary sector organisations in the UK working on the frontlines of family support can apply for grants of £10,000-£100,000 for a period of one to three years. These funds, made available through the Trusthouse Charitable Foundation, can be used for core costs, salaries, running expenses, and project costs. The programme prioritises organisations with an annual income up to £500,000 located in, or serving of high deprivation. Focus areas include family support in deprived communities, with particular interest in early intervention programmes, families coping with addiction, and assistance for prisoners' families. Applications can be submitted at any time. Find out more

Funding for Respite Breaks for Disabled Children and their Families
Families and groups of children, schools, organisations, and other registered charities can apply for financial assistance from the Adamson Trust for the cost of holidays or respite breaks for disabled children with physical, mental, or emotional impairments. To be eligible, the child must be a resident in the UK, between the ages of 3 and 17, and the Trust requires evidence of their disability or illness from a medical or social services professional. Grants from the Trust usually only cover a portion of the holiday expenses. The next closing date for applications is 31 March 2025 for the May meeting. Find out more

New £1 Million Fund for Youth Mental Health Charities 
UK-registered charities and Community Interest Companies (CICs) that work exclusively with young people aged 10-30 can apply for grants from The Prudence Trust's Strength in Data 2025 Fund. This initiative offers £1 million over three years to support organisations in enhancing their data collection and utilization to improve services. Eligible applicants must have an annual income exceeding £250,000, at least two years of published accounts, provide direct mental health support—such as talk therapy or socially prescribed activities for those experiencing anxiety or depression—and already collect mental health or wellbeing data. The grant aims to build monitoring and evaluation capacity, including upskilling staff, funding dedicated data roles, and acquiring necessary software or hardware. The application process is currently open, with the first stage deadline is 4 pm on 03 March 2025. Find out more

Funding Available for Creative Youth-led Nature Projects
Grants of £500 are available for youth-led projects that celebrate UK native wildflowers, plants and fungi in exciting and engaging ways. The funding is made available through Grow Wild’s Youth Grants programme to support young people to deliver a wide range of creative projects that will inspire communities and help people connect to each other and nature. Grants can be used for anything project-related, from basic materials and equipment to resources or training. Young people aged 14 to 25 can apply directly as an individual or as a group of up to 6 people, but will need to nominate a youth, community or education-focused organisation to support them with their project. The deadline for applications is 3pm on 19 March 2025. Find out more

Grants of up to £5,000 Available to Increase Employment Opportunities for Disadvantaged Adults
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to registered charities to support projects that equip people (18 or older in order) from disadvantaged groups with the communication skills necessary to gain employment. Priority will be given to projects that target people experiencing multiple deprivation or other groups facing major hurdles to employment, especially women, people with physical, mental, or learning disabilities, refugees and asylum seekers. The funding is being made available through the Thomas Wall Trust, and the deadline for stage 1 applications is 05 May 2025. Applicants successful at this stage will be invited to submit a stage 2 application. Find out more
 

Grants of up to £20,000 Available for Training and Employment Projects
Registered charities and other not-for-profit organisations with an annual income of up to £2,500,000 are eligible to apply for grants ranging from £2,000 to £20,000 to support projects that focus on training for employment, employment support, and vocational skills development. The Bairdwatson Charitable Trust, managed by Foundation Scotland, has launched this funding opportunity to improve employment prospects and skills training in Scotland. The trust is particularly interested in initiatives that provide employment and skills training for young people, as well as re-training and support for unemployed individuals seeking to re-enter the workforce. The closing date for applications is 21 February 2025. Find out more

Grants of up to £150,000 Available to Protect Water and Land Environments
UK charities and non-profit organisations working to protect, restore, or sustainably manage the natural world are eligible to apply for grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 per year, for up to three years from the John Ellerman Foundation's People and Planet funding scheme. Launched to promote a healthier environment for both people and nature, the scheme prioritises projects that enhance ocean health through stronger marine protected areas, community engagement, and reduced overfishing; build healthier ecosystems on land and in freshwater through sustainable management, habitat restoration, and landscape-scale conservation; and address the impact of human activities like climate change and pollution on air, land, and water. The focus is on the UK and UK waters. However, the Foundation is also keen to support land and marine-based work in the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs). There are no deadlines and applications can be submitted at any time. Find out more

The Fund aims to sustain and support organisations working directly with people in Scotland with learning disabilities to build a more inclusive society, reduce inequality and provide opportunities for fulfilling lives.

The Learning Disability Support Fund will run from October 2025 to March 2028 (30 months) and will provide both core and project funding. The total funding available over this period is £1,625,000.

The total minimum award per organisation will be £75,000 over the award period and the total maximum award per organisation will be £250,000. The deadline for applications is midday Wednesday 26 February. 

Further details can be found  Learning Disability Support Fund - Inspiring Scotland

To register an expression of interest, click here.

Bursaries to Support the Professional Development of Hospice Staff
Bursaries are available to hospice staff in the UK to improve the quality of care given to hospice and palliative care patients and their families and carers. The National Garden Scheme Professional Development Grants programme aims to increase the expertise of nurses, healthcare assistants, allied health professionals and social workers by supporting their professional development. Bursaries can cover fees for university accredited palliative care courses including degree, masters, and PhD level programmes. Applicants can apply for a maximum of 50% of course or module fees, up to £1,500 in any one year, subject to funding being available. Match funding is encouraged. Applications must be received at least one month before the start of the course or module. Find out more

Funding to Support Vulnerable Migrants
Not for profit organisations and private law firms working with vulnerable young migrants can apply for grants of up to £30,000. The grants can be used to support legal work that benefits young migrants living in poverty who face significant disadvantage or discrimination as a result of their immigration status. Applicants should note that the average grant size is around £12,000. The funding is being made available through the Strategic Legal Fund (SLF) for Vulnerable Young Migrants and the closing date for applications is 31 March 2025. Find out more

Grants of up to £5,000 Available to Charities Supporting Vulnerable & Disadvantaged People
The Leathersellers' Company has announced that its next application round for the Small Grants Programme will reopen for applications on the 3rd February 2025. This funding is available to small charities and Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) that provide essential services for vulnerable people in deprived communities across the UK. The Small Grants Programme awards grants of up to £5,000 to organisations with an annual income of less than £200,000. The number of applications will be capped, and submissions will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis; specifically, the first 45 applications received after each round opens will be considered. There are eight application windows throughout the year, and each window will close once 45 applications have been received. The application process is extremely competitive. On November 4th, 2024, for example, the entire allocation of applications was exhausted in just 15 minutes after opening. Find out more

Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund Opens for Applications
Local and National Park authorities in Scotland can apply for funding through the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF), established by the Scottish Government in 2018 and managed by VisitScotland. The fund aims to improve the visitor experience in rural areas experiencing increased tourism, addressing pressures on local infrastructure and mitigating negative impacts on communities. The fund focuses on developing infrastructure to improve visitor management, such as low-carbon transport options, multi-use paths, toilets, motorhome facilities, and visitor information signage. It does not support revenue activities like ranger services, marketing, or maintenance. Since its inception, RTIF has awarded £20 million to 75 projects across rural Scotland, leveraging an additional £16 million in funding. The current application round for projects taking place in 2025/26 is open, with a submission deadline of 28 February 2025. Find out more

Grants of up to £7,000 Available to Support Older People Maintain their Independence
Grants of up to £7,000 are available to charities in the U.K to support preventative and early community based intervention programmes that focus on helping older people stay in their own homes and maintain their independence. The funding is being made available through the Charles Hayward Foundation Small Grants programme. There are no deadlines and applications can be submitted at any time. Find out more

The Renfrewshire Artificial Pitches Grant Fund is now open for constituted groups, charities or organisations to create new artificial pitches in the area, with the aim of increasing provision for all sports and activities in Renfrewshire.
 
A total of £800,000 has been made available by the Council, with up to a maximum of £400,000 in match funding available to a single project.
The funding is for new pitches on land owned or leased by the organisation and is not available for the replacement of current artificial pitches as part of their general maintenance.
 
Fencing, goals, floodlights will be considered for funding, but it is expected these would be funded from alternative sources.
The grant process is now open and constituted groups, charities or organisations can find out more at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/artificial-pitches-fund and register their interest by emailing ei@renfrewshire.gov.uk.
 
The funding coincides with the Scottish Football Association’s Pitching In campaign which launched recently and plans to build and upgrade 90 3G pitches and renovate 75 changing rooms by 2030 – part of a campaign to raise £50m over the next five years to improve football facilities across the country.

 

Funding to Support Members of the Armed Forces and their Families
The Veterans Foundation offers grants of up to £200,000 to support UK-based charities and not-for-profit organisations that assist serving armed forces personnel, veterans, operationally qualified seafarers, and their immediate families. These grants include small grants of up to £5,000, project grants of up to £30,000, and salary grants of up to £75,000. Major grants of up to £200,000 are also available, although this programme is currently closed until the first quarter of 2025. The next closing date for standard and salary grant applications is 20 January 2025, while small grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Find out more