Funding & Training Focus - 16 April

April showers… and a downpour of funding opportunities!

While the weather’s a bit dreich, it’s the perfect excuse to stay indoors and browse this week’s fresh batch of funding opportunities.

Whether you're supporting young people, or planning essential works for your theatre or place of worship, there's something here for you. So pop the kettle on and explore what's available  because while the sun might be hiding, the funding opportunities certainly aren’t.

Please get in touch if I can be of help to your group mwollberg@engagerenfrewshire.com


Funding

• Animals
• Arts and Music
• Children & Families
• Environmental
• Homelessness
• Miscellaneous
• Social Impact & Community Development
• Young People

Events/Training

• Cancer Research UK Talk Cancer training
• Invest in Renfrewshire External Funding Webinar
• Tobacco & Cannabis Training

Animal Welfare 

Funding to Support Animal Welfare Charities
The Animal Defence Trust, a UK-based charity dedicated to animal welfare, provides funding to support approved animal welfare charities working to rescue and care for animals that have suffered cruelty. The Trust's main objectives are protecting animals from suffering and mistreatment, promoting research to reduce animal use in scientific experiments, and ensuring proper accommodation for animals during transportation. The grants, which are for capital projects and running costs aim to support a wide range of activities, including providing shelter, medical treatment, and care for abused or neglected animals. The next closing date for applications is 31 March 2026. Find out more

Grants to Support Animal Welfare Charities
Charities registered in the UK that work to provide sanctuary, rehoming, and rehabilitation for animals both domestically and/or internationally are invited to apply for grants of up to £10,000. Organisations involved with wildlife conservation, the rescue, rehabilitation and (where possible) release of animals are also eligible to apply. The funding can be used for general running costs or capital purchases. This funding opportunity is provided by the Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust, which welcomes repeat applications from charities, subject to the availability of funds. Preference is given to smaller animal welfare charities. The next deadline to apply is 01 August 2025. Find out more

Arts and Music

Grants of up to £1,000 Available for Performing Arts Projects that Boost Audience Engagement
Grants of up to £5,000 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 a minimum operating income and expenditure of £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 30 April 2025. Find out more

Grants of up to £5,000 Available to Not-For-Profit Theatres to Carry Out Essential Works
Grants of up to £7,500 are available through The Theatres Trust's Small Grants Programme for UK non-profit theatres. This initiative, backed by The Linbury Trust, aims to support projects aimed at ensuring the future viability and success of non-profit theatres in the UK, including essential small capital works, digital upgrades, and critical machinery installations. The deadline for applications in this round is 5pm on 06 June 2025 Find out more

Funding to Improve Young People’s Lives Through Music & the Creative Arts
Funding is available for organisations that use the power of music and the creative arts to improve the lives of young people of all backgrounds across the UK. Since its inception in 1989, the Brit Trust has distributed over £28 million to various organisations through funds raised primarily from the BRIT Awards and the Music Industry Trusts Award events. This funding supports music and arts initiatives that promote education, wellbeing, and community engagement, helping individuals realise their full potential, regardless of ability, ethnicity, gender, or sexuality. Applications are open to registered charities until 30 April 2025. Applicants must have the support of a Music Industry contact to apply. Find out more

Children & Families

Grants of up to £25,000 Per Year for Charities Tackling Adverse Childhood Experiences
UK-registered charities or Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) with an anticipated income between £200,000 and £2,000,000 can apply for unrestricted grants of between £20,000 to £25,000 per year through the Leathersellers’ Foundation’s ACEs Main Grants Programme 2025. The fund supports organisations working to prevent or reduce the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) by delivering trauma-informed, evidence-based services to children, young people, or adults. Applications are particularly welcomed from organisations using creative arts, nature, or sport in their approaches, and from those based in Northern Ireland. A total of 17 grants were awarded last year from 498 expressions of interest. The closing date for submitting an expression of interest is 5pm on 30 April 2025. Find out more


Grants Available to Support Children and Young People who have Experienced Significant Crises
Grants of up to £2,400 are available to vulnerable children and young people who have experienced significant crises impacting their well-being and education. The funding which is being provided through the Buttle UK Chances for Children grants programme aims to provide tailored support packages that can include essential items and activities to enhance learning and development, such as laptops, books, Wi-Fi access, educational materials, and extra-curricular activities. Eligible beneficiaries include children aged 2-18 living with parents or carers, and young people up to age 20 living independently, provided they are engaged in at least 12 hours of education or training per week. Applicants must be living on a low income, experiencing financial hardship, and have moved beyond the immediate crisis while actively engaging with support services. Applications are submitted by frontline professionals from registered charities, housing associations, or public sector organisations who work directly with the young person. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no specified closing date and are typically processed within three working days, with some cases qualifying for same-day decisions. Find out more

Environmental

Funding for Community-led Environmental & Sustainability Projects
As part of its long-term commitment to sustainability, the Stobart Group has launched a new fund to support community-led environmental and sustainability projects across the UK. The Stobart Sustainability Fund will support not-for-profit organisations, community groups, schools and colleges in transforming their local communities through projects that tackle climate change, reduce carbon emissions, or protect and enhance the environment. The fund aims to help educate communities on how they can make a difference, by giving support to diverse projects and initiatives making a positive change. Organisations are invited to specify the level of funding they require in their application. No application deadline given. Find out more

Homelessness

B&Q Foundation provides funding for charities supporting people experiencing homelessness
At the B&Q Foundation, we believe everyone needs a place to feel at home. So we’re putting our efforts behind local charities who share our vision – helping to create better, safer places for the people in our communities who need them most.
In the April 2025 funding round the B&Q Foundation will soley be looking to provide funding to charities supporting people experiencing homelessness. The grants are to provide, maintain, repair or improve housing or community space for these charities. Please note this focus may be adjusted for future rounds. First funding round for 2025 open: 9.30am 21 April 2025 - 6.00pm 09 May 2025. Find out more

Miscellaneous

Grants Available to Support the Armed Forces Community
Registered charities and not-for-profit organisations directly supporting the armed forces community can apply for grants to assist serving and former armed forces personnel, operationally qualified seafarers, and their immediate families. The funding is being made available through the Veterans’ Foundation and is designed to fund projects addressing various aspects of social care, including homelessness, employability, financial disadvantage, disability, welfare issues, mental health, and support during old age. The Foundation offers several grant types: Small Grants (£500–£5,000, rolling applications; next deadline 30 June 2025), Standard Grants (£5,001–£30,000; next deadline 21 July 2025), Salary Grants (up to £25,000 per year for three years; same deadline), and Major Grants (£100,000–£200,000 over up to three years; expressions of interest currently closed. Applicants must complete an eligibility checker and consult detailed guidance on the Veterans’ Foundation website. Find out more
 

The Triangle Trust 1949 Fund Announces New Grants Strategy
The Triangle Trust 1949 Fund has announced its grants strategy for 2025. This year, the Trust is looking for projects focusing on vulnerable young women and girls across the UK who have been in the criminal justice system or who are at a high risk of entering it. The aim of the funding will be to either reduce the number of young women or girls who reoffend, or reduce the number of those who receive a first conviction. This funding opportunity will open on the 15 April 2025 with a view to awarding grants in the autumn. Registered charities, not-for-profit social enterprises, and community interest companies will have until the 22 May 2025 to submit their applications. Further details will be made available in due course. Find out more


Grants for Churches for the Conservation of Decorative Features and Monuments
Grants of between £500 and £5,000 are available to churches, chapels and other places of worship built before 1896 to carry out small programmes of conservation work to decorative features and monuments. Eligible work includes, but is not limited to, stained glass windows, sculpture, furniture, internal monuments, tombs, and wall paintings. All work funded must be directed by a professional architect or established conservator and completed according to the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) principles. The funding is being made available through the William and Jane Morris Fund. Applications can be submitted at any time until 31 August 2025. Find out more


The Creative Breaks programme
The Creative Breaks programme provides 12 month grants to third sector organisations to develop and deliver short breaks projects and services for carers of adults (aged 21 years and over), and young carers (caring for children or adults), and the people that they care for.
Short breaks activities can take many different forms – including breaks away (i.e., overnight stays, residential breaks), days out, and/or shorter sessions (i.e., regular activities). Activities must be designed to enable carers to have a life outside or alongside their caring role, and to support their health and wellbeing. Short breaks should also benefit the cared-for person and others (e.g., family members) and help sustain the caring relationship. The closing date is Thursday 22 May 2025 at 1700. Find out more

 
Autistic Adult Support Fund
The Autistic Adult Support Fund aims to help adults with an autism diagnosis, self-identified autistic adults, and their families and carers understand what neurodivergence means for them and improve their wellbeing. The fund supports organisations across Scotland to deliver a range of projects to meet these aims. Facilitated by Inspiring Scotland and funded by the Scottish Government, the Autistic Adult Support Fund builds on the work of a pilot which ran between 2020 and 2021 to provide post diagnostic support to autistic people. This fund is now open for applications for a new phase of the funding, which will run from October 2025 to March 2028. Grants of £40,000 – £200,000 per year are available. The deadline for applications is 21 May 2025. Find out more

Social Impact & Community Development

The Merchants House
The Merchants House is delighted to announce the allocation of more than £130,000 in grant funding to support charitable initiatives and community organisations across Glasgow and the West of Scotland. This generous funding reinforces the House’s long-standing commitment to creating meaningful, positive change in the local community. The funds will go towards supporting a wide variety of causes, including healthcare, education, and social welfare.  Suitable for charities registered with OSCR. Grant applications open: 18 April 2025 – 9 June 2025. Find out more
 

Social Investment Business Opens New Loans Programme
Charities, social enterprises, and community organisations in England, Scotland and Wales can now benefit from £17 million of repayable funding via the Social Investment Business. The Community Builders Fund offers loans ranging from £100,000 to £1.5 million to support the growth and long-term resilience of organisations working to improve people’s lives or the environment they live in. Loans are repayable over six years at a fixed rate of 7.9% per annum. There is the potential for up to 12 months of interest-only payments, with no early repayment charges. Eligible applicants must have been operating for at least two years and have a minimum turnover of £400,000 (£200,000 for those in Scotland or Wales). Applications are accepted at any time. Find out more

Young People

Funding to Encourage Young People to Study Science Subjects
In response to the much publicised skills gap in the British engineering industry, the Ironmongers’ Foundation wishes to support initiatives that encourage talented young people under the age of 25 to study science subjects at school and go on to pursue STEM-related further education or vocational training. The funding is available to registered or exempt charities within the UK , with a preference for urban areas outside London and particularly areas in the north and midlands with a manufacturing presence. Grants are made to registered or exempt charities only. Applications will not be accepted from schools. The Foundation prefers to support smaller projects where it is the sole funder or its contribution makes a real difference. Most grants are below £10,000. The Foundation Committee meets three times per year in January, May and September. The deadlines for receipt of applications are 1 December, 1 April and 1 August respectively. Find out more
 

Grants of up to £15,000 Available for Projects that Help Disadvantaged Young People
The Hays Travel Foundation offers grants ranging from £2,000 to £15,000 to registered charities operating in areas where Hays Travel has branches. These grants support projects aiding disadvantaged young people up to 25 years old in education, poverty prevention, health, arts, culture, or sports. Charities outside Hays Travel areas must demonstrate their project's impact on a community with a Hays Travel branch. Match funding is encouraged to increase grant likelihood. Since 2015, the Foundation has awarded over £1 million in grants. Additionally, individual Hays Travel branches have budgets for local good causes. The next closing date for applications is 22 July 2025. Find out more
 

Equipment Grants for Disabled and Disadvantaged Young People
Schools, charities, and not-for-profit organizations in the UK can apply for Wooden Spoon Society Grants to support equipment for mentally, physically, and socially disadvantaged children. This programme funds capital items only—covering sensory rooms and gardens, playgrounds, outdoor spaces, specialist equipment, and facilities—aiming to improve health and wellbeing. Projects focused on education, health, wellbeing, or disability sports must include a key sport element, preferably rugby, to engage young participants. Grants have no set maximum limit, although applications for under £5,000 are unlikely to be considered. The program does not fund revenue costs like staffing, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Find out more

Events/Training

Cancer Research UK Talk Cancer Training

Being delivered in partnership with NHS GGC Public Health Screening Team
Wednesday 23 April 10am-12.30am (ONLINE)
It’s a workshop designed for anyone who is in a position to promote health and wellbeing and would be particularly relevant to non-clinical roles such as reception staff, community link workers etc. If you are having conversations with people and are able to share health messages this workshop is for you. For more information e-mail ggc.phsu.admin@nhs.scot  or sign up here

Invest in Renfrewshire External Funding Webinar

The Invest in Renfrewshire Communities Team host monthly webinars on External Funding Support available for Renfrewshire third sector groups.  The focus will be on the current grant programmes that are open to third sector groups and the type of support available to groups when completing draft funding applications.  The webinar will help assist constituted third sector groups to clearly demonstrate their economic and social benefit, evidence longer term sustainability as well as articulate the impact their proposed projects will have. In addition to this, the monthly webinars also cover wider support available from the Invest in Renfrewshire team including further information on the Invest in Employability programme updates and Business Gateway support. Wednesday 21 May 2025 13.00 – 14.30. To book a space please contact our Funding & Development Officer via Email:  Econdev.community@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Tabacco & Cannabis Training

Cannabis is the most widely used drug in the world. The course aims to provide practitioners working with young people a deeper understanding of cannabis, giving you and your staff team the knowledge, tools and confidence to open up a conversation around cannabis use with your service users. LANDED is a young persons' charity based in Scotland. One of their services is to provide staff training opportunities to build the knowledge, understanding and confidence of staff members who work directly with young people.

• 10am – 4pm on Tuesday 27 May – Glynhill Hotel, 169 Paisley Road, Renfrew, PA4 8XB  
• 10am – 4pm on Thursday 05 June – Glynhill Hotel, 169 Paisley Road, Renfrew, PA4 8XB

If you are interested in attending one of the above sessions please email HealthImprovement.Renfrewshire@ggc.scot.nhs.uk with your Name, Job Title, Organisation and contact details.