The Department for Education has announced that Schools in disadvantaged can apply for a 75% subsidy for breakfast club provision until July 2025. To be eligible to participate in the National School Breakfast Programme, schools will have 40% or more pupils in bands A-F of the income deprivation affecting children index (IDACI). This can include state-funded primary, secondary, special schools and alternative provision. The contract for the programme will be delivered through Family Action, who will source and deliver breakfast food products to participating schools. All breakfast products offered through the programme meet the school food standards. Schools will be able to choose and order the food products and quantities they need for their pupils. National School Breakfast Programme (England)

Small grants are available to fund projects to improve the lives of the elderly across the UK. Home Instead Charities awards grants of up to £1,500 to small, local registered charities and up to £500 to grassroots organisations for well-being events, activities or pastimes that prevent social isolation and loneliness amongst adults over 55. Eligible projects may include regular events such as a cinema club, knitting group, or lunch club; one-off activities like a day trip or Christmas lunch; or other initiatives such as yoga classes or guest speaker sessions. The Fund accepts applications four times a year. Applications can be submitted four times per year in January, April, July and October. Funding for Activities to Improve the Lives of the Elderly (UK)

Registered charities that work to tackle family problems or problems facing one or more of its members can apply for grants of up to £5,000. The funding is being made available through the Kelly Family Charitable Trust which actively encourages applications from relatively new organisations to help them become more established. The trust prefers to support charities whose income is below £500,000. However, larger charities with pioneering pilot projects will be considered. Grants are available for revenue, core and capital costs and awarded twice a year; the next application closing date is the 1st March 2025. Funding of up to £5,000 Available to Tackle Problems within Families (UK)

Small Homeless charities can apply for grants of up to £5,000 for projects that aim to help homeless people rebuild their lives. To be eligible to apply, applicants must be a registered charity and have an annual turnover of under £500,000, with ‘unrestricted reserves’ of under six months. Typically, organisations awarded funding operate residential or training facilities to assist homeless people. The funding is being made available through Help the Homeless, a grant-giving trust, founded in 1975, to help homeless people off the streets and enable them to live healthy, independent lives. Previously funded projects include the Booth Centre, an advice and activity centre for homeless people in Manchester, which received a grant of £1,500 to transform the centre and a grant of £3,000 to the Amber Foundation to enable the Foundation to buy new bedroom furniture for their residential centre in Devon. The next closing date for applications is the 15th March 2025. Grants of up to £5,000 Available for Projects that Help the Homeless (UK)

Funding is available for registered charities that are working to support disadvantaged children and young people, as well as vulnerable older people and their carers in England and Wales. The Masonic Charitable Foundation Charity Grants programme awards small grants of between £1,000 and £5,000, and large grants of between £10,000 and £60,000 to support projects that are focusing on: children affected by domestic abuse; early years; children with special educational needs and disabilities; and people with dementia and their carers. Applicants are invited to submit an expression of interest, and if successful, will be invited to complete a full application. EOIs can be submitted at any time. Grants to Support Disadvantaged Children & Vulnerable Older People (England & Wales)

Small-to-mid-size registered charities helping improve the quality of life of people in the UK, particularly those disadvantaged and vulnerable, can apply for grants of up to £5,000. The funding is being made available through the Hedley Foundation. Each year, the Foundation makes around 250 grants for initiatives that benefit the lives of young people, disabled people, elderly people, the terminally ill, and otherwise disadvantaged people and their carers. Occasional larger sums are given to charities where high impact can be achieved. Applications should be received at least 6 weeks before the next review meeting on the 29th April 2025. Grants to Improve the Quality of Life for Disadvantaged & Vulnerable People (UK)

The workload in submitting multiple funding bids is now a major problem, so we’re going to create a Good Grant Makers Guide of those that make it easiest and also identify ways funders can make applications less onerous. Make your voice heard by completing our short survey, thank you.  

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Schools, colleges and community groups in England can apply for grants to support the education and development of children and young people through educational, cultural, sporting and other projects. Projects that will help enhance the self-confidence, teamwork skills and future employability of children and young people are of particular interest. In most cases, grants are made on a relatively small scale. Many grants will be under £2,000, most will be under £5,000, and in only a few cases will grants exceed £10,000. The funding provided by the BlueSpark Foundation can be for physical assets (such as iPads, sports equipment, or lighting for stage productions) for services or facilities (such as sports coaching or music or drama tuition) or simply for the provision of experiences (such as theatre visits). These examples are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive regarding the funding BlueSpark may provide to support projects. Applications can be submitted anytime and must be made online using BlueSpark Foundation’s standard application form. Funding for Projects that Support the Education and Development of Children and Young People (England)

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. The next deadline for applications seeking funding over £9,000 is the 1st March 2025. Applications for £9,000 and below can be submitted at any time. Funding for Projects that Address Severe Learning Disabilities (UK)

DSC’s Digital Content and Communications Officer, Gabriella Poznansky, has pulled together some top tips from fundraising professionals to help you plan for 2025. Take a look here.