Deadline: 10th September 2024

UK registered charities which promote a proactive approach to the physical and mental wellbeing of people who are over 65 years of age have until 10 September to submit their application.

Grants of between £1,000 and £3,000 (average grant is £1,500) are available to UK-based charities that can demonstrate how they are making the lives of older people (over the age of 65 years) better.

The charity's work should fall into one of the following categories:

• Health and welfare - grants are for the refurbishment of residential care housing for the elderly and for building projects which are nearing completion. Consideration will also be given to the provision of equipment and furniture to enhance care and improve quality of life.
• Community and innovation - grants for community initiatives such as exercise classes for the over-65s, lunch clubs, horticultural therapy and day trips. Consideration will also be given to technology projects aimed at benefitting the over-65s.

The funding is for:

• Capital projects, such as refurbishment, furniture or equipment.
• Innovative projects such as IT for the elderly, fitness classes, lunch clubs, gardening projects, etc.

The trustees are interested in supporting a diverse range of charities, from large institutions to small community-run organisations. There is no upper limit in regard to annual turnover.

Deadline: 1st October 2024

Electrical Safety First is offering grants for fire and rescue services, community safety groups, trading standards authorities, and other not-for-profit organisations across the UK to deliver projects that address risks associated with electrical products and promote public awareness of electrical safety and changes in behaviour.

The Electrical Safety Fund will support activities to move or repair unsafe electrical products from the home or to educate the public on best practices around electrical safety and reduce electrical hazards. Eligible activities include:

• Product testing and replacement events.
• Data collection projects.
• Raising awareness activities.
• Home safety activities/visits.
• Educational events/workshops.

Grants of up to £5,000 per organisation are available.

Deadline: 2nd October 2024

The funding is for projects that will enable systemic change and long-term, sustainable impact in supporting Armed Forces Veterans with poor mental health, their families, and those who are caring for or supporting them.

Projects will need to meet one or more of the following outcomes:

• To support staff who work with vulnerable beneficiaries.
• To address mental health wellbeing, help-seeking, and stigma within the Armed Forces community.
• To address the needs of under-represented groups.

The project could be a continuation of an already proven project, or a new intervention or project that meets the programme outcomes.

Two levels of funding are available:

• Grants of up to £50,000 for projects last one year.
• Grants of up to £100,000 for projects lasting two years.

The grant can pay for most of the things needed for the project or activity, including people’s time, costs of delivering work online or buying/hiring equipment.

Deadline: 14th October 2024

Fight for Sight, the operating name of the British Eye Research Foundation, is offering grants of up to £30,000 for projects that support and empower children and young people who are blind and vision impaired with the tools to live independent and fulfilling lives. 

The proposed work needs to build social, digital and self-advocacy skills, so that children and young people who are vision impaired feel connected with each other, with their sighted peers, and with the wider communities around them. 

There is particular interest in applications from organisations who are collaborating in order to share best practice, deliver at scale or meet previously unmet need.

Applications will be considered from

• UK registered charities
• Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO)
• Charitable companies, limited by guarantee
• Community Interest Companies (CIC), limited by guarantee
• Exempt charities (eg, educational establishments)

Applicants must directly support people who are blind and vision impaired or people at risk of losing sight.

Deadline: 24th October 2024

Linnean Society is offering grants for community organisations linked with young people to deliver projects and activities that engage young people with local nature and natural spaces and improve their understanding of local biodiversity.

Community groups and other organisations working directly with children and young people aged 16 and under can apply for funding for a variety of activities, such as:

• Running a school festival about nature.
• Painting community murals showcasing biodiversity in the area.
• Building or restoring a community garden.
• Creating a nature walk.
• Hiring a speaker to come and talk about local foraging.

The maximum award amount is £1,000. However, groups are encouraged to apply for significantly lower amounts.

Grants can be used for materials, room hire, publicity, speakers, trainers, freelancers, project-specific staff costs, audio-visual hire, reasonable volunteer expenses, transport, or other costs of activities/events.

Opens: 9th September 2024 | Deadline: 28th October 2024

Delivered by the National Garden Scheme, the Community Gardens Award provides grants of £1,000 and £5,000 for the creation of a garden or a similar project (such as an allotment) with horticultural focus for the benefit of the local community.

The project should aim to bring a community together by creating a space people can share, by the acquisition and sharing of gardening knowledge and skills and by inspiring a love of gardening.

The funding can be used for a number of things, including but not limited to:

• Plants and containers
• Materials for flower or vegetable beds and other hard landscaping
• Greenhouses, polytunnels and sheds
• Seating
• Hand tools and certain garden power tools (e.g. strimmers)
• Materials for providing refreshment.