Grants for organisations
Who Can Apply
Applications are welcome from not-for-profit organisations working within our Area of Benefit. This includes, but is not limited to registered charities, community and voluntary organisations, not-for-profit companies and Community Interest Companies (CICs). If you are unsure whether your organisation is eligible, please contact us for advice before applying.
Organisations with urgent funding needs are welcome to contact us for advice.
Advice & Advocacy Fund and Wellbeing Fund
HWCT offers organisational grants to support charities and community organisations delivering work that improves outcomes for people living within our area of benefit. Our Organisational Grants programme has been reviewed and updated. Applications are now open to the Advice & Advocacy Fund and the Wellbeing Fund, which share a single application form and updated criteria.
Before you apply
Before completing an application, we recommend that you read our current strategy (available on our website here) to ensure that your proposal aligns with our mission, priorities and values.
When applying, you will need to select the fund that best matches the primary focus of the work or costs you are seeking support for: the Advice and Advocacy Fund or the Wellbeing Fund. Further details about each fund are included within the application form. If your organisation delivers a range of services, please base your selection on the main purpose of the work included in this application, rather than your organisation’s overall remit. If you are unsure whether your proposal is a good fit, or which fund is most appropriate, please contact us before applying at [email protected].
What we expect in a strong application
A strong application will clearly describe the work you are seeking funding for and explain the difference it will make. We expect applicants to demonstrate evidence of need, which may include insight from people with lived experience, local community feedback, referrals, waiting lists, or relevant local or national data. Applications should also show how the proposal aligns with our mission, values and current strategy, and explain why we are an appropriate funder for the work.
Sample application
To support organisations applying we have provided a sample completed application form. This is intended as a guide to help you understand the type of information we are looking for and how to structure your responses. The sample is for example purposes only and your application should be written in your own words.
How to apply
To apply, please email your completed application form and all required supporting documents to [email protected]. We do not accept applications by post. Applications are considered at our committee meetings, and we are only able to review and make decisions on these grants at these scheduled meetings. Please ensure you submit your application by the relevant deadline listed below.
Downloads
Application Form
Sample Application Form
Applications will be reviewed at the following meetings:
Reviewed at the meeting on 27 May 2026 : Deadline for application is 5pm 18th March 2026.
Reviewed at the meeting on 21 September 2026 : Deadline for application is 5pm 13th July 2026.
Information on our past grants can be found here.
Seasonal Support Programme
The Seasonal Support Programme provides small, time-limited grants to community organisations to support access to food for families with children and older people living within our Area of Benefit. The programme is designed to respond to predictable seasonal pressures that can affect household food budgets during the summer and winter periods. At these times of year, costs may increase and usual services or activities may be reduced or paused, placing additional strain on people already experiencing financial hardship. Funding through this programme is preventative rather than crisis led. It aims to ease short-term pressure and help prevent financial difficulties from escalating.
What the programme supports
Funding must be used solely for the purchase of food or food ingredients provide directly to individuals or families who are already known to the organisation. Support is to continue access to food when regular services or activities are reduced or unavailable, such as during school holidays or winter closures.
Eligible support include:
- Food purchases or ingredients
- Supermarket food vouchers
Funding cannot be used for:
- Food served on site or meals requiring attendance at an organization
- Staffing, delivery, or venue costs
- Household essentials or non-food items
- Utility bills, travel costs, or debt-related support
Who the programme is for
The programme is for community organisations that work directly with families with children and/or older people, and that already have an established relationship with the people they support who live within our Area of Benefit. The programme is not intended for food banks or organisations whose sole purpose is food distribution.
Funding rounds and timing
The programme operates through two funding rounds each year, with the same deadlines annually.
Summer Support : Applications close 5pm 15th May - Funding decisions are made in June
Winter Support : Applications close 5pm 15th October - Funding decisions are made in November
Applications for each round are assessed together after the closing date, and funding is awarded based on alignment with the programme’s purpose and the funding available.
Meeting the eligibility criteria will not guarantee funding. Decisions will prioritise organisations where there is a clear link between seasonal pressure and food need, and where they provide a package of support.
Grant size and approach
Grants awarded through this programme are intentionally modest, allowing funding to reach a wide range of individuals and families. The grants provided to each organisation are relatively small and are intended to be distributed as direct support in the region of £30 per individual or £60 per family. Each funding round has an overall budget of £15,000. Reporting requirements are light-touch and proportionate, focusing on reach and learning rather than detailed outcomes. Our reporting form can be found here: link to reporting form
How to apply
To apply for funding, organisations must complete the Seasonal Support application form and submit it by the closing date for the relevant funding round. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered, to ensure a fair and consistent assessment of all applications. If you are unsure whether your organisation or proposal is eligible, you are welcome to email [email protected] for advice before applying.
Downloads
Application Form
Reporting Form
Small Organisational Grants
We previously provided small grants, under £2,500. This programme is currently closed as we are updating this to align to our new Strategy for 2025-2030. We expect to launch our new programme later in 2026. The updated programme will focus on providing more targeted, flexible support to organisations working within HWCT’s Area of Benefit.
Further details about eligibility, funding levels, and application processes will be shared when the updated programme launches.
