Small grants, are available for small scale, locally based initiatives focused on children and young people, disadvantaged families and prisoners and ex-offenders.

Organisations can apply for up to £3,000, but most grants are for £1,000 or less, and are only for one year.

The trust considers applications for core costs, rather than specific projects, which will achieve a positive impact in the following three priority areas:

• children and young people who are isolated, at risk of exclusion or involved in antisocial behaviour – this covers gang violence and knife crime, education and mentoring, as well as projects that work to raise self-esteem and employment opportunities and encourage an active involvement in and contribution towards the local community
• disadvantaged families – this covers parenting support and guidance, mental health, food poverty, refuges and domestic violence projects
• prisoners and ex-offenders – and specifically projects that maintain and develop contact with prisoners’ families and help with the rehabilitation and resettlement of prisoners and/or ex-offenders after their release.

If your organisation also helps other groups outside these three priority areas you may still apply, however, it will be expected that the majority of your beneficiaries (more than 50%) are within at least one of the above areas. 

The funding will support small-scale, local initiatives that make good use of volunteers, encourage past and current users to participate and ensure that funds awarded will promote community cohesion and the development of skills that will change the outlook and outcomes for their users.

Funding will not be considered for organisations with an annual income of over £200,000.

Trustees review grant applications twice a year, usually in March and October. 

The next closing date for applications is Friday 26 July 2024.

For full details, visit the Woodward Charitable Trust website.