Agnes Hunter Trust SCIO

Agnes Hunter Trust SCIO, an independent Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation founded in 1954 from the legacy of Miss Agnes H Hunter and converted to SCIO status in 2021, is dedicated to funding registered charities that provide direct support to disabled people across Scotland. Its core mission, rooted in equity and inclusion, focuses on enabling individuals with physical or mental impairments—as defined by the Equality Act 2010—to overcome barriers and lead fulfilling lives. This encompasses beneficiaries with learning disabilities, mental ill health, cancer, sensory impairments, autism, long-term conditions, and neurodiversity, through activities like advice services, life-skills and employability training, volunteering schemes, and core projects promoting independence and participation.

Eligible applicants are OSCR-registered Scottish charities with annual income under £1 million, prioritising small, innovative, or newly established organisations demonstrating clear community need and financial sustainability. They must deliver services exclusively in Scotland.

Grants typically range from £3,000 to £10,000 per year for 1-3 years, covering core costs, staff salaries, overheads, and direct project expenses (requests below £3,000 not considered). Unsolicited applications are accepted via online form during biannual three-week rounds, with the next opening 15 January 2026; decisions follow Board meetings three months later. The Trust distinctly avoids capital projects, generic causes, unrestricted funding, or highly publicised organisations, favouring grassroots initiatives with proven impact on unmet needs for disabled people.