Childhood Eye Cancer Trust

Could Childhood Eye Cancer Trust fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants
Up to £25,000
Applications
Accepted
How to apply
Email application
Decisions
Once per year

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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chect.org.uk

About Childhood Eye Cancer Trust

The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) is the UK's only charity dedicated exclusively to retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer that mainly affects young children. Established in 1987 as the Retinoblastoma Society, the Trust exists to improve outcomes for those affected through research, support, and awareness. They combine compassion with resilience, guided by lived experience: many trustees and staff have personal connection to the disease. Their focus is entirely on retinoblastoma and its effects, aiming to transform early diagnosis and holistic support for every family affected.

What Childhood Eye Cancer Trust funds

CHECT funds research into kinder, more effective treatments for retinoblastoma that preserve more vision, and projects that reduce the negative impact of the disease on children, young people, and families. They also provide direct financial help for costs arising from diagnosis, treatment or screening, and support musical pursuits through a dedicated bursary. Their work is UK-wide, focusing entirely on retinoblastoma and its effects.

Who can apply

Registered charities and individuals affected by retinoblastoma can apply for support. The Trust prioritises children, young people, and families impacted by the condition. For research grants, registered charities are eligible, while the Support Fund and Music Bursary are open to individuals who are CHECT members. There is no religious restriction on applicants.

What Childhood Eye Cancer Trust doesn't fund

The Trust does not fund core costs or general charity overheads. They will not support animal research unless there is no alternative. Travel costs already met by the NHS are excluded from the Support Fund.

How they like to fund

CHECT offers multi-year research grants and one-off support through the Support Fund and Music Bursary. They welcome unsolicited applications for their rolling Support Fund, while research grants and the Music Bursary operate on a periodic basis. Funding is directed entirely towards retinoblastoma-related work.

How much does Childhood Eye Cancer Trust give?

Childhood Eye Cancer Trust runs 3 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 41 sourced facts

CHECT research grantsCurrently closed
  • Two-stage process
  • 1 rounds a year
  • Multi-year funding
CHECT Support FundRolling applications
Up to £200
  • Online application form
  • Decisions in ~2 weeks
Ffion Miles Music BursaryCurrently closed
£1,000 – £1,000
  • Email
  • 1 rounds a year

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What Childhood Eye Cancer Trust funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

["Improve our understanding of retinoblastoma, including the patterns of disease","Develop kinder effective treatments, with fewer side effects, that preserve more vision","Reduce the negative impact on all those affected"]

Costs they'll cover
ResearchTransportEquipmentEventsTraining
They don't fund
Core costsTransport
The full exclusions list (2)
  • animal research unless no alternative
  • Travel costs already met by NHS

Good to know

FaithNo restriction
Focus areas
Children & youthHealth

How to apply to Childhood Eye Cancer Trust

Childhood Eye Cancer Trust takes applications via email application.

  • Published programme route: two-stage process.
  • Decisions are typically once per year.
  • Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

What Childhood Eye Cancer Trust's application asks

We hold the question from Childhood Eye Cancer Trust's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.

Question 1

explain how you would use £1,000 to foster your musical interests.

How it works

  1. 1
    Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
  2. 2
    See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
  3. 3
    Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if Childhood Eye Cancer Trust could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Childhood Eye Cancer Trust provide?

Childhood Eye Cancer Trust runs 3 grant programmes — CHECT Support Fund: Up to £200 · Ffion Miles Music Bursary: £1,000 – £1,000.

Where does Childhood Eye Cancer Trust fund charities?

Childhood Eye Cancer Trust funds charities operating in the UK.

Does Childhood Eye Cancer Trust accept unsolicited applications?

Childhood Eye Cancer Trust accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

What does Childhood Eye Cancer Trust not fund?

Their published exclusions include: animal research unless no alternative; Travel costs already met by NHS. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Childhood Eye Cancer Trust?

Childhood Eye Cancer Trust takes applications via email application. Published programme route: two-stage process.

Spotted something that needs correcting? Tell us.

Could Childhood Eye Cancer Trust be a fit?

Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.