Cole Charitable Trust

Could Cole Charitable Trust fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £1,000 – £2,000
Where they fund: Greater Birmingham, Cambridgeshire, Kent and Medway
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Email application
Decisions: Bi annually

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

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colecharitabletrust.org.uk

About Cole Charitable Trust

The Cole Charitable Trust is an independent grant-making trust that supports small registered charities working to improve lives in local communities. Its priorities include social welfare, housing and homelessness support, community and environmental development, and opportunities for young people. The Trust values personal and community empowerment and aims to enhance quality of life through flexible funding. It typically makes one-off grants and favours grassroots organisations where modest funding can make a tangible difference.

What Cole Charitable Trust funds

The Trust funds a wide range of charitable work across Greater Birmingham, Cambridgeshire, and Kent and Medway. It supports projects in social welfare, housing and homelessness, community development, environmental improvement, and youth opportunities. Grants can cover core costs, equipment, project delivery, salaries, training, and capital works. Specific themes include support for children and young people, older people, disabled people, carers, refugees, veterans, offenders, unemployed individuals, homeless people, LGBTQ+ communities, ethnic minority groups, and rural communities.

Who can apply

Only registered charities may apply. The Trust prioritises small, local organisations with modest incomes, working in Greater Birmingham, Cambridgeshire, or Kent and Medway. It supports charities benefiting a wide range of groups, including children and young people, older people, disabled people, carers, refugees, veterans, offenders, unemployed individuals, homeless people, LGBTQ+ communities, ethnic minority groups, and rural communities. There is no religious restriction.

What Cole Charitable Trust doesn't fund

The Trust does not fund animal charities, large building appeals, research, further education, or evangelical projects. It also excludes support for individuals. These exclusions reflect the Trust's focus on grassroots social welfare and community work where its grants can have a direct impact on local people's quality of life.

How they like to fund

Grants are normally one-off and can be used for core costs or project costs. The Trust does not require match funding and welcomes unsolicited applications from eligible charities.

How much does Cole Charitable Trust give?

Cole Charitable Trust runs one grant programme. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 17 sourced facts

Cole Charitable Trust grantsOpen to applications

Typically £1,500

Next deadline 9 October 2026
2 rounds a year
Decisions in ~6 weeks
Single-year grants

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 Cole Charitable Trust funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

We support charities that work in the fields of: social welfare, all age groups housing/homelessness community and environmental development opportunities for young people promotion of improved quality of life personal or community empowerment.

Where they fund

Greater BirminghamCambridgeshireKent and Medway

Costs they'll cover

Core costsEquipmentProject deliverySalariesTrainingCapital works & buildings

They don't fund

AnimalsResearch

The full exclusions list (1)

large building appeals, research or further education, evangelical projects

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Children & youthMental healthOlder peopleHomelessnessPoverty & hardship

How to apply to Cole Charitable Trust

Cole Charitable Trust takes applications via email application.

Decisions are typically bi annually.
Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

What Cole Charitable Trust's application asks

We hold the 29 questions from Cole Charitable Trust's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.

Question 1

“Charity name, address and postcode:”

Question 2

“Charity website address:”

27 more questions from their form, plus answers drafted from your charity's real data if you decide to apply.

How it works

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

See if Cole Charitable Trust could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Cole Charitable Trust provide?

Cole Charitable Trust runs one grant programme — Cole Charitable Trust grants: Typically £1,500.

Where does Cole Charitable Trust fund charities?

Cole Charitable Trust funds charities operating in Greater Birmingham, Cambridgeshire, Kent and Medway.

Does Cole Charitable Trust accept unsolicited applications?

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

What does Cole Charitable Trust not fund?

Their published exclusions include: large building appeals, research or further education, evangelical projects. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Cole Charitable Trust?

Cole Charitable Trust takes applications via email application. Decisions are typically bi annually.