Dreams and Wishes
Could Dreams and Wishes fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.
- Where they fund
- United Kingdom
- Applications
- Accepted
- How to apply
- Online form
- Decisions
- Rolling (no fixed deadline)
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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dreamsandwishescharity.orgAbout Dreams and Wishes
Dreams and Wishes is a UK charity that grants wishes to seriously ill children. The charity believes every child deserves to smile and works to provide joyful moments, giving children and their families something to look forward to during times of uncertainty and emotional strain. It supports children with serious or life-threatening illnesses across the whole of the United Kingdom. The charity focuses entirely on granting individual wishes, creating positive memories through gifts and experiences.
What Dreams and Wishes funds
The charity funds wishes for seriously ill children, including equipment such as iPads and laptops for entertainment during treatment, seasonal parties like summer and Halloween events, and holidays within the UK. These wishes aim to bring joy and relief to children facing serious or life-threatening illnesses. The charity operates across the entire United Kingdom, supporting children from birth to 21 years.
Who can apply
Individual children with a serious or life-threatening illness, aged from birth to 21, can apply for a wish. The charity supports children across the UK. Applications are made on behalf of the child, and the charity welcomes unsolicited applications. The focus is on the child's individual needs and circumstances.
What Dreams and Wishes doesn't fund
The charity does not fund organisations, projects, or core costs. It only grants wishes directly to individual children. It does not support medical research, equipment for hospitals, or general charitable programmes.
How they like to fund
Dreams and Wishes provides one-off wishes to individual children. It welcomes unsolicited applications and reviews each on its merits. The charity funds a variety of wishes, from gifts to experiences, all tailored to the child's situation. It does not offer multi-year funding or support for organisational costs.
How much does Dreams and Wishes give?
Dreams and Wishes runs one grant programme. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.
Last verified 8 August 2026 · 12 sourced facts
- Apply by letter
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 Dreams and Wishes funds — and what they won't
We support seriously ill children across the UK. We believe every child deserves to smile and with your support we can provide joyful moments, giving children and their families something to look forward to through times of uncertainty and often financial as well as emotional strain.
Good to know
How to apply to Dreams and Wishes
Dreams and Wishes takes applications via online form.
- Published programme route: apply by letter.
- Decisions are typically rolling (no fixed deadline).
- Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.
How it works
- 1Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
- 2See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
- 3Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.
See if Dreams and Wishes could be a fit. Draft if yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Dreams and Wishes provide?
Grant amounts vary. Contact Dreams and Wishes directly for current funding levels.
Where does Dreams and Wishes fund charities?
Dreams and Wishes funds charities operating in United Kingdom.
Does Dreams and Wishes accept unsolicited applications?
Dreams and Wishes accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.
How do I apply for funding from Dreams and Wishes?
Dreams and Wishes takes applications via online form. Published programme route: apply by letter.
Similar funders
Other UK funders with overlapping focus — not a claim they fund the same charities.
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Could Dreams and Wishes be a fit?
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