Earley Charity

Could Earley Charity fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £500 – £5,000
Where they fund: Earley and east Reading
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Email application
Decisions: Quarterly

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

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earleycharity.org.uk

About Earley Charity

The Earley Charity is a local grant-making trust with roots in the historic tradition of poor relief. It works to alleviate poverty, hardship, and disadvantage among residents of Earley and east Reading. Guided by a need-led philosophy, the Charity prioritises direct support for people who are sick, elderly, or disabled, aiming to improve quality of life through inclusive, community-focused initiatives. It favours flexible, locally responsive funding that helps grassroots groups deliver immediate and lasting benefits for local people.

What Earley Charity funds

The Charity funds a broad range of work across community development, children and young people, education and skills, arts and culture, environment, mental and physical health, employment, and poverty or hardship. It supports projects, equipment, and capital works. All funded activity must take place in Earley, Lower Earley, Old Earley, Winnersh, northern Shinfield, south and east Reading, Whitley, Newtown, central Reading, Sonning, or lower Caversham, with a strong emphasis on benefiting local people.

Who can apply

Registered charities, community groups, and unincorporated associations can apply. The Charity also makes grants to individuals in need who live in the area of benefit. Public sector bodies and national organisations are not eligible. Individual applicants must have indefinite leave to remain in the UK and be living in permanent accommodation.

What Earley Charity doesn't fund

The Charity does not support core costs, salaries, or general charitable appeals. Faith-based causes are excluded from funding. Applicants who have received a grant within the last two years or three grants in total may not apply, and individuals planning to move out of the area of benefit are not eligible.

How they like to fund

The Earley Charity makes one-off grants for specific projects, equipment, or capital works. It welcomes unsolicited applications and does not offer multi-year funding. Grants are made to both organisations and individuals, with awards of different sizes available for each.

How much does Earley Charity give?

Earley Charity runs 4 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

£500 – £5,000

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 56 sourced facts

Grants to Individuals – £500 and under

Two-stage process
Next deadline 4 September 2026
Single-year grants

Grants to Individuals – Over £500

Two-stage process
Next deadline 16 October 2026
2 rounds a year
Single-year grants

Grants to Organisations – £3,000 and underOpen to applications

Two-stage process
Next deadline 16 October 2026
4 rounds a year
Single-year grants

Grants to Organisations – Over £3,000Open to applications

Two-stage process
Next deadline 6 November 2026
2 rounds a year
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 Earley Charity funds — and what they won't

Where they fund

Earley and east Reading

Costs they'll cover

Project deliveryCapital works & buildingsEquipment

They don't fund

FaithCore costsSalariesPublic sector bodiesNational organisations

The full exclusions list (2)

applicants must not have received a grant within the last two years or received 3 grants in the past; must be living in permanent accommodation; must have indefinite leave to remain in the UK; must not be planning to move out of the area of benefit
general appeals

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Poverty & hardshipDisabilityOlder peopleChildren & youthCommunity

How to apply to Earley Charity

Earley Charity takes applications via email application.

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

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 Earley Charity could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Earley Charity provide?

Earley Charity typically provides grants of £500 - £5,000.

Where does Earley Charity fund charities?

Earley Charity funds charities operating in Earley and east Reading.

Does Earley Charity accept unsolicited applications?

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

What does Earley Charity not fund?

Their published exclusions include: applicants must not have received a grant within the last two years or received 3 grants in the past; must be living in permanent accommodation; must have indefinite leave to remain in the UK; must not be planning to move out of the area of benefit; general appeals. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Earley Charity?

Earley Charity takes applications via email application. Published programme route: two-stage process.