Edward Holt Trust

The Trust's main grant programme funds projects and activities that respond to homelessness and poverty or hardship, with a particular focus on helping people who are homeless. Grants may cover capital projects, such as building improvements or new facilities, as well as facility enhancements and the direct delivery of services. The work supported must take place within 15 miles of Manchester city centre, and the Trust is interested in initiatives that serve the local community. Multi-year grants are available for organisations seeking sustained support, allowing charities to plan for the longer term. The Trust is open to a range of approaches, as long as they address the realities of homelessness and financial hardship in the region. Through this flexible support, it aims to contribute to the stability and wellbeing of vulnerable people across Greater Manchester.

Applications are accepted from registered charities only. The Trust looks for organisations that are based in Greater Manchester and whose work is delivered within 15 miles of Manchester city centre. It particularly welcomes applications from groups working directly with people who are homeless, and it values charities that are deeply rooted in the local community. The Trust's approach favours locally led organisations rather than branches or projects run by charities headquartered elsewhere. There is no faith requirement or restriction, and the Trust does not limit its support by the size of an organisation's income; instead, the emphasis is on the quality and local relevance of the work. Charities wishing to apply should ensure their activities match the Trust's focus on homelessness and poverty in the Greater Manchester area.

The Trust does not fund national charities, which it defines as organisations based outside Greater Manchester that run projects within the area. This exclusion reflects its preference for supporting locally rooted groups. Apart from that, the published guidance does not set out any other categories of excluded activity, so applicants should judge their work against the Trust's stated priorities of homelessness and poverty.

The Trust provides multi-year grants through its main grant programme, giving charities the security to develop sustained responses to homelessness and poverty. It welcomes unsolicited applications and describes its way of working as partnership-driven, grounded in responsible stewardship. This collaborative flavour shapes how the Trust engages with the local charities it supports, with an emphasis on building enduring relationships rather than one-off transactions.