Equity Charitable Trust

The Trust funds three main areas: welfare grants for basic living costs during illness, income loss, or other challenges; educational grants for training, retraining, or gaining new qualifications; and theatre grants for capital works that improve backstage facilities and access. It also administers the John Fernald Award. Support is directed at professional performers and theatre professionals across the UK, with a focus on individuals such as actors, singers, dancers, stage managers, and variety artists, as well as their dependants. Organisations like theatres may also qualify if the project clearly benefits this community.

Beneficiaries include UK-resident professional performers eligible for Equity membership, such as actors, singers, dancers, stage managers, and variety artists, along with their dependants. Organisations like theatres may apply if the project directly benefits performers and theatre professionals. The Trust prioritises first-time applicants and those with disabilities or sudden crises. Applications are considered through a single annual committee meeting, and unsolicited applications are welcome.

The Trust does not fund production costs for theatre shows. It generally does not support projects that do not directly benefit performers and theatre professionals, or that fall outside its welfare, education, and theatre infrastructure focus.

The Trust offers one-off grants through three distinct programmes: welfare, educational, and theatre grants. Applications are considered at a single annual committee meeting. Unsolicited applications are welcome, and the Trust does not offer multi-year funding. Grants are typically for capital works, training costs, or living expenses, depending on the programme.