Francis C Scott Charitable Trust

The Trust funds work that improves life chances for children and young people, with a strong emphasis on early intervention, preventative approaches, and the deliberate development of social and emotional skills. It supports a wide range of youth-focused activities including mental health and wellbeing, education, arts, and youth services. Priority is given to interventions underpinned by practice-based evidence and those that contribute to wider services for children and young people locally. The Trust funds project delivery and core costs, and offers social investment to support organisational growth. Geographically, it focuses on Cumbria and the Lancaster District, preferring small to medium-sized organisations that are locally anchored.

The Trust supports registered charities, community interest companies, community benefit societies, and organisations pursuing charitable objectives. It prioritises children and young people as beneficiaries, and values local roots in Cumbria or the Lancaster District. Applicants should be small to medium-sized with strong governance and a clear focus on improving life chances. The Trust does not fund individuals, statutory organisations, national charities without a local base or project in the area, schools for projects principally benefiting people outside Cumbria or North Lancashire, or charities with substantial unrestricted reserves. There is no religious restriction.

The Trust does not fund capital works, events, or transport. It also excludes statutory organisations, national charities without a local base or project in the area, and schools or educational establishments for projects that primarily benefit people outside Cumbria or North Lancashire. Individuals and charities with substantial unrestricted reserves are not eligible.

The Trust offers multi-year awards for larger requests, primarily funding project delivery and core costs. It also provides social investment as patient capital to support organisational growth and development. The Step Change programme supports planned developments, governance, succession planning, and mentoring or coaching. The Trust welcomes unsolicited applications and is open to partnership working.