Children & Young People Grants & Funding
There are 1506 UK funders offering grants for children & young people charities, with typical awards from £100 to £6,000,000.
The UK has a strong tradition of philanthropic support for children and young people, with hundreds of trusts and foundations dedicated to improving outcomes for under-25s. Funding priorities range from early years education and child poverty relief to youth employment programmes and mental health support for teenagers. Many funders in this space prioritise preventative work — early intervention projects that stop problems before they escalate. Others focus on specific demographics such as looked-after children, young carers, or those not in education, employment, or training (NEET). Geographic focus varies widely: some funders operate nationally while others target specific local authority areas or regions with high deprivation indices. Grant sizes span from small awards under £5,000 for grassroots youth clubs to six-figure multi-year grants for established charities running evidence-based programmes. The sector has seen increased funding since 2023, particularly for digital inclusion and youth mental health initiatives.
Quick Stats
- Total Funders
- 1506
- Grant Range
- £100 - £6,000,000
- Open to Applications
- 44%
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Clear filtersFilters use programme details verified from each funder's own published guidance. Funders we haven't verified yet are listed separately below, never hidden.
Children & Young People Funders
22 of 1506 match your filtersChecked against verified programme data for 425 of 1506 funders. 1081 not yet verified are listed below; 403 that don't fit were excluded.
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: London Luton Airport Operations Ltd (LLAOL) Community Trust Fund
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation (BLCF), established in 1999 and registered as a charity in 2001 by founders Geoffrey Farr MBE DL, Sir Samu...
Church Burgesses Educational Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Church Burgesses Educational Foundation
The Church Burgesses Educational Foundation, an independent charitable trust based in Sheffield, traces its roots to the historic Church Burgesses Tru...
Community Foundation North East
Verified openMatching programme: General Application
Community Foundation North East, established in 1988 by local business and civic leaders in North East England, serves as the UK's largest community f...
Cooks Charity
Verified openMatching programme: Main Grant Programme
The Cooks Charity, the philanthropic arm of the Worshipful Company of Cooks—a City of London Livery Company with roots in the 12th century—champions e...
Eleemosynary Charity of William Hobbayne
Verified openMatching programme: Grants for Organisations (Eleemosynary Charity)
The Eleemosynary Charity of William Hobbayne, rooted in a 1484 bequest for parish poor relief, upholds a mission of alleviating poverty, hardship, and...
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Grants
The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, established in 1961 by Ian Fairbairn in memory of his wife, is one of the UK's largest independent funders, dedicated ...
Geoffrey Watling Charity
Verified openMatching programme: General Grant Programme
The Geoffrey Watling Charity embodies entrepreneurial generosity, local pride, and civic friendship, channeling resources to vitalize communities thro...
Hackney Parochial Charities
Verified openMatching programme: Hackney Parochial Charities Project Grants
Hackney Parochial Charities, a historic charitable trust established in 1603 with the first legacy from Thomas Heron, is dedicated to relieving povert...
Henry Smith Charity
Verified openMatching programme: Christian Projects Grant Programme
The Henry Smith Foundation, formerly Henry Smith Charity and one of the UK's oldest independent grant-makers since 1628, channels the legacy of founde...
Hertfordshire Community Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: HCF Foundation Grants
Hertfordshire Community Foundation is an independent charity dedicated to channeling local philanthropy into grassroots solutions that alleviate depri...
James Knott Family Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Main Grants Programme
The James Knott Family Foundation, known as the Sir James Knott Trust, was established in 1924 by Tyneside shipowner Sir James Knott to honor his sons...
Just4Children
Verified openMatching programme: Application for Support
Just4Children, a UK and Ireland charitable funder established in November 2015, is dedicated to relieving sickness and preserving the physical and men...
Lionel Abel-Smith Trust
Verified openMatching programme: General Grant Programme
The Lionel Abel-Smith Trust is an endowed grant-making charity founded to perpetuate local heritage and community stewardship, with a mission to enhan...
Mercers Charitable Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Church & Communities
The Mercers’ Charitable Foundation, established in 1983 as the principal grant-making trust of The Mercers’ Company—London’s premier livery company fo...
Milton Keynes Community Foundation Limited
Verified openMatching programme: Community Roots Project
Milton Keynes Community Foundation is an independent place-based funder with a mission to strengthen communities and improve quality of life by channe...
National Funding Scheme
Verified openMatching programme: DONATE™ Digital Fundraising Platform
The National Funding Scheme is a pioneering UK charity founded to revolutionize charitable fundraising through cutting-edge digital technology, democr...
Potton Consolidated Charity
Verified openMatching programme: General Grants
Potton Consolidated Charity is a longstanding philanthropic trust rooted in 17th-century benefactions, dedicated to relieving poverty, hardship, distr...
St Giles-in-the-Fields and William Shelton Educational Charity
Verified openMatching programme: Community Investment Grant
St Giles-in-the-Fields and William Shelton Educational Charity is a historic independent grant-maker with 17th- and 18th-century roots from philanthro...
Suffolk Community Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Central Fund
Suffolk Community Foundation, established in 2005 as one of the UK's 47 community foundations and the largest independent grant-maker to Suffolk's vol...
Sylvanus Lysons Charity
Verified openMatching programme: Sylvanus Lysons Charity – Churches and Organisations
The Sylvanus Lysons Charity, endowed through a 1731 legacy from Gloucester landowner Sylvanus Lysons to aid poor widows of clergy and Hempsted parish ...
William Adlington Cadbury Charitable Trust
Verified openMatching programme: United Kingdom (The Religious Society of Friends)
The William Adlington Cadbury Charitable Trust, established in 1923 by Quaker philanthropist William Cadbury—former Lord Mayor of Birmingham—advances ...
William Price Charitable Trust
Verified openMatching programme: Churches Grants
The William Price Charitable Trust, a long-established educational grant-making charity (No. 307319) rooted in pre-1963 philanthropy by William Price ...
1081 funders not yet verified against these filters
We haven't confirmed these funders' programme details yet, so they may or may not fit. Showing the first 10.
Tips for Applying to Children & Young People Funders
When applying for youth-focused grants, demonstrate robust safeguarding policies and evidence that all staff and volunteers hold current DBS checks. Funders expect to see that young people have a genuine voice in project design and delivery — describe how you involve youth in decision-making through advisory panels, co-production workshops, or peer-led activities. Present measurable outcomes tied to recognised frameworks: NEET reduction figures, educational attainment improvements, wellbeing score changes, or progression into employment and training. Make your delivery model age-appropriate, showing that activities and communication methods are tailored to the specific age range you serve rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. Include clear transition planning that explains what happens when participants age out of your programme — how you ensure lasting impact and connect young people to ongoing support. If your work targets specific vulnerable groups such as looked-after children or young carers, reference the evidence base for your approach and any partnerships with statutory services. Strong applications in this space balance ambitious vision with practical, evidence-informed delivery.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Children & Young People Grants
What grants are available for children & young people charities in the UK?
There are 1506+ UK funders offering grants for children & young people charities. These range from small community grants under £5,000 to large multi-year funding programmes exceeding £100,000. Use Fundermatcher to find the best match for your organisation.
How much funding can children & young people organisations get?
Grant amounts for children & young people charities vary widely depending on the funder and project. Typical grants range from £1,000 to over £100,000. Many funders offer multi-year funding for established organisations with a strong track record.
How do I apply for children & young people grants?
Start by identifying funders whose priorities align with your children & young people work. Fundermatcher matches your charity's profile against 1506+ funders to find the best fit. Our AI assistant can then help you draft compelling grant applications.
How to Find the Right Children & Young People Funders
Describe Your Charity
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Which of These 1506 Funders Are Right for You?
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