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
54 of 1506 match your filtersChecked against verified programme data for 419 of 1506 funders. 1087 not yet verified are listed below; 365 that don't fit were excluded.
Access - The Foundation for Social Investment
Matching programme: Local Access
Access – The Foundation for Social Investment drives systemic transformation in the social investment market, empowering charities and social enterpri...
Ala Green Charitable Trust
Matching programme: Main Grant Programme
The Ala Green Charitable Trust, established in 2014 by Anthony John Green and fellow trustees, is a UK grant-making charity dedicated to improving out...
Arete Foundation
Matching programme: Local Community Grants
The Arete Foundation is a UK-registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (charity number 1184657) dedicated to promoting social inclusion and empo...
Baron Davenport's Charity
Matching programme: Organisation Grants
Baron Davenport's Charity, an endowed trust established in 1914 by the will of Baron Charles Davenport in Birmingham, is dedicated to alleviating acut...
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation
Matching 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...
Blagrave Trust
Matching programme: Regional Programme
The Blagrave Trust is an independent endowed foundation established in 1978 under the wills of Herbert and Peter Blagrave, restructured as a Charitabl...
Buckinghamshire Community Foundation
Matching programme: Heart of Bucks Community Fund
Buckinghamshire Community Foundation, operating as Heart of Bucks, serves as a catalyst for social change by connecting philanthropy to local causes, ...
Cambridgeshire Community Foundation
Matching programme: General Funds (applied via the general application form, not fund-specific)
Cambridgeshire Community Foundation (CCF), established in December 2003, is an independent local charity dedicated to enhancing quality of life across...
Co-Operative Community Investment Foundation
Matching programme: Community spaces - interest-free loans (UK wide)
The Co-operative Community Investment Foundation, known as the Co-op Foundation, is the charitable arm of the Co-operative Group, established in 2002 ...
Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust
Matching programme: Brighter Futures
The Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust, an independent grant-making charity founded in 1969 by Sir James Colyer-Fergusson, is dedicated to improving li...
Community Foundation in Wales
Matching programme: Fund for Wales
Community Foundation Wales, established in November 1998 as a registered charity and company, drives philanthropy to strengthen Welsh communities by c...
Community Foundation North East
Matching 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
Matching 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...
County of Gloucestershire Community Foundation
Matching programme: GCF – Community Fund
Gloucestershire Community Foundation is a grant-making charity dedicated to reducing inequalities and enhancing quality of life for disadvantaged Glou...
Cumbria Community Foundation
Matching programme: Cumbria Community Foundation Grants
Cumbria Community Foundation, established in 1999, is an independent UK community foundation dedicated to tackling poverty, enhancing quality of life,...
Dorset Community Foundation
Matching programme: BCP Crisis and Resilience Fund
Dorset Community Foundation is an independent grantmaker dedicated to improving lives and fostering thriving, united communities across Dorset by chan...
Ernest Cook Trust
Matching programme: Outdoor Learning Leader Grant
The Ernest Cook Trust, founded in 1952 by Ernest Cook—grandson of travel pioneer Thomas Cook—is a leading UK educational charity with over 9,000 hecta...
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Matching 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 ...
Essex Community Foundation
Matching programme: General / Rolling Programme
Essex Community Foundation, established in 1996, is an independent charitable foundation dedicated to enhancing quality of life for Essex residents by...
Foundation Scotland
Matching programme: Women's Fund for Scotland
Foundation Scotland, Scotland's sole community foundation, drives a mission to empower communities by bridging innovative ideas with resources, foster...
Gibbons Family Trust
Matching programme: Youth Support Grants
The Gibbons Family Trust advances the education, training, recreation, welfare, and wellbeing of children and young people up to age 25 facing disadva...
Heathrow Community Trust
Matching programme: Communities Together Small
Heathrow Community Trust (HCT), established in 1996 as an independent grant-making charity, supports and enhances quality of life for communities arou...
Henry Smith Charity
Matching programme: Welcome for Newcomers Fund
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...
Herefordshire Community Foundation
Matching programme: Community Chest Programme
Herefordshire Community Foundation (HCF), established in June 2002, is an independent grant-making charity dedicated to promoting charitable purposes ...
Hertfordshire Community Foundation
Matching programme: HCF Foundation Grants
Hertfordshire Community Foundation is an independent charity dedicated to channeling local philanthropy into grassroots solutions that alleviate depri...
Holkham Charitable Foundation
Matching programme: The Holkham Charitable Foundation
The Holkham Charitable Foundation embodies a legacy of family-led stewardship and social responsibility, established to champion local philanthropy as...
Impetus - The Private Equity Foundation
Matching programme: Engage Grant Round 2024
Impetus – The Private Equity Foundation champions equality and high ambition for young people from socio-economically deprived backgrounds, believing ...
James Knott Family Foundation
Matching 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...
Legal Education Foundation
Matching programme: Emerging Justice fund
The Legal Education Foundation (LEF), established in 2013 from the sale of the College of Law, is an independent UK grantmaker with roots in 19th-cent...
Lincolnshire Community Foundation CIO
Matching programme: Michael Cornish Core Grants Programme
Lincolnshire Community Foundation CIO, established in 2002, is an independent charity dedicated to tackling social inequalities and fostering thriving...
Livewell Foundation
Matching programme: Large Grants
The Livewell Foundation, established as the charitable arm of a pioneering social enterprise in health and social care, drives transformational impact...
Mercers Charitable Foundation
Matching programme: Older People & Housing
The Mercers’ Charitable Foundation, established in 1983 as the principal grant-making trust of The Mercers’ Company—London’s premier livery company fo...
Mission44
Matching programme: General Grant-making Programme
Mission44 is a charitable foundation launched in 2021 by Formula One champion Sir Lewis Hamilton with a £20 million personal commitment, inspired by h...
Mohn Westlake Foundation
Matching programme: The Mohn Westlake Arts Engagement Fund
The Mohn Westlake Foundation is a family charitable trust driven by dual missions: enhancing lives of children and young people through expanded acces...
Movements Trust Limited
Matching programme: Charitable Sponsorship
Movements Trust Limited, a UK-registered charity founded in January 2021, empowers social movements driving systemic change toward a just and sustaina...
National Funding Scheme
Matching 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...
Noel Sweeney Foundation
Matching programme: The Noel Sweeney Foundation Grants
The Noel Sweeney Foundation embodies the legacy of generosity and community commitment, channeling resources into grassroots initiatives uplifting you...
Norfolk Community Foundation
Matching programme: Handelsbanken Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund
Norfolk Community Foundation is an independent local charity dedicated to strengthening Norfolk communities by investing in small grassroots organizat...
Northamptonshire Community Foundation
Matching programme: Randal Charitable Foundation Fund
Northamptonshire Community Foundation, established in the early 2000s, is the leading independent grant-making charity in Northamptonshire, dedicated ...
Point North Community Foundation
Matching programme: Stanley Community Fund
Point North Community Foundation, formerly County Durham Community Foundation and established in 1995 by Sir Paul Nicholson and David Grant, is an acc...
Postcode Innovation Trust
Matching programme: Social Enterprise EDGE Award
Postcode Innovation Trust, established in 2016, is an independent funder powered by proceeds from its society lottery linked to People’s Postcode Lott...
Rayne Foundation
Matching programme: Standard Grant Programme (Open Grants Programme)
The Rayne Foundation, an independent UK charitable trust founded in 1962 by Lord Max Rayne, advances social cohesion by building bridges between diver...
Salford Community & Voluntary Services
Matching programme: Health and Wellbeing Fund
Salford Community & Voluntary Services (Salford CVS), established in 1919 as part of post-WWI social service efforts and independent since 1973, serve...
Sir James Knott Trust
Matching programme: Rolling Grants Programme
The Sir James Knott Trust, established in 1924 by Tyneside shipowner Sir James Knott following the loss of his sons in World War I, is a cornerstone p...
St Giles-in-the-Fields and William Shelton Educational Charity
Matching 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
Matching 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...
Tendring Community Voluntary Services
Matching programme: Seasonal Resilience Fund 23/24
Tendring Community Voluntary Services (CVST), founded in 1973 and incorporated in 2005, serves as the longstanding umbrella charity for the voluntary ...
Torbay Community Development Trust Ltd
Matching programme: Torbay Council Community Fund
Torbay Communities, rooted in asset-based community development, empowers local voluntary, community, and social enterprise organizations to foster in...
Triangle Trust 1949 Fund
Matching programme: Main Grants Programme
The Triangle Trust 1949 Fund, established in 1949 by Sir Henry Jephcott, is an independent UK grant-making trust that has evolved from supporting Glax...
Trusthouse Charitable Foundation
Matching programme: Major Grants
Forte Charitable Foundation (formerly Trusthouse Charitable Foundation), established in 1997 from the sale of Trust House Forte plc, is an independent...
Showing 50 of 54 matching funders
1087 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
Tell us what your charity does, who you help, and where you work. Takes 30 seconds.
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Our AI ranks all 1506 children & young people funders by how well they fit your specific work.
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Which of These 1506 Funders Are Right for You?
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