Harris Charity

Could Harris Charity fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £500 – £3,000
Where they fund: Lancashire
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Email application
Decisions: Bi annually

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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theharrischarity.co.uk

About Harris Charity

Harris Charity is a historic philanthropic funder rooted in Preston, Lancashire, established to relieve hardship, distress and disadvantage among young people under 25. Its mission centres on promoting educational advancement, social development, physical training and community wellbeing, with a strong emphasis on supporting individuals and organisations within Lancashire, particularly the Preston District. The charity operates through both Organisation Grants and Individual Grants, reflecting a commitment to practical, outcomes-driven support that fosters self-sufficiency and positive life transitions for young people.

What Harris Charity funds

The charity funds a wide range of causes including children and youth, education and skills, poverty and hardship, sport and recreation, arts and culture, and disability support. It supports activities such as relief of need, hardship or distress among young people under 25 in Lancashire, with priority to the Preston District. Funding covers equipment, training, capital works, project delivery and transport, and may support professional preparation (tools, equipment, books), apprenticeships, recreation facilities, and grants to charitable institutions benefiting young people. All work must take place within Lancashire.

Who can apply

Organisation Grants are open to registered charities, community groups, faith groups, schools and social enterprises working with young people in Lancashire. Individual Grants are available directly to young people under 25 facing barriers to education, employment or personal development. The charity prioritises applicants with a local link to Lancashire, especially the Preston District. National charities are excluded unless they can demonstrate a clear local connection. There is no faith requirement.

What Harris Charity doesn't fund

The charity does not fund salary costs, core costs, events, university course fees, loans, day-to-day living expenses (such as rent, gym membership or telephone costs), general overseas travel, rates, taxes or public funds. Retrospective costs are not supported. National charities without a local link to Lancashire are also excluded.

How they like to fund

Harris Charity offers both Organisation Grants and Individual Grants. It does not require match funding and welcomes unsolicited applications. The charity funds equipment, training, capital works, project delivery and transport, but does not support core costs or salaries. Its approach is rooted in documented need and a long-standing commitment to local children's welfare.

How much does Harris Charity give?

Harris Charity runs 2 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

£500 – £3,000

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 25 sourced facts

Individual Grant

Online application form
Next deadline 30 September 2026
2 rounds a year

Organisation Grant

Online application form
Next deadline 30 September 2026
2 rounds a year

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What Harris Charity funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

Relief of need, hardship or distress among young people under 25 in Lancashire, with priority to Preston District. Support for education (including social and physical training), professional preparation (tools, equipment, books), apprenticeships, recreation facilities, and grants to charitable institutions benefiting young people.

Where they fund

Lancashire

Costs they'll cover

EquipmentTrainingCapital works & buildingsTransportProject delivery

They don't fund

SalaryCore costsEvents

The full exclusions list (2)

Course fees (university), loans, day-to-day living expenses (rent, gym membership, telephone costs), general overseas travel, rates/taxes/public funds. Retrospective costs not funded.
General overseas travel for groups, course fees, salary costs, living expenses supplement, rates/taxes/public funds. Retrospective costs not funded. National charities excluded unless local link.

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Children & youthEducation

How to apply to Harris Charity

Harris Charity takes applications via email application.

Published programme route: online application form.
Decisions are typically bi annually.
Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

What Harris Charity's application asks

We hold the 27 questions from Harris Charity's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.

Question 1

“Your Name:”

Question 2

“Address: Post Code: If a student, give permanent home address and not term-time address. Telephone Number(s): Daytime: Evening: Email Address: Name of individual to be helped - if different from above: Date of Birth of individual: Address of individual - if different from above: Post Code: If a student, give permanent home address and not term-time address. Telephone Number(s) - if different from above: Daytime: Evening: Where does the individual live? Preston / Lancashire:”

25 more questions from their form, plus answers drafted from your charity's real data if you decide to apply.

How it works

1
Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
2
See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
3
Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if Harris Charity could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Harris Charity provide?

Harris Charity typically provides grants of £500 - £3,000.

Where does Harris Charity fund charities?

Harris Charity funds charities operating in Lancashire.

Does Harris Charity accept unsolicited applications?

Harris Charity accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

What does Harris Charity not fund?

Their published exclusions include: Course fees (university), loans, day-to-day living expenses (rent, gym membership, telephone costs), general overseas travel, rates/taxes/public funds. Retrospective costs not funded.; General overseas travel for groups, course fees, salary costs, living expenses supplement, rates/taxes/public funds. Retrospective costs not funded. National charities excluded unless local link.. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Harris Charity?

Harris Charity takes applications via email application. Published programme route: online application form.