Heathrow Community Trust

Heathrow Community Trust (HCT), established in 1996 as an independent grant-making charity, supports and enhances quality of life for communities around Heathrow Airport through lasting, positive-impact projects. Founded via partnership with Heathrow Airport Limited and local stakeholders, it draws funding from airport contributions, noise fines, and staff fundraising. Its core mission fosters healthy, happy communities by tackling social isolation, inequality, youth aspirations, and environmental challenges, guided by values of inclusivity, partnership, empowerment, and stewardship. HCT's distinctive approach involves community-led priorities, stakeholder engagement, impact evaluation, and panels blending trustees, Heathrow volunteers, and local members for transparent, responsive grant-making.

HCT funds three main programmes—Communities Together (social inclusion, cohesion, facilities, wellbeing), Environment & Sustainability (climate action, biodiversity, green spaces, education), and Projects for Young People (aspirations, resilience, employability for under-25s)—plus HAPi and Matched Funding for Heathrow staff-led initiatives. It supports children, youth, isolated individuals, intergenerational groups, and eco-focused residents via project costs, partial core funding, and limited capital/multi-year grants (up to two years for £5,000+ awards), exemplified by community gardens, youth clubs, loneliness initiatives, and conservation efforts.

Eligible applicants include UK-registered charities, community groups, social enterprises, and academic institutions, with preference for smaller, local organisations in nine Heathrow-adjacent boroughs (Ealing, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Richmond, Runnymede, Slough, Spelthorne, South Bucks, Windsor & Maidenhead); HAPi/Matched extends UK-wide for staff. No strict income limits, but governance and local delivery are key. Typical grants range £2,500–£15,000. Unsolicited online applications align with 2025 rounds (e.g., Communities Together Small: Jan-Mar/Jul-Aug); decisions in 8–10 weeks. Excludes unrestricted core funding, emergencies; uniquely airport-tied, emphasising employee volunteering and sustainability.