LFT Charitable Trust
Could LFT Charitable Trust fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.
- Typical grants
- £500 – £7,000
- Where they fund
- Northern Ireland
- Applications
- Accepted
- How to apply
- Email application
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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lftcharitabletrust.comAbout LFT Charitable Trust
LFT Charitable Trust is a grant-making trust based in Northern Ireland that supports registered charities working to address poverty, youth disadvantage, disability access, and mental health. The Trust funds projects that build autonomy, self-reliance and independence, rather than providing emergency relief. It has a preference for organisations not previously funded by the Trust, and seeks to support frontline work that directly benefits people experiencing hardship. The Trust's programmes focus on young people at risk of holiday hunger, adults needing counselling and psychological therapies, disabled people requiring improved accessibility to premises, and people in poverty needing support to build independence. All work must take place in Northern Ireland and be delivered by a registered charity based there.
What LFT Charitable Trust funds
LFT Charitable Trust supports charitable work across several cause areas: youth disadvantage, mental health and addiction, disability accessibility, and poverty alleviation. The Trust funds project delivery, training, capital works and equipment. Specific examples include providing nutritious food and culinary skills for young people during school summer holidays, expanding capacity for counselling and psychological therapies for adults, modifying premises to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, and building autonomy for people experiencing poverty. All funded activities must take place in Northern Ireland. The Trust prioritises organisations not previously funded and projects directed at those experiencing poverty.
Who can apply
Registered charities based in Northern Ireland are eligible to apply for LFT Charitable Trust funding. The Trust supports organisations working directly with people experiencing poverty, young people at risk of holiday hunger, adults in need of mental health support, and disabled people requiring better access to facilities. Preference may be given to organisations not previously funded by the Trust. For accessibility-related capital projects, charities must have security of tenure. The Trust primarily funds project delivery and capacity-building activities that build self-reliance.
What LFT Charitable Trust doesn't fund
The Trust does not fund emergency assistance such as food, fuel or clothing. It also does not support organisations it has previously funded under certain programmes where current or previous grant partners are excluded. For accessibility capital projects, the Trust requires security of tenure and match funding; projects without these are not eligible.
How they like to fund
The Trust makes one-off grants for time-limited projects, typically delivered within a short period. Some programmes require match funding from the applicant, as with accessibility capital projects. The Trust does not offer multi-year funding. All grants are for project delivery, training, capital works or equipment, rather than core costs or emergency relief.
How much does LFT Charitable Trust give?
LFT Charitable Trust runs 4 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.
Last verified 8 August 2026 · 65 sourced facts
- Apply by letter
- Single-year grants
- Match funding required
- Online application form
- Decisions in ~6 weeks
- Single-year grants
- Online application form
- Single-year grants
- Online application form
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 LFT Charitable Trust funds — and what they won't
Support charities in NI with income <£500k to modify premises to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. Grant up to £7,000 or 70% of costs. Priority to projects showing direct participation of previously excluded people.
The full exclusions list (3)
- Must have security of tenure
- Current or previous LFT Grant Partners need not apply
- This grant is not intended to support the supply of emergency assistance such as food, fuel or clothing
Good to know
How to apply to LFT Charitable Trust
LFT Charitable Trust takes applications via email application.
- Published programme route: apply by letter.
- Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.
What LFT Charitable Trust's application asks
We hold the 22 questions from LFT Charitable Trust's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.
“Background to the organisation: mission and objectives, history, population served and current activities.”
“Premises: Who owns the property and has permission been granted for the proposed modifications? What are the terms of your lease/tenancy agreement and when is it expected to expire?”
20 more questions from their form, plus answers drafted from your charity's real data if you decide to apply.
How it works
- 1Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
- 2See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
- 3Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.
See if LFT Charitable Trust could be a fit. Draft if yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does LFT Charitable Trust provide?
LFT Charitable Trust runs 4 grant programmes — Accessible & Inclusive Grantmaking Programme: Up to £7,000 · Bite for Life Grantmaking Programme: Up to £6,000 · Mind Matters Grantmaking Programme 2024: Up to £5,000 · Tackling Poverty Grantmaking Programme: Up to £7,000.
Where does LFT Charitable Trust fund charities?
LFT Charitable Trust funds charities operating in Northern Ireland.
Does LFT Charitable Trust accept unsolicited applications?
LFT Charitable Trust accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.
What does LFT Charitable Trust not fund?
Their published exclusions include: Must have security of tenure; Current or previous LFT Grant Partners need not apply; This grant is not intended to support the supply of emergency assistance such as food, fuel or clothing. The full exclusions list is further up this page.
How do I apply for funding from LFT Charitable Trust?
LFT Charitable Trust takes applications via email application. Published programme route: apply by letter.
Similar funders
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Could LFT Charitable Trust be a fit?
Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.