McLay Dementia Trust
Could McLay Dementia Trust fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.
- Typical grants
- £5,000 – £20,000
- Applications
- Accepted
- How to apply
- Email application
- Decisions
- Rolling (no fixed deadline)
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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mclaydementiatrust.comAbout McLay Dementia Trust
The McLay Dementia Trust was established in 2016 by trustees whose personal experiences of dementia care, including a daughter caring for her mother, shaped its empathetic and practical approach. The Trust is dedicated to enhancing quality of life for people with dementia and their carers across the UK. It focuses on supporting small, innovative projects that larger funders often overlook, particularly local pilots with the potential to be scaled nationally. The Trust operates with a strong emphasis on evaluation to demonstrate tangible impact, funding only dementia-focused initiatives.
What McLay Dementia Trust funds
The Trust exclusively funds projects related to dementia care. Supported initiatives include free MedicAlert IDs with protocols such as the Herbert Protocol, wearable technologies, evidence-led trials of care models, and frontline improvements in hospice settings. The Trust prioritises practical interventions that can be implemented in home or residential settings. Funding is available for project or seed costs, not core costs or capital. The Trust operates across the whole of the UK, with a preference for projects showing broader applicability beyond a single location.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities and small not-for-profits, including charitable incorporated organisations, community interest companies, social enterprises, and community groups. The Trust has a preference for grassroots groups and does not impose strict income limits. Beneficiaries are people living with dementia and their carers. The Trust welcomes unsolicited applications.
What McLay Dementia Trust doesn't fund
The Trust does not fund core costs or capital expenditure. It excludes mainstream research projects and initiatives that lack robust evaluation mechanisms. The Trust also does not support projects that are not focused on dementia.
How they like to fund
The Trust provides project and seed funding for innovative ideas, often for untested initiatives. It places a strong emphasis on evaluation to demonstrate tangible impact, requiring monitoring and shared learnings. The Trust welcomes unsolicited applications.
How much does McLay Dementia Trust give?
Typical published range. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you would clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is the free fit check.
When to apply, and how long their decisions take.
Income, location, legal structure and exactly who they fund — matched to your charity.
Good to know
How to apply to McLay Dementia Trust
McLay Dementia Trust takes applications via email application.
- Decisions are typically rolling (no fixed deadline).
- Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.
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 McLay Dementia Trust could be a fit. Draft if yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does McLay Dementia Trust provide?
McLay Dementia Trust typically provides grants of £5,000 - £20,000.
Where does McLay Dementia Trust fund charities?
McLay Dementia Trust funds charities operating in the UK.
Does McLay Dementia Trust accept unsolicited applications?
McLay Dementia Trust accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.
How do I apply for funding from McLay Dementia Trust?
McLay Dementia Trust takes applications via email application. Decisions are typically rolling (no fixed deadline).
Similar funders
Other UK funders with overlapping focus — not a claim they fund the same charities.
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Could McLay Dementia Trust be a fit?
Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.