McLay Dementia Trust

|mclaydementiatrust.com|Verified · Updated November 2025
Grant Size
£5,000 - £20,000
Location
Check with funder
Focus Areas
Older People
Eligible Orgs
Registered Charity
Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Community Interest Company, Social Enterprise

About This Funder

The McLay Dementia Trust, founded in late 2016 by trustees inspired by lived experiences of dementia care—including a daughter's caregiving for her mother and insights from care homes and Healthwatch—aims to enhance quality of life for people with dementia and their carers across the UK. Rooted in empathy and pragmatism, it champions small, innovative projects overlooked by major funders, prioritizing local pilots with national scalability, robust evaluation to prove 'what works,' and practical interventions in home or residential settings.

It exclusively funds dementia-focused initiatives, such as free MedicAlert IDs with protocols like the Herbert Protocol for safety and independence, wearable technologies, evidence-led trials of care models, and frontline improvements at organizations like Rowans Hospice. Beneficiaries are people living with dementia and carers; supported activities blend direct support with replicable innovations demonstrating tangible impact through monitoring and shared learnings.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities and small not-for-profits (no strict income limits, but preference for grassroots groups), operating UK-wide with projects showing broader applicability. Typical grants range from £5,000 to £20,000 for project/seed funding (no core costs or capital); applications via email with proposals, bank statements, governing documents, and safeguarding policies. Rolling decisions until the final deadline of 30 June 2025, after which the Trust closes permanently.

Distinctive for its niche seed-funding of untested ideas, stringent evaluation demands, and exclusion of mainstream research or unevaluated projects, it catalyses real-world advancements in dementia care before ceasing operations.

Eligibility Checklist

Registered Charity, Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Community Interest Company, Social Enterprise
Eligible
Check with funder
Eligible
Individuals
Not eligible
Income requirements, CIC eligibility, religious criteria, +3 more

Funding Details

Estimated grant range£5,000 - £20,000
LocationCheck with funder
Deadlines, timeline, application type, meeting schedule

Writing your application?

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1

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Describe your charity once and see how well you fit McLay Dementia Trust's priorities — scored on location, cause, size, and 3 other factors.

2

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Scored on 6 factors including cause, location, and grant size
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Frequently Asked Questions

How much funding does McLay Dementia Trust provide?

McLay Dementia Trust typically provides grants ranging from £5,000 - £20,000.

Where does McLay Dementia Trust fund charities?

McLay Dementia Trust funds charities operating in UK.

How do I apply for funding from McLay Dementia Trust?

With Fundermatcher, you describe your charity once and see your compatibility score with McLay Dementia Trust. If you're a good fit, you can start drafting your application immediately using our AI co-pilot — paste each question and word limit, and the co-pilot writes a tailored first draft using your charity's real data and McLay Dementia Trust's priorities. You review and edit every answer before submitting.

Will funders know my application was drafted with AI?

No. The co-pilot uses your charity's real name, numbers, and impact data — not generic filler or templates. Every draft reads like it was written by someone who knows your charity inside-out, because it's built on your actual profile. You edit and refine every word before it goes anywhere, so the final application sounds like you — because it is.

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