Shipwrights Charitable Fund
Could Shipwrights Charitable Fund fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.
- Typical grants
- £1,000 – £5,000
- Applications
- Accepted
- How to apply
- Email application
- Decisions
- Three times yearly
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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shipwrights.co.ukAbout Shipwrights Charitable Fund
The Shipwrights Charitable Fund focuses its charitable giving on maritime and waterborne projects, with a strong emphasis on providing educational and training opportunities for young people. Rooted in a commitment to vocational excellence and skill-building, the Fund supports hands-on projects that help young people learn new skills, whether through heritage vessel restoration, apprenticeships, or specialist training in ship and boat building. Grants are available UK-wide, with a clear preference for maritime and waterborne activities.
What Shipwrights Charitable Fund funds
The Fund supports maritime and waterborne projects and activities that offer young people the opportunity to learn new skills. This includes funding for heritage projects, such as the restoration of classic vessels, as well as education and skills training, employment, sport and recreation, and community development. They fund project delivery, training, equipment, and capital works. A key focus is the Shipwrights Apprenticeship Scheme, which promotes the growth of marine apprenticeships, underwriting first-year wages for small and medium-sized enterprises and helping companies recruit and mentor apprentices.
Who can apply
Grants are primarily made to individuals to support them in their training, particularly through the Billmeir Award Scheme, which gives preference to those under 25 years of age. The Fund also considers applications from registered charities and other organisations for responsive donations, with a focus on projects that provide educational or training value for young people within a maritime theme.
What Shipwrights Charitable Fund doesn't fund
The Fund does not support non-maritime projects or activities that lack a clear training or educational component, and work with adult beneficiaries is not within the scope of their funding.
How they like to fund
The Fund offers several programmes, including responsive donations for organisations, an apprenticeship scheme that underwrites first-year wages, and the Billmeir Award Scheme for individuals. Grants can be multi-year, and unsolicited applications are considered. The Fund primarily directs its funds towards projects with a maritime theme, specifically those with a focus on the provision of educational or training value for young people.
How much does Shipwrights Charitable Fund give?
Shipwrights Charitable Fund runs 4 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.
Last verified 8 August 2026 · 39 sourced facts
- 3 rounds a year
- Online application form
- 1 rounds a year
- Online application form
- 3 rounds a year
- Online application form
- Multi-year funding
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 Shipwrights Charitable Fund funds — and what they won't
Preference will be given to those under 25 years of age; promote skills of ship and boat building and related trades; encourage careers in these areas; small grants for tools, equipment, living costs; larger grants for course fees where strong commitment.
Good to know
How to apply to Shipwrights Charitable Fund
Shipwrights Charitable Fund takes applications via email application.
- Published programme route: online application form.
- Decisions are typically three times yearly.
- Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.
What Shipwrights Charitable Fund's application asks
We hold the 35 questions from Shipwrights Charitable Fund's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.
“Name”
“Address”
33 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 Shipwrights Charitable Fund could be a fit. Draft if yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Shipwrights Charitable Fund provide?
Shipwrights Charitable Fund runs 4 grant programmes — Billmeir Award Scheme: £200 – £2,000 · Shipwrights Apprenticeship Scheme: Up to £8,500.
Where does Shipwrights Charitable Fund fund charities?
Shipwrights Charitable Fund funds charities operating in the UK.
Does Shipwrights Charitable Fund accept unsolicited applications?
Shipwrights Charitable Fund 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 Shipwrights Charitable Fund?
Shipwrights Charitable Fund takes applications via email application. Published programme route: online application form.
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Could Shipwrights Charitable Fund be a fit?
Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.