Thistle Trust

The Thistle Trust is an independent UK grant-making charity, established in 2002 as a company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales (charity number 1091327). Its core mission is to advance the arts and arts education by increasing access for young people from all backgrounds, fostering personal development, cultural enrichment, and public benefit. Guided by values of inclusivity, equal access, and high-impact opportunity, the Trust supports study, research, lectures, courses, exhibitions, scholarships, and bursaries across visual arts, music, drama, and cross-disciplinary creative practice, with a focus on projects that promote participation and education among youth while benefiting the wider public.

It prioritises small grants for UK-registered charities delivering arts workshops, youth outreach, education partnerships, and exhibitions that catalyse inclusion and enjoyment. Beneficiaries are primarily young people facing barriers, though initiatives with broader public impact align well.

Eligible applicants must be UK-registered charities operating anywhere in the UK, with a preference for small to medium-sized organisations (typically under £1m annual income) and grassroots groups; no religious restrictions apply. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—interested parties must make an initial phone enquiry for trustee consideration. Grants are modest, ranging from £1,000 to £3,000, primarily for projects (core costs possible if project-linked), awarded adhoc by a board of five trustees with no fixed deadlines or rounds.

Distinctive for its unwavering niche focus on modest, catalytic arts access funding, the Trust avoids capital, unrestricted, or non-arts support, standing out as a reliable partner for charities enhancing youth arts participation nationwide.