Variety the Children's Charity
Could Variety the Children's Charity fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.
- Typical grants
- Up to £5,000
- Applications
- Accepted
- How to apply
- Email application
- Decisions
- Bi monthly
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
Get a draft in 2 minutes · no card
variety.org.ukAbout Variety the Children's Charity
Variety the Children's Charity is a UK-wide grant-maker that provides practical equipment to sick, disabled, and disadvantaged children and young people. Established in 1949, the charity believes in direct, tangible support rather than cash grants, funding items that improve mobility, independence, and quality of life. The Trust funds specialist equipment for children and young people, including wheelchairs, communication aids, sensory items, and adapted beds. Grants are made to individuals, families, schools, hospitals, hospices, and small registered charities across the UK. They also offer Youth Club Grants for equipment and capital works, though uniformed groups and organisations affiliated to a national youth body are not eligible. Distinctively, Variety does not fund core costs, salaries, events, transport, or research. They do not provide trikes, bikes, or buggies. All grants are paid directly to suppliers, and the charity seeks sponsorship or funding to match each grant awarded.
What Variety the Children's Charity funds
Variety funds practical equipment for sick, disabled, and disadvantaged children and young people across the UK. This includes specialist items such as wheelchairs, communication aids, sensory equipment, and adapted beds. Through their Youth Club Grants programme, they also support equipment and capital works for youth clubs. All grants are paid directly to suppliers, and the charity seeks sponsorship or funding to match each grant awarded. The work must benefit children who are UK residents.
Who can apply
Applications can be made by parents, medical professionals, schools, hospitals, hospices, small registered charities, and non-profit making groups and organisations working with children and young people. All applicants must be permanent residents of the UK. Uniformed groups are not eligible for funding. Organisations applying for Youth Club Grants must be affiliated to a National Youth Organisation.
What Variety the Children's Charity doesn't fund
Variety does not fund core costs, salaries, events, transport, or research. They do not provide trikes, bikes, or buggies. Uniformed groups are excluded from all programmes. For Youth Club Grants, organisations not affiliated to a National Youth Organisation are ineligible.
How they like to fund
Variety provides one-off grants for equipment, paid directly to suppliers. They seek sponsorship or funding to match each grant awarded. Applications are unsolicited and welcome at any time of the year.
How much does Variety the Children's Charity give?
Variety the Children's Charity runs 3 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.
Last verified 8 August 2026 · 43 sourced facts
- Online application form
- 6 rounds a year
- Single-year grants
- Online application form
- Online application form
- 6 rounds a year
- Match funding required
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 Variety the Children's Charity funds — and what they won't
The full exclusions list (3)
- trikes, bikes or buggies
- Applications from organisations that are not affiliated to a National Youth Organisation
- Applications from uniformed organisations
Good to know
How to apply to Variety the Children's Charity
Variety the Children's Charity takes applications via email application.
- Published programme route: online application form.
- Decisions are typically bi monthly.
- Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.
What Variety the Children's Charity's application asks
We hold the 54 questions from Variety the Children's Charity's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.
“Name of organisation and/or branch”
“Tick as appropriate: Local Voluntary organisation, Statutory service, County, Regional, National, Self help group, Registered charity, Other”
52 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 Variety the Children's Charity could be a fit. Draft if yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Variety the Children's Charity provide?
Variety the Children's Charity runs 3 grant programmes — Youth Club Grants: £250 – £600.
Where does Variety the Children's Charity fund charities?
Variety the Children's Charity funds charities operating in UK.
Does Variety the Children's Charity accept unsolicited applications?
Variety the Children's Charity accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.
What does Variety the Children's Charity not fund?
Their published exclusions include: trikes, bikes or buggies; Applications from organisations that are not affiliated to a National Youth Organisation; Applications from uniformed organisations. The full exclusions list is further up this page.
How do I apply for funding from Variety the Children's Charity?
Variety the Children's Charity takes applications via email application. Published programme route: online application form.
Similar funders
Other UK funders with overlapping focus — not a claim they fund the same charities.
Browse related grants
Spotted something that needs correcting? Tell us.
Could Variety the Children's Charity be a fit?
Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.