Whirlwind Charitable Trust
Could Whirlwind Charitable Trust fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.
- Typical grants
- £1,000 – £5,000
- Applications
- Accepted
- How to apply
- Online form
- Decisions
- Quarterly
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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whirlwind.org.ukAbout Whirlwind Charitable Trust
The Whirlwind Charitable Trust is a UK grant-making trust that supports registered charities working with children, young people, and disabled individuals. Established in 2007 by the Lister Charitable Trust and endowed by Noel and Sylvia Lister, the Trust is dedicated to enhancing life opportunities through challenging outdoor experiences. Its core values of self-reliance, teamwork, initiative, and ambition drive a distinctive approach focused on character-building adventures that foster confidence and resilience. The Trust funds project delivery in the areas of youth, disability, environment, and sport and recreation, with a particular emphasis on maritime or outdoor pursuits combined with longer-term mentoring and support.
What Whirlwind Charitable Trust funds
The Trust prioritises projects involving maritime or outdoor pursuits with a challenge element, such as sailing, outdoor adventures, and marine environmental education. They support initiatives that provide access for those who could not normally participate, with a strong volunteer component and a positive educational element, particularly around the environment. Beneficiaries include children, young people, and disabled individuals. The Trust looks for charities that can demonstrate high service efficiency, modest overheads, and a competitive cost per person per day. Grants are for single-year project delivery across the UK, with a focus on coastal areas.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities based and operating in the UK, preferably small to medium-sized organisations working directly with beneficiaries. The Trust prioritises charities that serve children, young people, and disabled individuals, particularly those who are disadvantaged or at risk. There are no religious restrictions on applicants. The Trust favours initiatives that offer longer-term contact, mentoring, and support, and that are open to participants of all races, religions, and genders.
What Whirlwind Charitable Trust doesn't fund
The Trust does not fund one-off events without a longer-term mentoring or relationship context. They also exclude activities that are not open to participants of all races, religions, and genders. Core costs are not supported, and the Trust will not make more than one donation to any charity in a given year.
How they like to fund
The Trust makes single-year grants for project delivery. They welcome unsolicited applications and have a rolling application process. The Trust favours initiatives with high volunteer help and modest overheads, and donations are focused on delivery costs.
How much does Whirlwind Charitable Trust give?
Whirlwind Charitable Trust runs one grant programme. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.
Last verified 8 August 2026 · 16 sourced facts
- Two-stage process
- Next deadline 1 October 2026
- 4 rounds a year
- Decisions in ~12 weeks
- Single-year grants
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 Whirlwind Charitable Trust funds — and what they won't
Maritime or outdoor pursuits with challenge; longer-term contact, mentoring and support; modest overheads and salaries; high volunteer help; donations focused on delivery; competitive day/person cost; access for those who could not normally participate; aim to give 'at risk' individuals a fresh focus; positive educational element particularly environment; high service efficiency.
The full exclusions list (3)
- One-off events without longer-term mentoring or relationship context
- Activities not open to participants of all races, religions, and gender
- More than one donation to any charity in a given year
Good to know
How to apply to Whirlwind Charitable Trust
Whirlwind Charitable Trust takes applications via online form.
- Published programme route: two-stage process.
- Decisions are typically quarterly.
- Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.
What Whirlwind Charitable Trust's application asks
We hold the 2 questions from Whirlwind Charitable Trust's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.
“Questionnaire about your organisation”
“Questionnaire about the project for which you seek funding”
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 Whirlwind Charitable Trust could be a fit. Draft if yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Whirlwind Charitable Trust provide?
Whirlwind Charitable Trust runs one grant programme — Standard Grants: £1,000 – £10,000.
Where does Whirlwind Charitable Trust fund charities?
Whirlwind Charitable Trust funds charities operating in the UK.
Does Whirlwind Charitable Trust accept unsolicited applications?
Whirlwind Charitable Trust accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.
What does Whirlwind Charitable Trust not fund?
Their published exclusions include: One-off events without longer-term mentoring or relationship context; Activities not open to participants of all races, religions, and gender; More than one donation to any charity in a given year. The full exclusions list is further up this page.
How do I apply for funding from Whirlwind Charitable Trust?
Whirlwind Charitable Trust takes applications via online form. Published programme route: two-stage process.
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Could Whirlwind Charitable Trust be a fit?
Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.