Mind & Body
Our list of funders covering physical and mental health, disability and support for older people
As with any charitable project, it’s worth considering the funders that will fund a wide variety of projects.
This page is updated annually. Spotted an error? Please let us know.
Funds Covering Multiple Health-related Issues
Cambridgeshire County Council: Innovate and Cultivate
Cultivate grants of £2,000 to £19,0000 and Innovate grants up to £50,000 are available for a range of Cambridgeshire-based projects including support for adults with learning/physical disabilities, sensory impairments and mental health needs. Successful projects must show that they will reduce pressure on council services and/or offer direct savings for the council. UPDATED: the application schedule is currently on hold due to COVID-19. Please contact Cambridgeshire Community Foundation for the latest information.
The Evelyn Trust
This Trust offers grants for Cambridgeshire-based projects that promote health and well-being. The Small Grants Programme ranges from £4,000 to £10,000, while its Health and Wellbeing Grants from £10,000 to £250,000. Suitable projects include assisting working-age adults with long-term conditions, and enabling older people to receive help and support in the community.
YAPP Charitable Trust
Grants up to £3,000 per year (for up to 3 years) for registered charities with an annual turnover under £40,000, to deliver projects working with elderly people, people with disabilities or mental health problems or various other criteria.
Barchester’s Charitable Foundation
Grants from £100 to £5,000 for individuals, small community groups and small local charities supporting people aged 65+ and adults (18+) with a physical disability or mental health problems. Applications that combat loneliness and enable people to be active and engaged will receive the highest priority in 2019.
Percy Bilton Charity
Grants up to £5,000 for UK registered charities whose primary objectives are to assist people with disabilities (physical or learning) or mental health problems, older people (60+) and/or disadvantaged young people (under 25 years).
The February Foundation
Grants for UK registered charities for a range of projects including relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health,disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage. The median award is £5,000.
Mental Health
Coronavirus Mental Health Response Fund – CURRENTLY PAUSED
The central government fund to support mental health voluntary and community sector organisations in England has been temporarily closed due to the high number of applications already received. The £5m fund, administered by Mind, offers grants small,large and nationwide grants up to £20,000, £50,000 and £100,000 respectively. We’ll bring you more information on this fund when we receive it.
Comic Relief Community Fund
Grants of up to £4,000 for project delivery or £500 for capacity building, for projects in line with Comic Relief’s four main themes, including “Mental Health Matters: Projects that support good mental health in communities, improve access to support and tackle stigma and discrimination.” Grants are available to non-statutory, non-profit organisations with an annual income under £250,000.
National Survivor User Network (NSUN) – COVID-19 Fund
Grants of up to £1,000 (£2,000 in some instances) for user-led organisations and informal groups – including mutual support groups – for activities that will make a direct difference to the lives of people living with mental ill-health, trauma and distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible costs include DBS checks, Zoom subscriptions, IT equipment,website creation, training, petrol and printing.
Lloyds Bank Foundation
Mental Health is one of 11 themes identified by this fund, which offers grants of up to £100,000 over three years to registered charities with an annual income between £25,000 and £1m. This fund is currently on hold pending a review in light of COVID-19 – please click here for more information.
Older People
Independent Age Grants Fund
This new fund offers grants of £5,000 to £15,000 for registered charities who are supporting older people who are either in complex and challenging situations or in danger of being out of sight and out of mind. Eligible charities must have at least one member of staff and an annual income of £1m or more. Four rounds have been announced, with deadlines on 4 June, 2 July, 21 August and 18 September. Decisions are given two weeks from the deadlines.
Charles Hayward Foundation
Older People is one the themes for this Foundation, which offers grants up to £7,000. Applicants must have an annual income less than £350,000. Eligible projects include:
- Programmes aiming to alleviate isolation and depression in older people, including informal day care or social, physical and recreational activities
- Programmes which mainly use volunteers to give practical help, assistance and support for older people living in their own homes
- Programmes addressing the emotional and practical needs of older carers
- Programmes designed to meet the specific needs of people with dementia
W.G. Edwards Charitable Foundation
Grants (typically between £1,000 and £3,000) for registered charities providing care for older people in the UK.
Physical Disabilities, Learning Difficulties and Long-Term Illness
Disabled Facilities Grants
Government grants of up to £36,000 are available for adaptation works to disabled people’s homes.
True Colours Trust
Grants up to £10,000 for charitable organisations that are working to make a difference to the lives of disabled children and their families in the UK.
Variety Club – Equipment Grants
Grants up to £6,000 for specialist equipment for the direct use of children (up to 18) who are sick, disabled or disadvantaged and are resident in the UK.
Family Fund Trust
Grants to help families, or groups applying on their behalf, who are raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person aged 17 years or younger.
Happy Days
Funding for day trips, family respite breaks and group activity holidays for families with children aged 3-17 who are disabled, have a special need or have been abused.
Birkdale Trust for Hearing Impaired
This charity provides financial support to children and young people (up to mid-20s) who have a hearing impairment and to organisations who provide help to them.
Ulverscroft Foundation
Grants for organisations which help visually impaired people.
The Boshier-Hinton Foundation
Grants up to £2,000 are available to charitable organisations to improve quality of life for people with disabilities, learning difficulties or sensory impairment and their families.
Lionel Wigram Memorial Trust
Grants from £400 to £3,000 for charities that are providing services for blind, deaf and disabled people.
CLA Charitable Trust
Grants for charities and community organisations that help those who are disabled or disadvantaged benefit from access to the countryside, and to take part in educational activities that they would not have otherwise been able to enjoy.
Edward Gostling Foundation
Grants to charities that support people of all ages living on low incomes who have a physical and/or mental disability or long-term illness.
Baily Thomas Charitable Fund
Small Grants from £250 up to £10,000 and General Grants over £10,000 to help those affected by learning disability and those conducting research into it.
James Tudor Foundation
Key themes for this Foundation include palliative care, health education and the relief of sickness.
Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust
This trust’s Ann Rylands Small Donations Programme offers grants of up to £1,500 to charities that support sick and disadvantaged people.
The Caron Keating Foundation
Grants up to £25,000 for registered charities that support professional carers, complementary healing practitioners and support groups dealing with cancer patients, as well as individuals and families (through these charities) who are affected by the disease
This page is updated annually. Spotted an error? Please let us know.
