What We Give Grants For

Trusthouse gives grants for running costs or one-off capital costs to charities and not-for-profit organisations in accordance with criteria that are regularly reviewed and decided by the Trustees.

In July 2008, the Trustees reviewed its grants policy and decided to concentrate on projects addressing Rural Issues and Urban Deprivation.

Rural Issues: we accept applications from organisations which are addressing issues in rural areas. ‘Rural’ in this context means cities, towns, villages and areas with 10,000 or less inhabitants. We are interested in, for example, projects providing transport for the elderly, disabled or disadvantaged; contact networks for the young disabled; projects which encourage a sense of community such as community centres and village halls; employment training schemes especially those promoting local, traditional crafts; projects addressing issues such as drug/alcohol misuse or homelessness.

Urban Deprivation: we will accept applications from local or national charities or not-for-profit organisations which are working with residents of urban areas (i.e. more than 10,000 inhabitants) which are classified in the latest government Indices of Multiple Deprivation as being in the lowest 20%. We are interested in, for example, youth clubs; training schemes to help people out of unemployment; drop in centres for the homeless.

Applicants must clearly show in their appeal how their project fits into one or both of these categories.

Within these overarching themes, we are interested in three areas:

Community Support	Community: the support of carers; projects in deprived communities; projects addressing financial exclusion; the provision of sporting facilities or equipment in deprived areas; Drugs and Alcohol: rehabilitation of substance and alcohol mis-users; Elderly: projects addressing isolation and loneliness (e.g. befriending schemes); domiciliary support (e.g. respite for carers), residential improvements/ adaptations; Ex-offenders: projects working with prisoners and ex-offenders to improve their life skills and reduce re-offending; Young People: projects which build the confidence, life skills and employment skills of young people in need.
Disability and Healthcare	Physical and Mental Disability: projects involving rehabilitation, (including related arts and sport programmes); projects particularly for ex-service men and women (including former employees of the emergency services); projects for children (including holidays); and respite care; Palliative Care: the provision of domiciliary care; support for volunteers and carers; outreach services; the refurbishment of premises; the provision of equipment (excluding in all cases services or costs which are normally funded from statutory sources); Medicine: special equipment (not available on the NHS) for the chronically or terminally ill at home. (Medical research projects are ineligble).
Arts, Education and Heritage	Arts: projects which enable the disabled and people living in areas of need and poverty to participate in the performance arts and to experience artistic excellence in the performing arts; projects which encourage and give opportunities to young talented people whose circumstances might otherwise deny them (but not bursaries or fees); Education: projects which help children at risk of exclusion or with exceptionally challenging behaviour to realise their educational potential; projects which encourage and give opportunities to young talented people whose circumstances might otherwise deny them access to further/higher education; Heritage: smaller heritage projects, with a particular interest in industrial and maritime projects in areas of deprivation, which provide employment and/or volunteering opportunities for the local community and contribute to the regeneration of the area.

These are examples of the types of projects in which we are interested; please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss your project in more detail.

Please see the Types of Grant page for the next step in your application.

See also the separate pages on grants for Hospices, Overseas Grants and the Themed Grants Programme.