FUNDING AND DEVELOPMENT
Small Grants
*The Small Grants programme will close at the end of 2025*
Applications for awards of less than £5,000 received after December 24th 2025 will be considered in the same way as larger grants. Please see the main grants pages for further details and be in touch if you have any queries.
Each year the Trust awards around 13 smaller grants, each of up to £5k. Eligibility and priorities are the same as for larger grants (see below for details) but we often find that smaller amounts can be useful for one-off or pilot projects, or for very new organisations who are finding their feet. You can download an application form here. Please note, small grants are not made on a multi year basis, with £5k as a maximum one-off payment.
Applications for capital projects on general community use buildings do not fall within the core priority area of the Trust and we advise contacting the grants officer to discuss your project before applying.
Eligibility
We would encourage you to contact the team for an informal discussion before applying. Please ensure that you can answer YES to the following questions before submitting an application form:
- Is your organisation a registered charity or pursuing charitable objectives and operating in the interest of your community?
- Is your project based in Cumbria / Lancaster District?
- Is your project supporting the development and aspiration of children or young people who may be excluded from opportunities?
- Can you send us a copy of your most recent signed accounts?
Small grant applications are considered by Trustees on a rolling basis. They are assessed and considered approximately every two months.
