Grants & Funding Directory & Advice

If you are looking for funding for your creative project, practice or business then why not look at our funding directory with many national and local grant funding organisations.

Funding Search Tips & Advice

If you find a funding agency but not ready to apply for funding the best advice is to always sign up to their email newsletter. That way you can stay informed when funding programmes are launched.

Most grants have some criteria so be sure to check that you are eligible to apply, and if you are looking for ideas always visit the ‘who we have funded’ sections of the website. This also gives you a flavour of what the funders will be looking for in your application.

You’ll also find few grants for individuals so it’s always good to have partners in mind as they could lead on a funding application, but you are still one of the recipients.

It’s Hard Sometimes To Get Funding When:

• You are not a constituted organisation
• No history of doing what you propose to do
• Have no partners for the project you propose
• Not having some kind of match funding (some funders will only fund a percentage of your proposal)
• Not having some form of in-kind contribution (services offered for free but have a financial value e.g. a web designer makes a website for you which normally costs £3000 but they are doing it for you for £2000, which means they are providing £1000 in-kind contribution).

Criteria, Guidelines And Timing Are Important:

• Always check theme or objective of the funding
• Review guidelines and FAQ’s where possible
• Make a note of deadlines for the grant application to be in
• Prepare for timelines the funders use in making decisions

Letters Of Support

Getting business or community partners involved in your proposal or obtaining in-kind or cash contributions is great but sometimes you may need to evidence this. Often provided in a ‘letter of support’.

Letters of support are used by assessing officers to back up information that you’ve included in your application and demonstrate that you have had a conversation with that group/organisation.

So for example, if you tell a funder that you plan to deliver a workshop with a school, it would strengthen your application if you include a letter of support from that school. These letters should try and work for you as much as possible: instead of the supporter saying ‘I support this project’ it is important that they give details about how they plan to support you. In the case of school support, this could include details of the class year the workshop will engage with and key stage/subject(s) that your project focus will tie into, as well as any pre-arranged dates that have been discussed for the activity to take place.

We would also advise that any letters include cash costs that the organisation will incur, or in-kind contributions they might make. Some funders may then cross-reference that information with details included in your budget.

Tips On Writing

Writing an application can take a while and competition is always high so getting plenty of practice is key to successful grant applications.

You’ll also notice that some applications ask for the same information so once you have written one application you’ll probably use parts of it for another.

• Write in clear simple English – avoid jargon.
• Make sure the application is fact based (i.e. rather than ‘many people will benefit’ say that ’30 children between 8 and 10 years of age will learn an instrument over 6 weeks’).
• Do it in stages and phases. It makes sense in the long term to build relationships with a number of funding streams (trusts and foundations, business sponsors, Local Authorities etc.) to ensure long term stability and this makes your application more attractive. You will probably not get, for example, £300,000 over 24 months if you are a start up with no track record or you have no other funders.
• Don’t try to fit a square peg into a round hole – if you genuinely don’t fit with one of the funder’s priorities there is no point trying to pretend that you do.
• Ensure that you’ve explained the who (you are seeking to assist), what (specifically you are proposing to do), why (you think it will work), when and where – keep it simple and keep it factual and back everything up with figures and names. Write in specific terms rather than generalities – especially regarding track record and outcomes.
• Ask someone who doesn’t know the project or your organisation to read the application before you submit it – if they can understand what you are proposing, it should be easy for the grant assessor to understand the proposal.
• Always show partnerships.
• Take a look at the grants made previously.
• Tell them why you are unique and remember if the services/project are commonplace throughout the country you will need to show how what you do is distinctive.
• Track record is fundamentally important, so do tell about yours.

Lastly – get experience in working with others on creative projects. Invent, create and apply.

Summary

Now that you have prepared your funding and grants mindset it’s time to search for funding. Be sure to come back soon as we add more links on an on-going basis.

Grants & Funding Link Directory

Where we list ‘Mixed Funding’ this means organisations that fund all forms such as art, music, health, environment, community projects, etc. Please also note that links may change overtime and some may not work but was correct at time of publishing.

MIXED FUNDING

Asia-Europe Foundation – Go international with your artistic practice – great website for grants and other opportunities. https://culture360.asef.org/opportunities/all

Awards for All – National Lottery funds for up to £10,000 for any project. Tip: use the ‘search past grants’ to get ideas on what you could do. https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/funding/Awards-For-All

The Baring Foundation – Variety of programmes and most overseas but also an org that funds UK programmes. Worth a visit. http://www.baringfoundation.org.uk

British Council – The arts area of the council’s work is varied, and it is advised to browse other areas of their website. https://www.britishcouncil.org/arts/opportunities

Creative Europe – Quite in-depth EU funded support and covers art, music, film and more. http://www.creativeeuropeuk.eu/funding-opportunities

Esmee Fairbairn – One of the largest independent grant-makers in the UK covering the arts and more. https://esmeefairbairn.org.uk/

Department for International Trade (DIT) – Always worth a visit as calls come from all sorts of countries and sometimes arts and culture related, and a great way to expand your network. https://opportunities.export.great.gov.uk/

Funding Central – A fantastic resource for all types of funding and a great way to save your searches and set goals for your funding choices. http://www.fundingcentral.org.uk/

Garfield Weston Foundation – Supports a wide range of organisations across the country including theatres, arts, welfare, and many more themes. https://garfieldweston.org/

Lloyds Bank Foundation – The Lloyds Community Programme provides support to underfunded charities (12 months reserves or less) working to tackle disadvantage. https://www.lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk/

Nesta – Occasional grants/loans for the arts plus other creative industries subjects. http://www.nesta.org.uk/get-funding

ARTS

Arts Council England – Supporting creative writing, poetry, music, arts, creative development, projects and more. https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding

Arts & Health South West – An information, support and advocacy organisation for everyone who believes in the value of creativity in enhancing health and wellbeing plus funding opportunities and calls. https://www.ahsw.org.uk/

Artquest – Find calls, funding, contracts and more for your artistic practice plus a useful email newsletter to subscribe to. – https://www.artquest.org.uk/opportunities/

Ashley Family Foundation – Grants up to £10k are available for projects that fit with the family ethos of protecting rural communities and encouraging participation in the arts, particularly that of textiles, in England and Wales. https://ashleyfamilyfoundation.org.uk/funding/

Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust – This isn’t suitable for this 2019 but 2020 is music and arts so signup to their newsletter or bookmark. https://austin-hope-pilkington.org.uk/what-we-fund/

Clore Duffield Foundation – Main Grants Programme – The Foundation is a grant-making charity which concentrates its support on cultural learning, creating learning spaces within arts and heritage organisations, leadership training for the cultural and social sectors, social care, and enhancing Jewish life, but your project does not need to Jewish orientated. They also don’t mind match funding lottery projects. https://www.cloreduffield.org.uk/main-grants

Doyle Carte Charitable Foundation – In the fields of the advancement of the arts, health and medical welfare and environmental protection or improvement. http://www.doylycartecharitabletrust.org/

Ernest Cook Trust – Grants are available for UK-based educational projects in the fields of the countryside and the environment, the arts (in the broadest sense). http://ernestcooktrust.org.uk/grants/

Esmee Fairbairn – One of the largest independent grant-makers in the UK covering the arts and more. https://esmeefairbairn.org.uk/

Elephant Trust – Offers grant to artists in the visual arts, small organisations and galleries throughout the UK. http://www.elephanttrust.org.uk

Foyle Foundation – Seeks applications that make a strong artistic case for support in either the performing or visual arts. http://www.foylefoundation.org.uk

Fidelio Charitable Trust – Grant funding to help individuals (over school age) and organisations of exceptional ability in the UK that would not otherwise be able to carry out an artistic project or activity without financial support. http://www.fideliocharitabletrust.org.uk/

Golsoncott Foundation – Grants are available to voluntary sector organisations in the UK for projects that promote fine arts and music. http://www.golsoncott.org.uk/about-us.html

Henry Moore Foundation – Supports exhibitions, exhibition catalogues, commissions, conferences, research, post-doctoral research fellowships, publications, and the development of collections through acquisitions, conservation, cataloguing and display. https://www.henry-moore.org/grants/grants-programme

Idlewild Trust – Grants are available to registered charities for arts and conservation projects in the UK. http://www.idlewildtrust.org.uk/

Jerwood Charitable Foundation – Large and Small Grants – Funding of the arts across the UK, with a particular focus on supporting emerging talent and excellence. http://www.jerwoodcharitablefoundation.org/

Nesta – Occasional grants/loans for the arts plus other creative industries subjects. http://www.nesta.org.uk/get-funding

Paul Hamlyn Foundation – A range of grants from one of the biggest grant making orgs in the UK. http://www.phf.org.uk/our-work-in-the-uk/

Public Art Online – No funding as such but great resource if you are working on a public art project e.g. outside, hospital etc. http://www.publicartonline.org.uk

The Radcliffe Trust – One of Britain’s oldest charities, founded in 1714 by the will of Dr John Radcliffe. Today, The Radcliffe Trust continues his charitable bequest through the support of Music and Heritage & Crafts. https://theradcliffetrust.org/

STEP Beyond Travel – With your international connections you may consider a cross-border project. http://www.culturalfoundation.eu/grants-exchange/

The Baring Foundation – Variety of programmes and most overseas but also an org that funds UK programmes. Worth a visit. http://www.baringfoundation.org.uk

The Finnis Scott Foundation – Grants are available for UK registered charities working in the areas of horticulture and plant sciences, as well as art and art history. https://www.finnis-scott-foundation.org.uk/

Visual Arts South West – Visual Arts South West is a network creating opportunities for artists, organisations and professionals to develop their practice, share ideas, knowledge etc. http://www.vasw.org.uk/

Wellcome Trust – A wellbeing and science-based org that looks for arts and creative ideas to enegage public. https://wellcome.ac.uk/

FILM, TECH & GAMING

British Film Institute – Funds for film making and distribution. http://www.bfi.org.uk/supporting-uk-film/funding-filmmakers

Creative Europe – Quite in-depth EU funded support and covers art, music, film and more. http://www.creativeeuropeuk.eu/funding-opportunities

Creative England – Accelerates talent and ideas across tech, games, film and TV. http://www.creativeengland.co.uk/

Screenskills – Investing in skills driving the success of UK film, TV, VFX, animation and games. https://www.screenskills.com/

This Is Loop – A fund for film and lots of others funding opportunities if you sign up. http://www.thisisloop.com/

MUSIC

Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation – Grants over £1 million to support aspiring actors, vital music education and training in heritage crafts. http://andrewlloydwebberfoundation.com/

Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust – This isn’t suitable for this 2019 but 2020, which is only 18 months away is music and arts so signup to their newsletter or bookmark. https://austin-hope-pilkington.org.uk/what-we-fund/

Golsoncott Foundation – Grants are available to voluntary sector organisations in the UK for projects that promote fine arts and music. http://www.golsoncott.org.uk/about-us.html

PRS Foundation – At PRS Foundation they have many initiatives that provide financial support for the creation, performance, and/or promotion of outstanding music. https://prsfoundation.com

British Council Music – Develop and support music work in a variety of ways including: residencies for British musicians, performance opportunities overseas, events that bring musicians of different cultures together to create new work, and much more. http://music.britishcouncil.org/resources/uk-music-funding-and-support

Help Musicians UK – Great music grant schemes and other forms of support for musicians. https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/creative-programme/current-opportunities

Music for All – Grants for individuals and community projects that are music based. https://musicforall.org.uk/

The Radcliffe Trust – One of Britain’s oldest charities, founded in 1714 by the will of Dr John Radcliffe. Today, The Radcliffe Trust continues his charitable bequest through the support of Music and Heritage & Crafts. https://theradcliffetrust.org/

The Richard Ely Trust for Young Musicians – To promote improve develop and advance education in and the appreciation of music in all its aspects for young people under the age of 21 resident in or educated within Bournemouth Poole and the Dorset area. http://www.therichardelytrust.org.uk/

Youth Music – Music-making projects for children and young people. https://network.youthmusic.org.uk/i-need-funding

THEATRE

Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation – Grants over £1 million to support aspiring actors, vital music education and training in heritage crafts. http://andrewlloydwebberfoundation.com/

Garrick Trust – The Garrick Trust aims to encourage theatre by focussing on helping professional organisations in need of financial support. They have a particular interest in helping actors, directors, writers, musicians, composers and choreographers in the early stages of their careers. http://www.garrickclub.co.uk/charitable_trust

Mercers Company – Mercers Company Provides grants to UK registered charities to promote the arts with a focus on supporting young professional performers at the start of their careers. http://www.mercers.co.uk/heritage-and-arts

The John Fernald Award – The Award focuses specifically on providing opportunities for trainee assistant theatre directors. http://www.equitycharitabletrust.org.uk/other-grants/john-fernald-award/

The Noel Coward Foundation – The Foundation provides funding primarily for the education of students in the arts of drama and the theatre. https://www.noelcoward.org/

Theatres Trust – The national advisory public body for theatres. If you are looking to build a new theatre, are an existing theatre in need of advice or funding or are working to bring a theatre back to life we have expert advice and resources to help. http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk

Stage One – Theatre and producer’s start-up fund and more. http://stageone.uk.com/

The Garfield Weston Foundation – The Garfield Weston Foundation supports a wide range of organisations across the country including theatres by providing grants for ‘capital projects to improve the visitor experience.’ The Foundation supports small community theatre groups and those organisations that engage with a variety of audience. https://garfieldweston.org/

HERITAGE & ENVIRONMENT

Doyle Carte Charitable Foundation – In the fields of the advancement of the arts, health and medical welfare and environmental protection or improvement. http://www.doylycartecharitabletrust.org/

Clore Duffield Foundation – Main Grants Programme – The Foundation is a grant-making charity which concentrates its support on cultural learning, creating learning spaces within arts and heritage organisations, leadership training for the cultural and social sectors, social care, and enhancing Jewish life, but your project does not need to Jewish orientated. They also don’t mind match funding lottery projects. https://www.cloreduffield.org.uk/main-grants

Ernest Cook Trust – Grants are available for UK-based educational projects in the fields of the countryside and the environment, the arts (in the broadest sense). http://ernestcooktrust.org.uk/grants/

Esmee Fairbairn Foundation – Main Grants – Grants are available to organisations doing legally charitable work in the UK that focuses on the Foundation’s funding priorities in the arts, children and young people, the environment, food or social change. https://esmeefairbairn.org.uk/

Heritage Lottery Fund – Mixed grant programmes for buildings, heritage and community projects. http://www.hlf.org.uk/

Idlewild Trust – Grants are available to registered charities for arts and conservation projects in the UK. http://www.idlewildtrust.org.uk/

Princes Trust – Grants of up to £50,000 available for projects that will provide a long-term positive impact to the individuals and communities they seek to benefit. http://www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk/grant-giving-programme/grant-programme

Rural Services Network – A great resource with loads of grants that can be useful for all sorts of projects and business. https://www.rsnonline.org.uk/tag/funding

The Finnis Scott Foundation – Grants are available for UK registered charities working in the areas of horticulture and plant sciences, as well as art and art history. https://www.finnis-scott-foundation.org.uk/

BUSINESS

AirBnB Community Tourism Programme – Airbnb is proud to have launched the Community Tourism Programme with up to €5 million in funding for investments in innovative, community-based tourism projects across Europe. https://www.airbnbcitizen.com/community-tourism-programme-criteria/

Gov Business Finance Search – Database of advice, workshops, loans and grant services for start-up and trading businesses. https://www.gov.uk/business-finance-support

Innovate UK – Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government. It offers grants in many business areas. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/innovate-uk

Heart of the South West Growth Hub – A mixture of social enterprise and private business investment and grants a long with the odd call for other funding opportunities.
https://www.heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk/start-grow-business/funding-grants/

School for Social Entrepreneurs – This programme helps the leaders of community businesses in England. It focuses on growing income from trading, to improve impact and sustainability. https://www.the-sse.org/courses/community-business/

Somerset Chamber – A web page with links to local funding streams. Always worth a check even though the links do not provide results sometimes. https://www.somerset-chamber.co.uk/business-support/grants-funding/

Somerset Social Enterprise Fund (SSEF) – A locally managed social investment fund designed to help voluntary, charity and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in Somerset start new initiatives or grow successful ones to become more financially sustainable.
https://www.somersetcf.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/Somerset-Social-Enterprise-Fund

Somerset Business Agency – A range of links to grants for all sorts of things. From social enterprise to investment. A worthy resource for any serious researcher for finding that funding mix.
http://www.somersetbusinessagency.org/access-to-finance

Somerset & Devon LEP – Always regularly check for new schemes. https://heartofswlep.co.uk/?s=funding

SOMERSET

Exmoor National Park – A range of funding for all sorts of projects including community-based projects.
http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/living-and-working/grants-and-funding

Hinkley Point C Community Fund – Grants may be designed to remove or reduce impact and improve the social, economic or environmental wellbeing of communities and improve quality of life. A project could also help your community to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the Hinkley Point C development.
https://www.hpcfunds.co.uk/

Somerset Community Foundation – Somerset Community Foundation has been inspiring community philanthropy since 2002. They currently manage over 84 funds for individuals, companies, trusts and public bodies.
https://www.somersetcf.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant

Town Councils – Did you know there are more than 260 town and parish councils across Somerset and most town councils may have small grant schemes. We cannot provide a list of all town councils but this link will help you find yours.
https://tinyurl.com/y6e4w6qy

OTHER

Commonwealth Foundation – Some calls that are worth watching out for and you can be creative in your approach. https://commonwealthfoundation.com/grants/

People’s Postcode Lottery – The Dream Fund gives organisations the chance to deliver the project they have always dreamed of, but never had the opportunity to bring to life. http://www.postcodedreamtrust.org.uk/dream-fund

Postcode Community Trust Grant – Postcode Community Trust provides funding for projects in Great Britain relating to improving health and wellbeing, arts and physical recreation and reducing isolation.
http://www.postcodecommunitytrust.org.uk/

Barrow Cadbury Trust – The Trust has three programmes – criminal justice, migration, and economic justice, as well as a social investment programme. https://www.barrowcadbury.org.uk/what-we-do/programmes/

Froebelian Trust – Grants are available for registered charities to support the application of Froebelian principles in new ways and environments in order to support children to play expressively and creatively. https://www.froebel.org.uk

Let’s Colour – Dulux believe in using the power of colour and resources to help transform lives by uplifting communities and making living spaces more fun, liveable and enjoyable. Free paint. http://www.letscolour.co.uk

Tesco Bags – All one needs to do is conceptualise a project, apply, wait for decision and if they go ahead you get £1k at least or maximum £4k. May be think about an art event or something. https://www.groundwork.org.uk/Sites/tescocommunityscheme/pages/Category/boh-grant-for-project-tes

Asda Foundation – They have several grants so you’ll need to check each one to see if any are suitable. https://www.asdafoundation.org/what-we-fund

STEP Beyond Travel – With your international connections you may consider a cross-border project. http://www.culturalfoundation.eu/grants-exchange/

Trusthouse Charitable Foundation – A medium-sized grant making foundation giving grants to small, well-established organisations in the UK who address local issues in areas of extreme urban deprivation, or in remote and fragile rural communities. http://www.trusthousecharitablefoundation.org.uk