Funding Opportunities & Resources

Background

The Kristina Martin Charitable Trust is a registered charity established by the parents of Kristina Martin following their daughter's death in 1965.

Objectives of Fund

The current funding round is for the following themes:

• Breaking the link between homelessness and poor mental health. Priority will be given to those applications that break this link and provide meaningful differences to those affected. This theme is open to UK-registered charities that provide support for housing accommodation for those who are currently homeless and ongoing support for the improvement of their mental health thereafter.
• Reduction in the effects of social media on mental health. This theme is for UK-registered charities that create significant pathways from online to physical community participation, for example, through volunteering, peer/influencer/educator, or paid work. The communities could operate in local, national, or international settings. There is particular interest in innovative approaches, from long-established or newly formed charities, where young people themselves may drive the charity.
• Reduction of Social Isolation – This theme is aimed at charities that own or operate a community hub which is used to improve social inclusion, reduce isolation, provide support services and activities that support mental health and loneliness within their community. Priority will be given to applications that demonstrate positive change to service users, engagement of a variety of volunteers, and are driven or supported by young people. Funds can be for a specific project or for core costs, but core costs must relate to a specific activity/service provided.
• Improving mental health outcomes for children and young people.This theme is for charities that have demonstrable experience improving mental health outcomes for children and young people through projects that:
  • Improve early identification of mental health concerns, thereby facilitating early intervention. This could include, but is not limited to, innovative screening (in line with the channels the service users are comfortable using) and the provision of training and resources for teachers, parents, and community support workers.
  • Improve the provision of resources, activities, and programs to support positive mental health experiences.

Value Notes

For this round, there is a total funding budget of £400,000, which will be divided as follows:

• A total of £100,000 is available for the breaking the link between homelessness and poor mental health theme. The level of the grant will be at the discretion of the trustees.
• A total of £100,000 is available for the reduction in the effects of social media on mental health theme. Four grants will be awarded, with a maximum grant of £50,000.
• A total of £100,000 is available for the reduction of social isolation theme. The level of the grant will be at the discretion of the trustees.
• A total of £100,000 is available for the improving mental health outcomes for children and young people theme. The level of the grant will be at the discretion of the trustees.

Who Can Apply

UK-registered charities can apply.

To be eligible, applicants must have:

• A written constitution, charitable aims, and impact in local, UK, or international settings.
• A minimum of three Trustees who are not related.
• A core focus on supporting mental health and well-being.

Previous Success

Examples of previously funded groups include:

• Campaign Against Living Miserably
• Child Bereavement Trust
• Combat Stress
• Place2Be
• Rethink Mental Illness
• Scotty’s Little Soldiers
• St Clare Hospice
• West Berks Food Bank
• Time to Talk West Berkshire
• The Compassionate Friends

Location

UK

How To Apply

This fund will open for applications on 24 October 2025 with a deadline on 12 December 2025.

Please note: The Trust received over 400 applications worth a total of £6.25 million compared with the £240,000 available for distribution in the last grant round.

Criteria and the application form can be found on the Trust’s website.

Documents & links

• The Kristina Martin Charitable Trust

Contacts

For further information on how to obtain this fund, please contact the following:

1. Enquiries
   Kristina Martin Charitable Trust
   Suite 7
   The Old Town Hall
   Market Place
   Newbury
   Berkshire
   RG14 5AA
   Tel: 01635953437
   Email: info@kmct.org.uk

Background

The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) runs the #iwill Fund to help support the aims of the #iwill movement.

All the funding for #iwill Fund 2025 - strand 2 comes from The National Lottery Community Fund. Previous strands were funded by both The National Lottery Community Fund and the UK Government Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Objectives of Fund

Organisations across England can apply for funding to either deliver youth social action projects directly or take on a funding role - supporting other eligible organisations to do the same.

This round of funding is especially focused on projects that bring new voices into the social action space - particularly those engaging young people for the first time, led and shaped by young people themselves, and actively challenging negative stereotypes about young people.

The funding is for work that will:

• Create opportunities for young people to take social action
• Help young people get involved, and stay involved as they grow up
• Reach young people who have not taken part in regular social action activities before
• Give young people a say in the work being done, and in running the organisation

The funded work must help achieve one of the NLCF missions:

• Bring people together and encourage social connections
• Help children or young people thrive
• Support of all ages to live healthier lives
• Support communities to be environmentally sustainable

Priority will be given to work that supports young people experiencing poverty, disadvantage or discrimination.

Value Notes

There is a total of £20 million in funding. NLCF expects to fund 15 to 20 organisations.

Grants of between £30,000 and £5 million are available and can support projects for up to four years.

Activities must be completed by 31 March 2030.

Match Funding Restrictions

Match funding is required. Unlike previous strands, there is no fixed amount and the NLCF is 'happy to discuss how much match funding is reasonable' for the applicant.

Match funding could be from other fundraising, or money the organisation already has. It could also include ‘in kind’ contributions, for example, donated equipment or people giving their time or expertise for free.

Who Can Apply

Applications will be accepted from the following types of organisations:

• Funders
• Not-for-profit companies
• Company and registered charities
• Charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs)
• Community interest companies (CICs)
• Schools (as long as their project benefits and involves the communities around the school)
• Public bodies (for example, local authorities, town, parish or community councils)
• Community benefit societies (registered with the Financial Conduct Authority)
• Co-operative societies (registered with the Financial Conduct Authority).

Organisations must have at least two board or committee members who are not related. Companies must have at least two directors who are not related.

Restrictions

The following are not eligible for funding:

• Unincorporated charities or community groups
• Individuals or sole traders
• Organisations based outside the UK
• Companies that can pay profits to directors, shareholders or members (including companies limited by shares)
• One organisation applying on behalf of another (unless they are applying together as a partnership)
• Organisations applying to more than one of our funds for the same work at the same time
• Retrospective costs.
• Alcohol.
• Contingency costs, loans, endowments or interest
• Buying or doing major development to land or buildings
• Paying someone else to write their application
• Fundraising activities (where NLCF funding is used to raise more money)
• VAT that can be reclaimed
• Religious activities (religious organisations may apply if their project benefits the wider community and does not include religious content)
• Statutory activities
• Activities that help children or young people with their schoolwork during school time
• Overseas travel
• Work taking place outside of the UK
• Activities that make profits for private gain
• Cash that will be given directly to individuals
• Political campaigning and lobbying.

Eligible Expenditure

The grants will support social action activities that:

• Are led by young people
• Are challenging enough to help develop young people’s skills and confidence
• Improve things they and their community care about
• Let young people try something new
• Help young people access other useful services and organisations
• Can be a regular and meaningful part of a young person’s life
• Encourage young people to reflect on what they have achieved.

The funding can be used for:

• Project delivery and running costs of the funded organisation
• Equipment
• One-off events
• Staff costs
• Training costs
• Transport
• Utilities
• Volunteer expenses
• Evaluation costs
• Minor refurbishments.

Location

England

How To Apply

Guidelines and the online application form can be found on the National Lottery Community Fund website.

The deadline for applications is 19 November 2025 (midday) with a decision in 26 weeks.

Contact the National Lottery Community Fund for further information.

Documents & links

• National Lottery Community Fund - #iwill Fund 2025 - strand 2

Contacts

For further information on how to obtain this fund, please contact the following:

1. Enquiries
   National Lottery Community Fund
   Apex House
   3 Embassy Drive
   Edgbaston
   Birmingham
   B15 1TR
   Tel: 03454 10 20 30
   Email: general.enquiries@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

Background

Arnold Clark, the UK’s largest independently owned, family-run car retailer, created the Arnold Clark Community Fund in 2021 to support communities in which it operates.

Objectives of Fund

The Arnold Clark Community Fund offers the following support:

• Cost of Living Support – funding to registered charities and community group that are within a 50-mile radius of an Arnold Clark branch and whose work directly supports those most affected by the cost-of-living crisis, such as foodbanks, accommodation, poverty relief and where people/communities in the UK are the primary and immediate focus of investment. Remains closed but expected to reopen in December 2025.
• Our Communities Support – funding to projects embedded in the communities in which Arnold Clark operates and is available to organisations who provide services widely accessible to those within Arnold Clark local communities, addressing the needs of those living within them. Open for applications.
• Gear Up for Sport – 150 sports kits given away each month to support youth sports teams across the UK. Any youth team with up to 30 members aged 4 to 15 years can apply. Remains closed but expected to open in November 2025.

Value Notes

Funding is at the discretion of Arnold Clark Community Fund.

The following one-off grants are available:

• Community grants up to £1,000.
• Cost of living grants up to £2,500

All payments will be made by BACS to a bank account in the organisation's name.

Who Can Apply

Applications will be accepted from:

• UK registered charities
• Local community groups
• Social enterprises
• Community interest companies (CICs)
• Groups of organisations that are community or voluntary led
• Charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs)

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Have people and communities in the UK as their primary focus of investment
• Be incorporated in the UK.
• Have a bank account in the organisation's name.

Registered charity applicants must provide their charity number, current bank statement and proof of address.

Applicants from unregistered charities and community groups will be required to provide a bank statement, letter of constitution and a letter from their local councillor/MSP/MP.

The Cost of Living Support particularly welcomes applications from smaller voluntary and community organisations who are working with those most affected and vulnerable to the increased cost of living.

Our Communities Support particularly welcome applications from smaller voluntary and community organisations who are working within Arnold Clark local communities.

Organisations must be based/operate solely in the UK and located within 50 miles of an Arnold Clark branch.

Restrictions

The following are not eligible for funding:

• Individuals
• Sole traders
• Professional sports teams
• Organisations operating outside the UK even if registered in the UK.
• Anyone applying on behalf of an organisation
• Organisations which generate profits for private distribution
• Schools, nurseries, colleges (unless this immediately impacts the wider community)
• Organisations that are asking for funding for private gain.
• Organisations that do not have a business bank account in their name.
• Religious activity (unless this immediately impacts the wider community)
• Projects that benefit an individual rather than the wider community.
• Animal welfare, though pet welfare costs will be considered.
• Political activities
• Grant-giving organisations.
• Travel applications (can only be accepted if this is for day trips in local community).
• Organisations applying to use the funding to pay for wages, loan repayments or to pay off debt.

Eligible Expenditure

The funding must be used for charitable or community purposes.

Projects applying for 'Our Communities Support' need to address one of the following categories:

• Pet welfare (to help cover costs for pet bills, animal shelters, therapy animals - reviewed on case by case basis.
• Arts and culture (music, books, art and theatre groups looking for money for transport, resources, venue hire, and special licences at arts and culture.
• Community enhancement (enhancing community, defib installation and replacements, play parks, community gardens, community galas and events).
• Disability (sensory group resources, equipment and adaptations, this could be from groups or hospitals, trips for disability groups).
• Educational training / advancement (extra resources for a PTA, school/education fayre/gala, uniform poverty. Extra curriculum resources).
• Sustainability enhancements / projects (community clean-ups, recycling programmes, urban gardening, eco-friendly initiatives).
• Mental health support (local support groups, networks end events that focus on mental wellbeing support).
• Relief support organisations (emergency service aid, cancer or illness support groups).
• Equality and diversity (programmes that promote equal access and opportunity, address discrimination and inequality and foster community cohesion).
• Youth clubs and groups, such as Brownies, Scouts, Guides, Sea Cadets, Cubs, amateur sports teams, dance groups and gymnastics (up to £750 for community trips, clubs costs materials, venue hire, transport).

Projects must have people/communities in the UK as the primary and immediate focus of investment.

Applications are also only eligible if they are made by an organisation that is based/operates solely in the UK and is located within 50 miles of an Arnold Clark branch.

Location

UK wide - within a 50-mile radius of an Arnold Clark branch

How To Apply

Applications are accepted during designated periods throughout the year. The Community Support Fund is currently open for applications.

Once open, it is recommended that groups apply as early as they can as applications could be paused due to high demand.

The criteria, faqs, terms and conditions, and application forms are available on the Arnold Clark website.

Contact the Arnold Clark Community Team for further information.

Documents & links

• Arnold Clark Community Fund

Contacts

For further information on how to obtain this fund, please contact the following:

1. Arnold Clark Community Team
   Arnold Clark
   Email: community.fund@arnoldclark.com