Supporting recreational activities

The Weir Charitable Trust aims to support Scottish-based community groups and charities to provide services across Scotland to help the Scottish community including Culture, Health, Recreational activities.

In addition to our commitment to supporting education, care for older people and social enterprise, SMV has a tradition of supporting a broad range of local causes that benefit Greater Bristol. The fund is administered by the Charity Sub-Committee. The members of this committee meet four times a year, typically in January, April, July and October, to consider applications for funding. Grants awarded are usually between £500 and £5,000.

These areas are given priority

These areas are given priority:

Bentley’s Advancing Life Chances Small Grants Programme provides grants up to £500 to support charitable organisations working with vulnerable, disadvantaged or under-represented communities.

Application deadline: 7 October 2024, and quarterly thereafter

The programmes areas of focus are:

Access: Remove the barriers and improve access to services, education and employability.

Empowerment: Development of the life skills that enable people to be more self-confident, successful and thrive in life.

Grants for Good is funded by the John Good Group and is designed to direct funding only to small and growing local charities, voluntary groups or social enterprises that are making a big impact on communities, people or the environment. To be eligible, applicants must: Be a local community group, charity, voluntary group or social enterprise that has a positive impact on communities, people or the environment. The programme is unrestricted, and money can be used to cover any of the organisation’s costs, including running costs.

In recognition of their 50th anniversary, Local Solutions has launched a new £50,000 social impact fund to empower change and inclusivity across the Liverpool City Region.

The Community Empowerment Fund provides grants of up to £2,000 to increase opportunities for local individuals and voluntary groups to deliver services that make a difference in people’s lives.

Applications for small grants of up to £10,000 can be accepted at any time.

Applications for large grants of between £10,001 and £50,000 (£100,000 in exceptional circumstances) must be submitted by 5pm on the 20 March 2024.

Themes of the Fund - grants available up to £4000 (applicants must be based in Manchester).

See list of deadlines and decision dates.

Nobody knows what's best for our communities better than the communities themselves. We listen to their ideas and help where we can. Applications must meet at least one of the fund’s core themes. We’re happy to discuss whether your project fits our themes before application.

Interest-free loans are available to musicians at all stages for the purchase of musical instruments and equipment, to help ensure that more people across England and Northern Ireland can access instruments and learn to play music. 

The loans, which are made available through the Take it Away Scheme, work with 130 music retailers to allow applicants to buy almost any musical instrument and can also be used for musical equipment, software and tuition.