Supporting recreational activities

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. 

UK charities and community groups can apply for grants of up to £1,000 to run activities for older people over the Christmas period.
The funding is made available through the McCarthy Stone Foundation Christmas Connections 2023 grants programme, which aims to helps people over 65 to feel connected and supported over the festive period.

The grant can be used for a variety of activities such as:

Small not-for-profit organisations and community groups with charitable aims can apply for grants of between £500 and £5,000 to deliver activities, projects and services that strengthen communities experiencing inequalities and disadvantage, or improve the lives of local people who face difficulties and have limited access to appropriate or affordable services and support. This can be geographic communities and/or communities of people brought together by race or ethnicity, age, disability, gender, or sexual orientation.

Charities, community groups and social enterprises that can demonstrate that their aims have identifiable public benefit in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and County Durham including Hartlepool can apply for funding to the Sir James Knott Trust.  Special consideration will be given to charitable activities that are known to have been of interest to Sir James Knott including: 

The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust funds United Kingdom Registered Charities operating in the UK in the fields of the advancement of the arts, health and medical welfare and environmental protection or improvement.

The Trustees will consider applications for core costs or projects and are very conscious of the work involved in applying for a grant and encourage charities to consider whether their work aligns with the Trust’s priorities for the next three years before submitting an application.

The aim of this programme is to support individuals and organisations who have experienced barriers to accessing our funding. Creative Steps aims to address this by supporting artists, creatives, and organisations throughout their developmental journey.

You’ll find full details on the programme in the Guidelines.

There are Creative Steps programmes for Individuals and Organisations.

Tasgadh is designed to provide support for traditional artists and organisations to create, perform, tour and showcase work. The fund can also support professional development and learning projects. Tasgadh cannot support the purchase of equipment nor can the fund be used to match other Creative Scotland funds.

Each applicant may apply for an award of between £250 and £1,000.

Online applications for charities whose annual turnover is less than £150,000.

Small Grants Scheme (£2000 -10,000) supporting charities registered and operating in the United Kingdom, especially those working at grass roots and local community level, in any field, across a wide range of activities.

The Sir George Dyson Trust was established in 1988 to advance the understanding and appreciation of music by the composer and former Director of the Royal College of Music, Sir George Dyson (1883-1964).

The Trust offers financial awards based solely on the merit of the application and, in addition to performance-based projects, encourages the academic study of Dyson's manuscripts, writings, scores, drafts and memoranda.

Recent projects supported by the Trust include critically acclaimed recordings, performances, choral workshops, and study days.