Closing date 20/08/2025

Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations within the UK who are supporting young people aged 14 to 25 with experience of the care system, or are LGBT+ or have a learning disability/neurodivergence.

The funding is for organisations that support young people aged 14 to 25 through independent, person-led advocacy. It focuses on helping young people make informed choices, speak up, and secure their rights.

The funding is for organisations whose work supports at least one of the following:

Care-experienced young people – this includes those who have been in foster care, residential care, kinship care, or have left care.
LGBT+ young people – supporting young people across the full spectrum of LGBT+ identities. Applicants must be working work inclusively and affirming the rights, identities, and lived experiences of all LGBT+ people.
Young people with a learning disability and/or neurodivergence – organisations that offer support without requiring a diagnosis and take an inclusive approach.

There is particular interest in projects in Northern Ireland, Wales and rural communities.

Grants of up to £60,000 per year for up to four years are available (a total of £240,000).

It is expected that 20 grants will be made.

Accessibility support grants are also available to help cover costs such as BSL interpreters, scribes, translation services, assistive technology, or support workers:

£250 at the Expression of Interest stage
£500 at the Full Application stage (if invited).

Applications will be accepted from formally registered, not-for-profit organisations with a charitable purpose (eg, registered charity, CIO, CIC, community benefit society).

To be eligible, applicants must:

Be based in the United Kingdom, and ensure the work they are applying for supports people living in the UK.
Have an annual income of £5 million or less, as shown in their most recent published accounts. There is no lower limit. Applications are welcome from smaller organisations.
Have audited or independently inspected published annual accounts.
Be supporting young people to speak up, make choices, and secure their rights.

The Foundation prefers to make flexible grants to support an organisation's infrastructure in order to help them deliver strong, sustainable advocacy. This might include core costs, including rent, utilities, and staff salaries, as well as costs associated with staff wellbeing.

The guidelines, faqs, and online application can be found on the Henry Smith Foundation.

To start the application process, groups need to complete a short eligibility quiz on the Foundation's website - Shout! - Henry Smith

Eligible organisations will then be able to submit an Expression of Interest from 23 July 2025 to the deadline of 20 August 2025.