Allen Lane Foundation Celebrates 60 Years of UK Grant Giving
/The Allen Lane Foundation is celebrating 60 years of funding small charities. In the past six decades, it has provided more than 9,000 grants (worth over £26.5 million), supporting volunteer-led groups, charities and communities facing prejudice and isolation, funding work that brings people together and challenges stigma and discrimination across the UK.
It looks to support small registered charities and other charitable not-for-profit organisations such as constituted voluntary groups or some Community Interest Companies (CICs) who work:
In a relatively local area, such as a village, or estate or small town, with an income/expenditure of less than £100,000.
Across the whole of the UK with an income/expenditure of less than £250,000.
Although the maximum grant is £15,000, the average grant is £5,000 to £6,000 with about 130 to 150 grants awarded each year. The grant is to help organisations become sustainable. The funding will support running and core costs to enable them to have flexibility, security and longevity.
Applications should be focused on adults in the following areas:
Asylum seekers and refugees – support work to benefit refugees, asylum seekers, and refused asylum seekers, including those held in detention. The focus is on women only. The focus is on those women who are seeking asylum in the UK, and female refugees who have been through the asylum system; rather than people who arrive in the UK through community sponsorship or via resettlement schemes.
Offenders and ex-offenders – support for penal reform and fund groups working with offenders in prison and out in the community. The focus is solely on organisations supporting female offenders, and those in prison for violence against women.
Older People – funding is focused on projects that benefit isolated elderly people (generally aged 70+) including those with dementia and especially for elderly people in rural and more deprived areas.
People affected by violence or abuse – work that supports both men and women who are, or have in the past been, affected by violence or abuse. This includes projects supporting people affected by rape and sexual abuse, domestic abuse, stalking, trafficking, prostitution and modern slavery, honour-based abuse, female genital mutilation, and forced marriage. The funding can also support work with perpetrators aiming to lessen isolation and prevent the risk of further abuse.
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities – support groups within these communities and organisations that work to benefit them. Funding can support work that raises awareness of the issues Gypsy and Traveller communities face, and work to combat hate crime, stigma, discrimination and inequalities, including the lack of appropriate accommodation or other service provision.
People with mental health issues – support for mental health charities and projects that benefit people with moderate or severe mental health issues.
In addition, there is funding for work with young people – aged 12-21 years who are vulnerable, socially excluded or marginalised with a focus on those who are persistently absent from school; school leavers with no qualifications; and young people in/leaving care.
Applications can be made at any time and are considered three times a year, generally in February, June and October. For more information, please visit The Allen Lane Foundation
