Apply now for Children’s Summer Playschemes Grants (UK)

Deadline: 16-Apr-2026

The Woodward Charitable Trust offers grants of £500–£2,000 to small local UK organisations running summer play schemes for children. Funded programmes focus on activity-based engagement, including crafts, cooking, outdoor play, and sports, with an emphasis on creativity, learning, and community participation. Around 35 grants are awarded each year.

Overview

The Children’s Summer Playschemes Grants support local organisations in providing meaningful and enjoyable summer activities for children. The programme aims to strengthen community engagement, encourage youth participation, and offer educational and recreational experiences through low-cost, activity-based play schemes.

Key Objectives

• Provide children with creative, educational, and outdoor summer activities.

• Encourage community participation by involving past participants as volunteers.

• Support small local organisations with financial assistance to run play schemes efficiently.

• Prioritise programmes that engage a large number of children and promote repeated participation.

Eligible Activities

• Craft workshops and arts-based activities.

• Cooking or food-related educational sessions.

• Outdoor play, sports, and physical activities.

• Educational or motivational day trips to the seaside, countryside, or natural environments.

Funding Details

• Grant Range: £500–£2,000 per organisation.

• Number of Grants Awarded: Approximately 35 annually.

• Funding supports operational costs and activity delivery rather than costly social events.

Ineligible Activities and Organisations

• Trips purely for social entertainment (e.g., theme parks or cinemas).

• Charities or organisations with an annual turnover exceeding £100,000.

• Projects located outside the United Kingdom.

Eligibility Criteria

• UK-based local organisations operating small-scale summer play schemes.

• Organisations must focus on activity-based engagement rather than high-cost events.

• Preference for schemes that involve past participants in volunteer roles.

Expected Impact

• Children experience engaging, creative, and educational summer activities.

• Strengthened community engagement through volunteer participation.

• Enhanced learning and physical activity opportunities during school holidays.

• Increased continuity and retention of children in local play schemes.

Tips and Best Practices

• Emphasise low-cost, high-impact activities that provide meaningful engagement.

• Highlight community involvement and youth volunteer participation.

• Demonstrate how activities promote creativity, learning, and outdoor engagement.

• Ensure proposals clearly align with the grant’s focus on activity-based programmes.

FAQ – Children’s Summer Playschemes Grants

1. Who can apply? Small UK-based local organisations running summer play schemes for children.

2. What is the funding range? £500–£2,000 per grant.

3. Are trips to theme parks eligible? No, only educational or natural environment trips are considered.

4. Is there a limit on the organisation’s turnover? Yes, charities with annual turnover over £100,000 are ineligible.

5. How many grants are awarded each year? Approximately 35.

6. Can past participants be involved in the programme? Yes, schemes that encourage volunteering are preferred.

7. Are projects outside the UK eligible? No, only UK-based initiatives are supported.

Conclusion

The Woodward Charitable Trust Children’s Summer Playschemes Grants provide financial support to small UK organisations running engaging, educational, and activity-based summer programmes for children. By fostering creativity, learning, outdoor play, and community participation, the initiative ensures children enjoy meaningful summer experiences while strengthening local community involvement.

For more information, visit The Woodward Charitable Trust.