Request for Proposals: Medium Grant Programme (UK)

The Medium Grant Programme provides £10,001 to £20,000 to eligible UK registered charities working in areas such as youth, older people, disability, community welfare, homelessness, hospices, environmental conservation, and international family planning projects with environmental impact. The fund supports both project costs and core organisational costs that align with the funder’s funding priorities.

Medium Grant Programme 2026

The Medium Grant Programme offers financial support to registered charities delivering impactful projects and services that improve lives, reduce inequality, protect the environment, and strengthen communities.

Funding is available for charities working across a range of priority areas, including youth development, support for older people, disability inclusion, community welfare, homelessness services, hospices, environmental conservation, and international reproductive health initiatives that contribute to environmental sustainability.

The programme supports both specific projects and organisational costs, enabling charities to expand their services and increase their long-term impact.

Program Overview

Program Name: Medium Grant Programme

Funding Type: Charity Grant

Grant Amount: £10,001 to £20,000

Eligible Applicants: Registered charities in England, Wales, and Scotland

Eligible Costs: Project costs and organisational (core) costs

Primary Focus: Youth, elderly, disability, community welfare, homelessness, hospices, environmental conservation, and international reproductive health with environmental impact

Program Objectives

The programme aims to:

Improve the wellbeing of vulnerable people.
Support young people through education, counselling, and employability.
Reduce loneliness and improve quality of life for older people.
Promote inclusion for people with disabilities.
Reduce poverty and strengthen disadvantaged communities.
Support homelessness prevention and rehabilitation.
Protect wildlife and natural environments.
Encourage environmental education and conservation.
Improve reproductive health while contributing to environmental sustainability.
Strengthen the long-term capacity of charitable organisations.

Why This Grant Matters

Many charities face increasing demand for services while experiencing financial pressures. The Medium Grant Programme provides flexible funding that allows organisations to strengthen both their programmes and their operational capacity.

By investing in community services, environmental protection, youth development, disability inclusion, and support for vulnerable populations, the programme helps charities deliver lasting social and environmental benefits across the UK and internationally.

Funding Available

Successful applicants may receive:

Minimum Grant: £10,001
Maximum Grant: £20,000

Funding may support:

Project delivery
Core organisational costs
Service expansion
Community programmes
Staff and operational costs where appropriate

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants must:

Be registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales or the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).
Have at least one year of filed accounts.
Deliver activities that align with one or more of the programme’s funding priorities.

Priority Funding Areas

Youth

Funding supports charities working with young people through:

Youth counselling services
Bereavement support
Youth clubs
Education programmes
Employability initiatives
Skills development
Support for young carers
Safe community spaces for young people

For charities serving Sussex, funding is also available for:

Youth clubs that provide safe environments for young people.
Registered Scouts, Guides, and Cadets operating in areas of high deprivation where funding enables participation for disadvantaged young people.

Older People

Projects may include:

Reducing loneliness
Tackling social isolation
Dementia support
Services for carers
Family support
Community engagement activities

Disability

Funding supports charities helping people with:

Physical disabilities
Learning disabilities
Complex disabilities

Projects should:

Improve social participation.
Remove barriers to inclusion.
Increase independence.
Support broad disability communities rather than a single medical condition.

Community Welfare

Priority is given to charities supporting people living in some of Sussex’s most deprived communities, including:

Brighton & Hove
Bognor Regis
Littlehampton
Crawley
Adur
Hastings
Bexhill
Eastbourne
Newhaven

Projects should:

Address long-term poverty.
Strengthen community resilience.
Improve financial stability.
Provide sustainable support beyond emergency food assistance.

Homelessness

Funding supports organisations providing:

Emergency accommodation
Temporary accommodation support
Day hubs
Night shelters
Food services
Clothing support
Laundry facilities
Outreach workers
Rehabilitation services
Support workers helping people transition into stable housing

Hospices

Funding is available for eligible hospice organisations delivering care and support to patients and families.

Environmental Projects in Sussex

Eligible activities include:

Community environmental projects
Environmental education
Youth environmental engagement
Conservation of local flora and fauna
Habitat restoration
Biodiversity initiatives
Community participation in environmental protection

Wildlife and Environmental Conservation

Funding supports UK and international conservation projects that:

Protect endangered wildlife.
Conserve threatened plant species.
Restore habitats.
Address biodiversity loss.
Reduce threats to endangered flora and fauna.

International Reproductive Health and Family Planning

Support is available for projects delivered in Africa or Asia that:

Improve reproductive health.
Strengthen family planning services.
Demonstrate a clear intended environmental impact through sustainable population and environmental outcomes.

Eligible Activities

Funding may support:

Community programmes
Counselling services
Education and employability initiatives
Youth engagement
Disability inclusion
Poverty reduction programmes
Homelessness support
Environmental conservation
Wildlife protection
Community welfare services
Volunteer programmes
Capacity building
Organisational development
Core operating costs

Who Is Not Eligible?

Applications may not be suitable if the organisation:

Is not a registered charity.
Has less than one year of filed accounts.
Does not align with the programme’s funding priorities.
Primarily supports a single disability condition rather than a broad disability community (for disability funding).

Applicants should ensure that their proposed activities clearly match one or more of the programme’s priority funding areas.

Expected Project Outcomes

Successful projects should:

Improve wellbeing among vulnerable groups.
Increase youth participation and opportunities.
Reduce loneliness and isolation.
Strengthen disability inclusion.
Help individuals move out of poverty.
Improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness.
Protect wildlife and biodiversity.
Increase environmental awareness.
Strengthen charitable organisations.
Deliver sustainable long-term community benefits.

How to Apply

Eligible charities should follow these steps:

Confirm that your organisation is a registered charity.
Ensure your charity has at least one year of filed accounts.
Identify the funding priority that best matches your project.
Develop a detailed project or organisational funding proposal.
Prepare a realistic budget between £10,001 and £20,000.
Demonstrate measurable outcomes and community impact.
Explain how the project aligns with the programme’s objectives.
Include all required organisational and financial information.
Submit the completed application according to the funder’s guidelines before the application deadline.

Tips for a Strong Application

To improve your chances of success:

Clearly demonstrate alignment with the programme’s funding priorities.
Provide strong evidence of community need.
Present measurable outcomes.
Include a realistic and well-justified budget.
Explain how funding will create long-term impact.
Demonstrate organisational experience and governance.
Show how beneficiaries will experience meaningful improvements.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common application errors:

Applying without registered charity status.
Failing to provide required financial records.
Requesting funding for activities outside the priority areas.
Providing unclear project objectives.
Preparing unrealistic budgets.
Not demonstrating long-term community impact.
Weak evidence of beneficiary need.
Submitting incomplete applications.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Medium Grant Programme?

The Medium Grant Programme provides grants of £10,001 to £20,000 to registered charities delivering projects in areas such as youth development, disability inclusion, homelessness, community welfare, environmental conservation, and support for older people.

How much funding is available?

Eligible charities can apply for grants ranging from £10,001 to £20,000.

Who can apply?

Registered charities with the Charity Commission for England and Wales or the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) that have at least one year of filed accounts may apply.

Can funding support organisational costs?

Yes. The programme supports both project costs and core organisational costs, provided they align with the funder’s priorities.

Which environmental projects are eligible?

Eligible projects include Sussex-based environmental education and conservation initiatives, UK and international wildlife conservation, protection of endangered species, habitat restoration, and reproductive health and family planning projects in Africa or Asia with a clear environmental impact.

Does the programme support homelessness services?

Yes. Funding is available for charities providing emergency and rehabilitative services for people experiencing homelessness or living in temporary accommodation, including shelters, food, clothing, outreach, and support workers.

Are youth organisations eligible?

Yes. Youth charities, youth clubs, counselling services, bereavement services, employability programmes, organisations supporting young carers, and eligible Scouts, Guides, and Cadets operating in deprived areas of Sussex may apply.

Conclusion

The Medium Grant Programme offers £10,001 to £20,000 to registered charities delivering meaningful social and environmental impact across the UK and internationally. By supporting projects in youth development, disability inclusion, community welfare, homelessness, care for older people, environmental conservation, and sustainable development, the programme helps charities strengthen their services and create lasting positive change. Eligible organisations with well-planned, evidence-based proposals and clear community outcomes are encouraged to apply for funding that supports both project delivery and organisational sustainability.