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Welcome to our new website. You may still see some pages from our old site as we move things over.

What you can spend the money on

We can fund direct project costs, such as:

  • expenses for community leaders – for example, childcare, travel and time (including back-filling salaries)

  • costs that ensure equitable access – including translation costs

  • new tech – like laptops

  • one-off events

  • volunteer expenses

  • staff costs

  • training

  • utilities

  • marketing and communication costs

  • evaluation costs

  • professional and legal fees

We can also fund some indirect project costs (sometimes called overheads). This might include:

  • rent or insurance

  • part of a salary for someone not working directly on the project, such as a senior manager or admin worker

For example, if the project you’re applying for makes up half of your organisation’s work, we may fund half of your overheads.

This is sometimes known as full cost recovery. Read more about full cost recovery.

Political activity and campaigning

We can fund some political activity and campaigning

But only if:

  • the activity is not party political. This means that it must be about policy, practice, or legislation rather than opposing or supporting a political party

  • the activity is meant to help the cause of your organisation and benefit the public or society

We will not fund projects where political activities are the main purpose. But we can fund projects that are mainly about campaigning.

What we cannot fund

We cannot fund:

  • retrospective costs (for things that have already happened or you’ve paid for)

  • alcohol

  • contingency costs, loans, endowments or interest

  • paying someone to write your application

  • fundraising or activities where you make a profit

  • VAT you can reclaim

  • religious activities (we can fund religious organisations if the project benefits the wider community and does not include religious content)

  • activities that statutory or public bodies are legally required to do

  • activities that help children or young people with schoolwork during school hours

  • travel outside the UK

  • projects that take place outside of the UK

  • activities that make profits for private gain

  • cash given directly to individuals

  • capital projects