They prioritise funding to organisations that are led by, or fully integrate in their decision-making, people with related lived experience, and to projects that allow organisations to make a big change to their reach, impact, or sustainability.

Programme Areas

• Communities experiencing racial inequalities
  • Organisations supporting communities affected by racism, and organisations working to promote racial equity. Organisations may be providing specialist services such as employment support or legal advice primarily to minoritised communities or may provide more general community support. These communities may face discrimination or disadvantage on the grounds of ethnicity or faith.
• Disabilities including mental health or visual impairment
  • Organisations supporting people who have physical and/or learning disabilities, and/or people struggling with mental health. Those providing support to the families and carers of those with disabilities can also apply under this programme area. Organisations supporting children and young people with disabilities should apply under this programme area as well as the Young People Facing Disadvantage programme area. Please note that special schools and colleges are eligible to apply under this programme area. They have a 300-year history of supporting organisations improving the lives of blind and visually impaired people and welcome applications from organisations with this mission.
• Domestic or sexual abuse
  • Organisations supporting adults and children affected by domestic or sexual abuse. This includes victims, survivors and perpetrators of abuse. It includes services helping victims escape abusive relationships, or any part of the recovery cycle. Examples include refuges and women’s organisations. Organisations applying for a capital project linked to supporting perpetrators must have or be working towards Respect accreditation.
• Economic disadvantage
  • Organisations supporting individuals or communities experiencing poverty and deprivation. This may include urgent support as well as longer-term work to relieve economic disadvantage.
• Homelessness
  • Organisations providing services to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. This includes those providing homelessness accommodation, or services such as food banks and furniture recycling. Organisations supporting young people at risk of homelessness (or that are homeless) should also apply under the Young People Facing Disadvantage programme area.
• LGBT+ communities
  • Organisations providing support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people facing disadvantage or discrimination.
• Older people facing disadvantage
  • Organisations providing services for older people facing disadvantage, particularly (but not limited to) economic disadvantage and isolation.
• Prison rehabilitation
  • Organisations supporting people in prison and their families, those at risk of offending and the rehabilitation of those leaving prison. If you are supporting young people at risk of offending, please also apply under the Young People Facing Disadvantage programme area.
• Substance misuse and addiction
  • Organisations supporting people and families affected by drugs and/or alcohol misuse.
• Young people facing disadvantage
  • Organisations supporting young people facing disadvantages, particularly (but not limited to) young people in care or leaving care and young people not in education, employment or training. The focus of services must be on supporting disadvantaged young people; general educational organisations, wildlife and outdoor educational charities, sports organisations, and youth arts organisations are not eligible to apply under this category unless at least 50% of those benefiting from the capital project fall within one or more of the programme areas. Please note, they do not accept applications from pupil referral units, schools or organisations delivering other mainstream educational provision under this programme area.

Funding Information

• They fund both large and small projects.
  • The size of grant awarded will depend on a number of factors, including the size of your organisation and the cost and scale of your capital project.

Eligible Projects

• To be eligible to apply, both your organisation and your project must be eligible.
• They fund the following capital projects:
  • Buildings or Refurbishment Projects
    • This includes the purchase, construction, renovation or refurbishment of a building or building(s).
  • Fittings, Fixtures, and Equipment
    • This includes, but is not limited to, office equipment or furniture, sports or gym equipment, digital or audiovisual equipment, garden equipment, and specialist therapeutic equipment (excluding medical).
  • Digital Infrastructure
    • This includes, but is not limited to, one-off (not ongoing) costs for the digitisation of processes, the development or updating of communication platforms such as websites or apps, or adding digital features to existing services.
  • Vehicles
    • This includes, but is not limited to, minibuses, cars, caravans, people carriers, 4x4s and boats.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible to apply, both your organisation and your project must be eligible.
• They fund organisations operating in the UK that are:
  • UK charities registered with the Charity Commission (or delegated authority), Community Interest Companies (limited by guarantee without share capital), or Community Benefit Societies.
  • With an annual turnover of less than £10 million if applying for a grant of more than £15,000 (a ‘Large Grant’).
  • With an annual turnover of less than £2 million if applying for a grant of £15,000 or less (a ‘Small Grant’).

Ineligibility Criteria

• The following organisations they do not fund:
  • Organisations that have received a grant offer from them within the past five years.
  • Organisations that promote a particular religion or only provide services to people of a particular religion.
  • Organisations that promote a particular political party, or seek to influence the way people vote.
  • Organisations that have had an application declined in the past six months. Please note: You cannot reapply for the same project if it has been declined.
  • Those with more than £10 million income per annum.

For more information, visit The Clothworkers’ Foundation.