The Percy Bilton Charity

The Percy Bilton Charity grants for organisations

The Percy Bilton Charity gives one-off capital grants towards furniture and equipment (not office items) for UK registered charities working with disadvantaged young people under 25, people with physical or learning disabilities or mental health problems, and older people over 60. There are two programmes: Small Grants of up to £750, paid by cheque and considered monthly, and Large Grants of about £2,000 and over (average about £3,000, rarely over £5,000), considered at Board meetings. Applications are accepted at any time. The charity prefers items it can fund in full, and contributes to minibuses only once the remaining shortfall is £15,000 or less.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: £2,000 – £5,000; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Light; short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

Registered charities in the UK whose primary objectives are to help one or more of: disadvantaged or underprivileged young people under 25; people with physical or learning disabilities or mental health problems; or older people over 60
The charity does not respond to organisations outside these criteria
Large Grants require registered charity status
For Small Grants (up to £750) an organisation does not need to be registered, but must supply a reference from a registered charity it works with, a Council for Voluntary Service or the local authority youth service
Mainstream schools, colleges and universities are not funded (special schools are)
Organisations can reapply 12 months after receiving a grant (at least a year from payment) or 12 months after a refusal

What it funds

One-off capital funding for furniture and equipment (excluding items for staff use and office items), for example tables and chairs, kitchen equipment, specialist adaptive equipment and recreational equipment. Eligible schemes:

For disadvantaged young people under 25, supported housing and education and training projects that steer young people who may be homeless or unemployed away from crime, substance or alcohol misuse and homelessness, and facilities for recreation and outdoor pursuits for educationally or socially disadvantaged young people
For people with physical or learning disabilities or enduring mental health problems, residential, respite care, occupational and recreational establishments for children, young people and adults
For older people over 60, day centres, nursing and residential homes, sheltered accommodation and respite care for frail people or people with dementia or age-related disorders, and projects that help older people stay independent

Preference goes to specific items the charity can fund in full.

Contributions to minibuses are considered only for transporting older and/or disabled people with mobility problems, and only in the final stage of an appeal, once the shortfall is £15,000 or less.

Small Grants (up to £750) suit smaller items and organisations; Large Grants are about £2,000 and over, mostly £2,000 to £5,000.

What it will not fund

Running expenses for the organisation or individual projects, or any type of revenue funding
Salaries, training costs or office equipment/furniture
Projects for general community use, e.g. community centres and church halls
Disabled access to community buildings
Publication costs, e.g. printing and distributing promotional and information leaflets
Projects that have been completed, or items already purchased
Provision of disabled facilities in schemes mainly for able-bodied people
General funding or circularised appeals
Pre-schools or playgroups (other than those predominantly for disabled children)
Play schemes and summer schemes
Holidays or expeditions for individuals or groups
Trips, activities or events
Community sports or play area facilities
Exterior works such as paving, roofing and garden landscaping
Consumables (e.g. stationery, arts and crafts materials)
Refurbishment or repair of places of worship or church halls
Research projects
Mainstream pre-schools, schools, colleges and universities (other than special schools)
Welfare funds for individuals
Hospital or medical equipment
Works to premises not used primarily by the eligible groups
Building and refurbishment works
Flooring, lighting and boilers
Security and health and safety equipment
Part funding towards larger items such as electric wheelchairs or riser/recliner chairs

How to apply

Check your charity's primary objectives match one of the three eligible groups and that the items are not on the exclusion list
Optionally telephone the office (07961 918 949) for advice at any stage
Gather the information and documents for the programme you are applying to (Small Grants up to £750, or Large Grants of £2,000 and over)
Apply online through the 'Apply Now' link on the charity's website
The charity may phone, email or write to you for more information
Small Grants are considered monthly; Large Grants at the next appropriate Board meeting
If a Large Grant is offered, buy the items and send a copy of the invoice; payment is made to your organisation, not to the supplier, and must be taken up within 12 months of approval

Small Grants are paid by cheque to the organisation's bank account name; cheques cannot be made payable to individuals.

The charity may ask for a report after payment and may visit to see how the grant was used.

The charity's decision is final, and it receives many more applications than it can fund.

Have ready

Large Grants: the amount requested and what it is for
Large Grants: brief history of the charity (year established, objectives and work)
Large Grants: description of the project and what you intend to achieve
Large Grants: itemised list of the furniture/equipment with cost estimates, with at least two competitive estimates (unless impracticable, e.g. specialised equipment)
Large Grants: when you expect to buy the items
Large Grants: funds already raised and other sources approached
Large Grants: proposals to monitor and evaluate the project
Large Grants: most recent Annual Report and audited accounts
Minibus requests: provision for insurance, tax and maintenance, confirmation you can meet future running costs, and the minibus specification (make, model and number of seats)
Small Grants: brief details about the organisation and its work, most recent annual accounts, outline of the project and its aims, cost breakdown of the items, and the bank account name for the cheque

Small Grant applicants that are not registered charities must also supply a reference from a registered charity, Council for Voluntary Service or the local authority youth service.

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