GrantRadar

Thomas Wall Trust

Thomas Wall Trust Grants for Individuals

Grants of up to £1,500 for motivated adults on low incomes living in the UK, towards accredited vocational courses up to level 3 and associated study costs, to improve their chances of employment. Up to £750 of the grant can go on childcare, travel and equipment. Applicants must be 18 or over, from a low-income household and facing financial and other challenges, and need a professional referee. The programme normally runs all year on a first come, first served basis, but closes temporarily from 22 October to 30 November 2026 while the Trust upgrades its application system.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £1,500
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Light
short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

  • Individuals aged 18 and over with the right to work and study in the UK, from a low-income household (annual income must not exceed the figure for your household on the online Minimum Income Calculator), who are experiencing financial and other challenges such as disability, major trauma or a life event, mental health issues, caring responsibilities, being a care leaver, estrangement from family, learning English, or childcare responsibilities
  • Applicants in England must confirm they cannot take a nearby Government-funded course and may be asked for evidence
  • Priority normally goes to people unemployed for at least 6 months in the last 2 years, with little or no work experience or school qualifications, who have lived in the UK for at least 3 years; to courses not eligible for a 19+ Advanced Learner Loan, Access courses and courses with employment support; and to applications with a realistic plan to seek work

What it funds

  • Course fees for an accredited vocational course up to level 3
  • Costs associated with studying, up to £750, for childcare, travel and equipment

the maximum grant is £1,500 in total. Individuals may re-apply if their course lasts more than a year, with evidence of successful progress.

What it will not fund

  • Retrospective grants
  • Functional Maths and English courses
  • Courses that are not accredited
  • Business start-up costs
  • GCSEs, A-Levels or equivalent qualifications
  • Undergraduate or postgraduate degrees
  • Travel, study or work abroad
  • Applicants who already have a degree
  • In England, courses available nearby with Government funding (you must confirm you cannot do one)

How to apply

  1. Check your household income against the Minimum Income Calculator and confirm your course is accredited and up to level 3
  2. Complete the online application form on the Trust's grants portal
  3. Your referee responds to the Trust's reference request by email
  4. Respond to any additional questions from the Trust

the programme closes temporarily from 22 October to 30 November 2026 while the Trust upgrades its system; applications started must be submitted before 22 October, otherwise a new form will be available in December. Successful applicants must report progress after their course.

Have ready

  • A referee who knows you in a professional capacity (for example a support worker, tutor, probation officer, employment adviser or line manager), contactable at a verified work email address, not a relative

applicants in England may be asked for evidence that no nearby Government-funded course is available.

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