GrantRadar

The Gibbons Trusts

Gibbons Family Trust Grants

The Gibbons Family Trust makes grants to help children and young people up to age 25 in financial need who live in Devon or the Isle of Thanet in Kent, for anything that improves their quality of life, such as activities, sports and training. It funds non-profit organisations directly and individuals or families only when a professional such as a teacher, social worker, NHS worker or charity worker applies for them. Small and local organisations are strongly preferred, and East Devon is prioritised. Trustees meet every eight weeks; in 2025/26 the average grant was about £1,600 to organisations and £1,200 to individuals.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Amount not specified
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Light
short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

  • Registered charities and CIOs, CICs, and other non-profit bodies such as community groups, councils (other than Devon County Council), schools and sports clubs, whose beneficiaries are children and young people up to 25 living in Devon or the Isle of Thanet (Kent)
  • Applications for East Devon are prioritised; small and local organisations are strongly preferred and large national charities are discouraged, even for Devon or Thanet residents
  • Organisations need at least 2 unconnected trustees or directors and 2 bank signatories
  • Individuals and families cannot apply themselves: a professional acting in their work for a non-profit organisation (education, a local charity, the NHS, or a local authority such as a housing office or social worker, but not Devon County Council) applies as their sponsor and administers the grant, which is never paid to the beneficiary
  • If the sponsoring organisation would receive the grant itself (for example a college), an independent professional reference is also required
  • One application per applicant in any 12 months
  • You do not need to choose between the two Gibbons Trusts: the office places each application with the right one

What it funds

  • Grants for the care, benefit, support, education or welfare of children and young people up to the age of 25 in financial need, for a wide variety of reasons that improve their quality of life, for example activities, sports and training
  • Grants to charitable residential and day care establishments for children and young people, including those who are disabled
  • Grants towards the maintenance and educational advancement, training and recreation of children and young people
  • For individuals and families (through a professional sponsor): household basics such as white goods and bedroom furniture; services such as therapy, community activities, children's groups and sports; technology to help children and young people with SEND

Registered charities can apply for unrestricted or restricted funding; CICs and other non-profits for projects and other restricted funding only.

What it will not fund

  • Grants paid in instalments (one payment per successful application)
  • Trips outside the UK, for any reason
  • Private non-specialist schools, colleges or similar institutions
  • Retrospective funding for events, services or purchases that have already taken place
  • Flooring or carpeting of any kind in a family home
  • Applications directly from individuals or families, or from family and friends
  • Purchases from websites such as Amazon, eBay or other multi-seller retailers (individual applications)
  • Applications from Devon County Council (handled internally by DCC from 1 April 2026)
  • More than one application from the same applicant in any 12 months

How to apply

  1. Decide whether you are applying as an organisation or as a sponsor for an individual or family
  2. Read the relevant page and the Terms and Conditions, and gather the evidence needed before starting
  3. Complete the online application form (you can save and return; up to 5 attachments)
  4. Submit by the closing date for the next trustees' meeting: 3 November 2026 for 24 November; 5 January 2027 for 26 January; 2 March for 23 March; 30 April for 25 May; 30 June for 26 July
  5. If successful, upload a photo or scan of the organisation's latest bank statement through the secure link emailed after the meeting

Late, urgent applications may be accepted at the trustees' discretion. Grants should be spent within 6 months for organisations or 3 months for individuals and families. Monitoring forms are required for larger grants.

Have ready

  • Detail of how the grant would be spent, with supporting evidence such as quotes, budgets or cost breakdowns (even for core or unrestricted funding)
  • Latest financial accounts: from the Charity Commission or Companies House, or uploaded if on neither (organisations)
  • Summary of current management accounts or cashbook, if your year end was more than 6 months ago (organisations)
  • Covering letter (sponsors applying for individuals)
  • Independent professional reference, if your organisation would receive the grant (sponsors applying for individuals)
  • Optional newsletters, brochures or leaflets

A bank statement is needed only if the application succeeds.

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