GrantRadar

Barchester Charitable Foundation

Barchester Charitable Foundation Grants

Small grants from Barchester's Charitable Foundation that connect or re-connect older people, and adults with disabilities or mental health conditions, with others in their local community, across England, Scotland, Wales and Jersey. Small community groups and local charities can get £100 to £2,600 for activities, outings, equipment and materials that combat loneliness and isolation. Separately, individuals can get £100 to £1,500 towards outdoor mobility equipment, but only through an application made by a supporting professional. Group applications are taken in quarterly windows; the next one runs 1 to 31 October 2026.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£100 – £2,600
Closes in
13 days left
31 October
Effort
Light
short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

  • Small community groups and small local charities based in England, Scotland, Wales or Jersey whose activities are for older people, or adults with disabilities or mental health conditions, and connect them with others in their local community (community health professionals can also apply for group activity)
  • The Foundation prioritises small groups and says it is very unlikely to help an organisation with financial reserves over £200,000
  • Registration as a charity is not required for community groups
  • Groups that received a grant cannot get another for three years
  • Individuals (older people or adults with a disability) can also be funded for outdoor mobility equipment, but the application must be completed by a professional supporting them, such as a GP, occupational therapist, nurse, social worker, or a charity, support group or Citizens Advice representative; self-applications and applications by family or friends are declined

What it funds

  • For small community groups and local charities (£100 to £2,600): activity projects, equipment and materials for members to use, transport costs so members can attend, and day trips, outings or UK group holidays
  • Everything must help older people, or adults with disabilities or mental health conditions, stay active and connected with others in their local community, for example exercise, arts and crafts, flower arranging, music and singing groups
  • For individuals (£100 to £1,500, applied for by a supporting professional): manual and powered wheelchairs, mobility scooters, specialised trikes or adaptive bikes, and car adaptations, for use outdoors

What it will not fund

  • Groups: core or running costs, including salaries and venue hire
  • Groups: indirect services such as helplines, websites, newsletters, leaflets or research (also start-up costs, marketing and the general running of any group or project)
  • Groups: building or renovation projects, or large capital projects
  • Groups: training of staff or volunteers
  • Groups: foodbank provision, unless it is part of a food preparation or activity project
  • Activities or equipment for residents of a care home run by Barchester Healthcare or any other care home company
  • Retrospective funding (items already bought or activities already held)
  • Repeat funding within three years of a successful grant
  • Individuals: disability and exercise equipment for use in the home, including specialist chairs and beds
  • Individuals: mobility equipment for indoor use only
  • Individuals: repairs, maintenance or refurbishment of mobility equipment
  • Individuals: bikes and e-bikes
  • Individuals: activities, holidays and special days out
  • Individuals: educational courses
  • Individuals: home improvements, adaptations and property repairs, including gardens and ramps
  • Individuals: household items such as white goods, furniture and carpeting
  • Individuals: medical or dental treatment, including therapy, counselling or rehabilitation
  • Individuals: cars, driving lessons or removal costs
  • Individuals: laptops, computers and iPads
  • Individuals: daily living costs (rent, utility bills, clothing, mobile phones, travel) or repaying debts
  • Applications for individuals made by the individual, family or friends rather than a supporting professional

How to apply

  1. Check the funding eligibility page and FAQs to confirm the activity fits and your reserves are under £200,000
  2. Prepare a cost breakdown or budget and your latest annual accounts
  3. During an open quarterly window (1-31 January, 1-30 April, 1-31 July or 1-31 October), complete the online group application form on the Foundation's website and upload the budget and accounts
  4. Applications are processed in the month after the window closes, then reviewed by a trustee panel
  5. Decisions are communicated in the second half of the following quarter's final month (for the October 2026 window, the last half of December 2026), with payment to follow

Applications for individuals (mobility equipment) are open at any time, but must be submitted by a professional supporting the individual via the individual application form.

Group applications were closed at the time of checking and reopen on 1 October 2026.

Have ready

  • Cost breakdown or budget
  • Latest annual accounts

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