GrantRadar

Community Foundation North East (serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland) (The 1989 Willan Charitable Trust Fund)

The 1989 Willan Charitable Trust

Grants generally of £1,000 to £10,000 for core and project costs of registered, exempt and excepted charities whose work benefits residents of Tyne & Wear, Northumberland, County Durham and Teesside, prioritising work that eases social deprivation or enriches local community life. Core and unrestricted grants of up to £20,000 over two years (£10,000 a year) may be considered where there is a clear link to high deprivation. Uniformed youth groups normally get up to £1,500. A panel meets in March, June, September and December, with applications due by the 15th of the month before.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£1,000 – £10,000
Deadline
28 days left
15 November
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Registered charities and exempt or excepted charities (e.g. scout and guide groups, many churches) whose activities benefit residents of Tyne & Wear, Northumberland, County Durham and Teesside
  • Support is weighted towards local registered charities, including branches of national charities, with a preference for income under £1.5m and a base in North East England; national charities with income under £1.5m are welcome for projects that solely benefit North East England
  • Applicants should show they are well placed to meet identified needs in the region and why local funders' support is essential
  • Applicants with more than six months' running costs in reserve are not usually considered
  • CICs, limited companies and social enterprises may not apply unless in partnership with a registered charity that applies as lead
  • The Community Foundation's general rules also apply: governing document, board of at least three unrelated people, bank account with two unrelated signatories, approved accounts, safeguarding policies, no overdue monitoring

What it funds

Core and project costs, with priority for work that eases social deprivation and/or enriches the local community and quality of life, and for projects where a Willan grant is a significant contribution. Examples:

  • Core costs of organisations serving communities with high deprivation
  • Capital and refurbishment costs for community buildings (multiple quotes where possible)
  • Projects and self-help initiatives improving local quality of life
  • Services for young people that address educational needs or divert from crime and anti-social behaviour
  • Projects helping communities affected by crime and anti-social behaviour
  • Art projects tackling deprivation or improving quality of life
  • Youth organisations, particularly Sea Cadets, Scouts, Guides, Boys' Brigades and other uniformed groups (grants normally no more than £1,500)
  • Projects drawing on the region's maritime tradition
  • Gap-year voluntary work through Project Trust (max £500, applied for through Project Trust)

Core and unrestricted grants of up to £20,000 (£10,000 a year for two years) and annual continuation funding may be considered where there is a clear link to an area of high deprivation and a compelling case.

What it will not fund

  • Trips abroad
  • Individuals, except Project Trust applications from residents of the benefit area
  • Projects focused on heritage or the environment unless they address deprivation or enrich local communities
  • Scientific or medical research unless it addresses deprivation or enriches local communities
  • Applications from CICs, limited companies or social enterprises unless a registered charity partner applies as lead
  • Applicants holding more than six months' running costs in reserve (unless funding from reserves would reduce them to an imprudent level)
  • Contributions to general appeals or circulars
  • Advancement of religion
  • Advancement of animal welfare
  • Grant-making by other organisations (necessary goods for a service, e.g. food parcels, can be funded)
  • Activities primarily intended to help a public body meet its statutory obligations
  • Activities that have already taken place
  • Privately owned and profit-distributing companies or partnerships

How to apply

  1. Check your organisation and project meet the fund's criteria and the Community Foundation's general eligibility rules
  2. Register on the Community Foundation grantee portal (allow up to two working days for registration to be approved)
  3. Complete the online organisation application for the 1989 Willan Charitable Trust and upload the supporting documents (include multiple quotes for capital or refurbishment costs)
  4. Submit by 15 November 2026 to be considered at the December panel

The Fund Advisory Panel meets in March, June, September and December; applications are considered at the next meeting if received by the 15th of the preceding month, so later deadlines are 15 February, 15 May and 15 August. Apply early.

Gap-year Project Trust requests (max £500) are made through Project Trust, not directly.

Queries to Hannah Mackay-Christie, hmc@communityfoundation.org.uk, 0191 222 0945.

Have ready

  • Most recent financial statements approved by your governing body, no more than 22 months old (new organisations: management accounts or a cashflow forecast)
  • Governing document (constitution, rules, or memorandum and articles)
  • Bank statement dated within the last 3 months showing bank name, account name, number and sort code
  • Safeguarding policy and procedures (children and adults)

For capital or refurbishment costs, provide multiple cost quotes where possible; local groups using an umbrella body's safeguarding policy upload that policy and the foundation's umbrella declaration.

More like this

Other grants open to organisations like yours.