Applications closed on 9 October 2026.

Many funders run the same grant every year, so check the funder’s site for a new round. The details below are what the funder published when it was open.

The William Dudley Trust

William Dudley Trust Grants to Charities

A Birmingham trust established in 1875 whose Grants to Charities strand supports small charities relieving need, hardship and distress for residents of the city. You may apply for up to £1,000 for a specific purpose, never a general contribution to funds. The trustees' current priority is Birmingham charities with a turnover of £100,000 or less, particularly those working with older people, and they will consider unregistered charities with a turnover of £5,000 or under provided they are registered with HMRC for tax purposes. Two meetings a year, in June and November. The trust also runs awards at Birmingham School of Jewellery, Development Awards through the King's Trust, and an Emergency Fund for Older People with Age Concern Birmingham.

Check the funder’s site

Open grants like this

Grants you can apply for now, for the same kind of work or place.

You could get: Up to £1,000
Deadline: Closed; the deadline has passed
Effort: Light; short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

Charities based within the administrative boundaries of the City of Birmingham, benefiting residents of Birmingham, and established to alleviate need, hardship and distress
Applications are accepted from registered charities with a turnover of under £250,000, but the trustees' current priority is Birmingham-based local charities with an annual turnover of £100,000 or less
Smaller charities with a turnover of £5,000 or under that are not registered with the Charity Commission are welcome, as long as they are registered with HMRC as a charity for tax purposes
Trustees particularly welcome applications from local charities working with older people — those who are frail, housebound, or experiencing ill health, poverty, disability or disadvantage — and give favourable consideration where a large proportion of the work is undertaken by volunteers rather than paid staff
Every request must be for a specific amount and purpose, and state how the money will be spent
Grants to individuals are not made

What it funds

Specific purposes rather than general contributions to funds, for charities based in Birmingham, benefiting Birmingham residents, and established to alleviate need, hardship and distress. Trustees pay particular attention to applications demonstrating long-term benefit for clients — meeting the costs of training volunteers, or equipment such as lifting gear for disabled or elderly people — rather than the costs of a one-off event. Favourable consideration is given to charities where a large proportion of the work is done by volunteers rather than paid staff. Recent examples of funding named by the trust:

Helping to purchase boxing equipment
Covering the costs of buying food at a local food bank
Funding online training for a charity's volunteers
Helping towards the costs of an outreach worker's salary
Assisting with the purchase of a clay kiln
Funding DIY skills training for women
Assisting with the costs of a mental health project
Helping with the costs of hiring a theatre for a local theatre company

What it will not fund

General appeals
Applications from charities with a turnover in excess of £250,000
Charities not based in Birmingham, or not carrying out charitable work within Birmingham
General appeals from national charities
Small contributions to large appeals for vehicles or buildings
Holidays and outings
Animal charities
Medical research
Grants to individuals

application letters are not accepted — only the downloadable form

an application sent without accounts will be rejected

re-applications are welcomed but not within the same 12-month period, especially if the group has already been funded

How to apply

Download the grant application form from the trust's website — application letters are not accepted and will not be considered
Complete the form, stating a specific amount and purpose and explaining how the money will be spent
Attach your most recent examined or audited accounts, or an internal financial statement showing income and expenditure
Email the form and accounts to info@williamdudleytrust.org, or post them to The William Dudley Trust, PO Box 17077, Birmingham B2 2NF

to keep running costs low the trust does not acknowledge receipt of applications

applications arriving after a closing date are held over to the following meeting, six months later

unsuccessful applicants receive no response unless a stamped self-addressed envelope was supplied

Have ready

Completed WDT grant application form
Most recent examined or audited accounts, or an internal financial statement showing income and expenditure
An explanation if your unrestricted reserves are larger than your annual income
An annual report or other information about your work, including the names of your management committee, trustees or directors
A copy of a bank statement for all accounts — not originals
Confirmation that the charity has appropriate child protection or vulnerable adult policies, where the application relates to either group
Confirmation that the charity has an appropriate volunteer policy, if applying for volunteer expenses

only the accounts are mandatory; the rest are listed as things that may help the application