THE LECHE TRUST
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to UK registered charities, public authorities and institutions to support projects in the areas of the performing arts, particularly dance, music and theatre, and conservation, with an emphasis on pre-Victorian buildings, including churches and collections.
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o Application deadline: MONDAY 1st SEPTEMBER 2025. The current application round opened on Monday 4th August 2025.
o Funder: The Leche Trust (founded 1964. Charity number 225659. Total value of all grants awarded during the year ended 31 July 2024: £246,838 (2023: £219,510; 2022: £301,346; 2021: £265,376)).
o Who can apply: UK registered charities, public authorities and institutions (please note that Community Interest Companies are not eligible to apply for a grant).
o Key Words: Music, Theatre, Dance, Historic Buildings, Churches, Historic Objects and Collections, Education (Bursaries). Education (Learning 8 Research Fund), United Kingdom.
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The Leche Trust is open to applications from UK registered charities, public authorities and institutions for its next funding round, which has a deadline of Friday 2nd May 2025. The Trust supports projects in the following areas:
1. Performing Arts – the Trust aims to achieve a broad balance between music, theatre and dance projects, and takes into account the number and location of the audiences and/or individuals likely to benefit, particularly where the following applies:
o Excellence in professional performance.
o The production and performance of new work, and
o The development of young, professional artists aged 18 or over.
Around half of the Trust’s annual grant-giving is for arts-based activities.
2. Conservation – the Trust supports the conservation of historic objects, collections and features of buildings and designed landscapes which are pre-Victorian in date (i.e. pre 1837):
o In the case of churches, it will consider supporting the conservation of items such as monuments, wall paintings, stained glass, and historic furniture and fittings.
o Preference is given to awarding grants for smaller projects – or specific elements of projects – where its contribution can have a greater impact, and
o Projects may include conservation surveys and preventive measures as well as remedial work, as well as grants towards the acquisition of items for collections will be considered.
The Trust will accept applications for a grant of up to £5,000.
Applicants must be UK registered charities, public authorities or public institutions. The Trust does not accept applications from Community Interest Companies (CICs) or individuals.
In the year ended 31st July 2024, the Trust awarded grants totalling £246,838 (2023: £219,510; 2022: £301,346; 2021: £265,376; 2020: £241,165) against the following headings:
o Performing Arts: £91,400.
o Historic Buildings: £10,700.
o Churches/Places of Worship: £41,800.
o Historic objects and collections: £52,874.
o Education (Bursaries): £22,500, and
o Education (Learning 8 Research Fund): £27,564.
A list of all awards made during the year can be viewed on pages 23 to 27 of the Trust’s Annual Report and Financial Statements.
Further information, guidance and details of how to apply can be found on the Trust’s website.
Trustees meet three times a year to review applications.
The current application round opened on Monday 4th August with a deadline for applications of Monday 1st September 2025.
Contact details for the Trust are:
Gareth Clayton
Grants Director
PO Box 907
Orpington
London
BR6 1NT
Email: info@lechetrust.org