One of the UK’s largest independent grant-making charities, the Bernard Sunley Foundation provides one-off grants for capital projects in the areas of community, education, health and social welfare.
1. Community: new build, refurbishment and improvements of village halls, scout huts, youth clubs, community centres and similar. This often includes access for the disabled, modernising kitchens, new storage space and updating toilets in line with Health and Safety regulations and the Disability Discrimination Act.
o Village Hall grants, particularly in isolated rural areas where there are limited community facilities. Support is also available for church halls, churches or other buildings providing there is strong evidence that a high proportion of secular activities (accessible to the whole community take place. Conservation and heritage projects for halls/churches are not generally supported.
o Activities that help young people attain their full potential. Youth Centres, Activity Centres and uniformed youth facilities are regularly supported. Projects that help young people who are at risk of social isolation, offending or criminal activity, as well as ex-offenders can be funded.
2. Education – in particular, children and adults with special educational and learning needs, including educational nature and farm visitor centres. Grants can be awarded for specialist transport and building projects. Please note that any grants for transport should be for new vehicles.
3. Health – especially residential care housing and treatment centres, as well as the provision of equipment to enhance medical treatment and care. Examples of the type of requests that have previously been supported include (please note that this is not an exclusive list):
o Improvements to hospices and treatment clinics.
o New equipment not available through the NHS.
o Residential care for older people and those with special needs, and
o Specialist new transport.
4. Social Welfare – grants can range from support for residential premises such as centres for young people at risk, drop-in centres for people who are homeless, and day centres for the elderly. The Social Welfare priority also provides grants for the welfare of ex-military service personnel and those who have worked in the emergency services, especially for projects that address mental health issues. Educational and training facilities may also be supported under this category.
Registered charities and exempt charities in England and Wales may apply for a grant. Awards are normally for between £1,000 and £5,000. Around 20% of all awards are for over £5,000. Applications from eligible organisations working in remote rural and isolated areas are welcomed.
Please note that there is a matched funding requirement for the Foundation’s grants. Applicants are usually expected to have sourced and secured 50% of the project costs prior to applying. Projects with a budget of over £50,000 are requested to apply at least 6 months before their project start date.
Further information, guidance, an Eligibility Checklist and an online application form is available on the Foundation’s website.
Applications may be made at any time and are considered on an ongoing basis.
