The Charles Plater Trust awards grants to registered charities and not-for-profit groups in England and Wales that align with Catholic social thought and teaching. Applicants do not need to be Christian, but they do need to show how they associate with Catholic Social Teaching.
Each year the Trust seeks to fulfil its charitable objectives by awarding grants through an open competition for projects and initiatives that meet at least one of the Trust’s 3 specified themes:
1. Laity Leadership - proposals for grant aid should be aimed at deepening the awareness of Catholic Social Teaching and Thought to better equip people to take on leadership roles in tackling poverty, exclusion, economic inequality and/or environmental concerns.
2. Social Action Grants - for projects that demonstrate how the applicant’s project will deliver tangible outcomes to tackle poverty, exclusion, economic inequality and/or environmental concerns through education or training activities, and/or
3. Applied Research Grants - for projects which seek to develop and apply Catholic Social Teaching and Thought, in partnership with those who are working in and delivering social action work, with a view to ultimately improving practice and public policy.
The following revenue funding is available (the Trust does not provide funding for capital projects):
1. Small Grants of between £1,000 to £5,000. Applicants to the Small Grants programme must have an annual income of under £100,000. Please note that the Small Grants round takes place each Autumn.
2. Large Grants of between £5,001 to £60,000. Partnerships of eligible organisations may also apply to the Large Grants programme. Please note that the Large Grants round takes place each Spring.
During the year ended 31st March 2022, the Trust awarded 24 grants totalling £137,479 (2021: 18 grants totalling £225,161). Awards ranged from £1,244 to £25,580 (to the Father Hudson’s Society, the Social Care Agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham).
Only two awards were made from the Large Grants programme; 22 of the 24 grants made were for £5,000 or less.
Funding is not available for:
o Capital projects.
o Core funding.
o Grants requests for over £60,000, or
o Individuals.
The 2024 Large Grants programme, which opened to applications on Thursday 11th January 2024, has a deadline of 5pm on Thursday 22nd February 2024. Applicants are expected to be informed by Friday 7th June 2024.
Please note that successful applicants are required by the Trust to collect their award in person at its Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 19th June 2024 at St Mary's College, Oscott, Birmingham.
Further information, guidance and an online application form is available on the Trust’s website.
