the McCarthy Stone Foundation awards one-off Small Grants to UK registered, grassroots and volunteer-led charities that are making a difference in local communities. Funding is specifically for projects that focus on:

o Improving the health and wellbeing of older people (aged 65+) through intergenerational projects, and the
o Regeneration of the local community.

In addition, the Spring 2024 grants round has a particular focus on one-to-one initiatives to alleviate loneliness for people over 65 years old in Great Britain (i.e. England, Scotland and Wales).

The Foundation’s Small Grants Programme is offering grants of between £3,000 and £7,500 to small, grassroots community organisations across the, including Community Interest Companies (CICs), with no specified requirement for matched funding, for organisations that:

o Are volunteer-led.
o Are able to demonstrate the impact of their work on people over 65 in the local community, and
o Have an annual income of under £500,000, and
o Have a constitution and bank account.

During the year ended 31st October 2022, the Foundation supported 109 charitable organisations and awarded grants totalling £215,085.

Funding is not available for:

o Activities which have already taken place.
o Activities which solely support animal welfare.
o Contributions to general appeals or circulars.
o Grant-making by other organisations.
o Groups with an annual income over £500,000.
o Privately owned and profit-distributing companies or limited partnerships.
o Public bodies so that they can carry out their statutory obligations, or
o Religious activity which is not for wider public benefit.

The Foundation’s Small Grans Programme has a 2-stage application process, as follows:

1. An Expressions of Interest must be submitted by Friday 22nd March 2024.
 2. Successful applicant at the Expression of Interest stage will be invited to submit a Full Application.

Further information, guidance and to access the Expression of Interest Form, please go to the Foundation’s website.