The Thomas Pocklington Trust’s strategic priorities are to increase awareness and understanding of the needs and aspirations of blind and partially sighted people. These include:

o Acting as an advocate and positive change agent for blind and partially sighted people.
o Being an effective partner and grant funder based on our knowledge of the sector.
o Creating opportunities for blind and partially sighted people seeking employment.
o Enabling opportunities and supporting blind and partially sighted people in and entering education, and
o Facilitating the voice and encouraging self-determination of blind and partially sighted people.

The Trust generally offers grants of up to £10,000 (although some awards can be for substantially larger amounts) to UK registered charities for new and innovative projects in at least one of the following areas:

o Infrastructure and impact – including developing technological capabilities, restructuring reviews, Theory of Change, feasibility studies, partnership working (including resource sharing) and integrations and mergers, and
o Insights and research – gaps in data and evidence that can improve knowledge across the sector, and
o Innovation Seed Fund – initial funding for ideas and projects which can have a transformative benefit to the lives of blind and partially sighted people.

Grants can be used for:

o Capital equipment where the capital items form part of the total cost of the project submitted.
o New staff posts.
o Paid training.
o Professional fees, such as consultants, and
o Resource development, including printing, marketing, website design etc.

Funding is not available for:

o Charities registered overseas.
o Charities that have more than six months running costs in unrestricted reserves.
o Construction projects such as playgrounds, village halls, and disabled access.
o Educational fees.
o Established programmes.
o Existing staff posts or organisational costs.
o General school appeals.
o Hospices.
o Individuals in any capacity.
o Legal and/or statutory responsibilities.
o Medical research.
o Parish facilities.
o Promoting the causes or beliefs of political or faith organisations.
o Recoverable VAT.
o Requests for vehicles, or
o Retrospective costs.

Further information, guidance and details about how to apply can be found on the Trust’s website.

The next deadline for applications is Saturday 30th September 2023.