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 26th JANUARY 2026. The programme opens to applications on Monday 8th December 2025. A further application window is provided towards the end of the main text below.
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 window from Monday 8th December 2025 to Monday 26th January 2026. 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 next application window opens on Monday 8th December 2025 with a deadline for applications of Monday 26th January 2026. Grant awards are expected to be announced in mid-March 2026.
The following application window is scheduled to open on Monday 30th March 2026 with a deadline of Tuesday 5th May 2026. Grant awards are expected to be announced in mid-June 2026.
Contact details for the Trust are:
Gareth Clayton
Grants Director
The Leche Trust
PO Box 907
Orpington
London
BR6 1NT
Email: info@lechetrust.org