In response to the current cost of living crisis, the Volant Charitable Trust is for the foreseeable future prioritising the focus of its awards on charities and organisations who are particularly addressing poverty and deprivation, helping to support vulnerable groups who are most affected, with an emphasis on women, children and young people.
Your project must meet at least one of the specific themes below and ensure you read the corresponding list after each theme as this explains what will be considered for support.
Project areas of interest, in order of priority, include:
Poverty and deprivation (with an emphasis on women, children and young people)
- Support for vulnerable families facing extreme poverty.
- Food provision and promotion of healthy eating in areas of extreme deprivation.
- Mental health projects for vulnerable groups living in poverty.
Women
- Support for isolated and lone mothers.
- Community integration support for black and minority ethnic women and children and asylum seekers.
- Support services for women prisoners and their families.
- Support for victims of sexual abuse, rape, domestic violence, and those working in the sex industry.
- Provision of antenatal and postnatal care for young mothers or those affected by postnatal depression.
Children and Young people
- Counselling for vulnerable children.
- Support services and outreach projects for those who are disadvantaged or deemed to be ‘at risk’ through neglect, emotional and physical abuse, alcohol, or drug misuse.
Additional Criteria
- You can apply for up to £15,000 per year, for a maximum of 3 years (maximum total grant, therefore, is £45,000).
- Please note this is a large, multi year, grants programme which is a 2 stage process and therefore not appropriate for small grant requests of £5,000 or less. If your organisation/project meets the Volant criteria and you wish to apply for £5,000 or less then please visit the Volant Charitable Trust Small Grants Programme here which opens in Autumn for decisions in April also.
- You can apply for core costs.
- There is an income cap of £1 million as reflected in your most recent annual accounts.
- If you have been previously rejected there is no time limit to re-apply provided your feedback does not prevent you due to being ineligible.
When to apply
- Now closed – enquiries will re-open in July 2026.
