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Funding Opportunity: The Brelms Trust
The Brelms Trust provides grant funding to small and medium-sized charities working to improve the lives and opportunities of people across Yorkshire.
The Trust is particularly interested in supporting charities that enable disadvantaged people to play a fuller role in their communities, helping to improve quality of life and increase opportunities
Who can apply?
The fund is specifically for organisations that:
- Have charitable status and are registered with the Charity Commission
- Are based and embedded in Yorkshire, with their work directly benefiting Yorkshire communities
- Have a gross annual income of no more than £300,000
- Usually have unrestricted reserves equivalent to six months or less
- Can demonstrate a clear need for the funding and the difference it will make.
This means that CICs and other community organisations that are not registered charities are not eligible.
What does the Brelms Trust fund?
Funding can support core costs as well as specific projects, which makes this potentially valuable for smaller charities needing support with the costs of keeping their organisation and services running.
The Trust is interested in a broad range of community issues, including carers, homelessness, older people experiencing isolation, physical and mental health, disabilities, refugees and asylum seekers, rural isolation, domestic abuse, excluded young people, debt and benefits advice, conservation, arts, education, sport and support for disadvantaged communities.
Applications can include costs such as staff salaries, volunteer expenses, general running/core costs and direct service delivery
Applications are open throughout the year
There isn't a single annual application deadline. Applications are assessed throughout the year, with grant awards made quarterly, and decisions are communicated by email.
The application is completed online, and organisations are asked to read the Trust's eligibility criteria and guidance carefully before applying. The Trust says it approves around one third of applications, with some unsuccessful applications resulting from organisations not providing all the information requested.
Think about the “so what?”
The application asks organisations to explain not simply what they want to deliver, but how the funding will make a difference.
Applicants should be prepared to explain who will benefit, how many people they expect to support, why the activity is needed in their community, how people access the service, how impact will be measured and how the work could be sustained in the future. The Trust also welcomes evidence of partnership working and other sources of funding.
If your charity is considering applying, take some time to read the guidance before starting the form and make sure your latest accounts and budget information are ready.
