Improving Lives

The Improving Lives grant programme provides grants to charitable organisations that help people when other sources of support have failed, are inappropriate, or are simply not available.

We support established organisations delivering services directly to beneficiaries. We are looking for services which can demonstrate a track record of success, and evidence the effectiveness of the work.

This is our largest grants programme, through which the majority of our funds are distributed.

We support established organisations delivering services directly to beneficiaries. We are looking for services which can demonstrate a track record of success, and evidence the effectiveness of the work.

We have six funding priorities that describe the work we support and how we want to bring about change for the most disadvantaged people in the greatest need.

Our application form asks you to identify which priority (or priorities) your work meets. All the grants we make must meet one of our priorities. Some applications may fit within several priority areas, but you don’t need to address more than one. Applications will be assessed on the quality of the work rather than the number of priority areas they are working towards.

• Help at a critical moment: Helping people to rebuild their lives following a crisis, critical moment, trauma or abuse.
• Positive choices: Helping people, whose actions or behaviours have led to negative consequences for themselves and others, to make positive choices.
• Accommodation / housing support: Enabling people to work towards or maintain accommodation.
• Employment and training: Supporting people to move towards employment.
• Financial inclusion, rights and entitlements: Supporting people to address their financial problems and ensure that they are able to claim their rights and entitlements.
• Support networks and family: Working with people to develop improved support networks and family relationships.

Key grant details: Grant size: £20k – £60k per year Length: 1-3 years (most grants are for 3 years) Decision timescale: Within 6 Months Deadlines: None

Organisation size: £50k – £3m (in exceptional circumstances up to £5m) Location of work: UK only Funding covers: Running costs, salaries and projects Organisation type: Charities and not-for-profit organisations, including social enterprises