Henry Smith Charity - 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.

Key grant details:

• Grant size - £20k - £70k per year
• Length - 1 -3 years (most grants are for 3 years)
• Decisions timescale - within 6 months
• Deadline - None

Qualifying criteria:

• 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

There are six funding priorities that describe the work the charity supports and how they want to bring about change for the most disadvantaged people in the greatest need. All the grants made must meet one of the priorities. Some applications may fit within several priority areas, but you don't need to address more than one.

Priorities:

• 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 or gain employment.
• Financial inclusion, rights and entitlements: Supporting people to overcome 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

For more information about the Improving Lives grant programme, including a fuller explanation of the type of work funded, what the charity looks for in applications, and how they will assess your application, please download the full guidelines.