Holiday Grants for Children
March 2013
We regret to advise that this grant programme is now closed.
No further applications can be accepted for holidays or trips in 2013.
This is due to the number of applications this year having been much higher than expected (many more than we have received in previous years).
We will be reviewing the programme for 2014 so if you could be interested in applying for a holiday grant next year please check the website towards the end of this year for an update on how to proceed and to check your eligibility.
In the meantime, please do not send any applications until further notice as we will not be able to consider them.
Criteria
Applications can be made for grants towards holidays or outings within the UK for children aged 13 and under who are from areas of high deprivation*, are experiencing disadvantage, or who have a disability.
Our funding is for holidays or outings that provide children with an experience they would not otherwise have the opportunity to access. Trips can be to countryside or city locations, but must be outside the children’s immediate locality. We are able to fund day-trips as well as longer residential trips, but are less likely to fund trips to high cost attractions (e.g theme parks).
We will consider trips for children who live in deprived circumstances within an otherwise affluent area according to the National Indices of Deprivation, but the case for support must be clearly explained.
Schools, youth groups, not for profit organisations and charities are all eligible to apply. If the application is for a whole class or larger group of children, priority will be given to the most deprived areas of the UK. We will, on occasion, fund the full cost for children within a group who would otherwise not be able to participate in a holiday.
Grants of between £500 and £2,500 can be considered. However, we are only able to fund a maximum of two-thirds of the total cost of a trip as we expect some of the funding to be raised elsewhere. Please be aware that, if we make a grant to your organisation, we may not be able to award you the full amount you ask for.
Your organisation may apply for funding year on year for a maximum of three years. However, we cannot guarantee that each application will be successful. Each application is considered on its own merits, but demand for our grants is high and always exceeds the budget available.
* by “areas of high deprivation” we mean those that fall within the bottom third of the National Indices of Deprivation. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions section of our website for further details.
How to apply
You should apply by completing the Holiday Grants Application form, which can be downloaded using the links at the bottom of this page.
- Please answer every question on the application form
- You may enclose additional information, but this should not exceed two pages
- Please ensure you enclose all the documents and information we ask you for
- All applications (except those from schools) must be accompanied by a copy of your organisation's most recent audited or independently inspected accounts, and
- a detailed budget and fundraising strategy for the trip or holiday which explains where the balance of funds will be/have been raised.
Your application should be posted to us at:
Applications — Holiday Grants
The Henry Smith Charity
6th Floor, 65 Leadenhall Street
London EC3A 2AD
It usually takes between six and eight weeks for decisions to be made on applications.
Please note that at the start of each year we prioritise applications for trips during the period up to and including the Easter break. If you wish to apply for a grant for a trip taking place later in the year, you may do so, but the timetable for receiving a decision on your application is likely to be longer than eight weeks.
We reserve the right to share information received from applicants requesting funding, and from those in receipt of funding from us, with other grantmakers, unless an organisation expressly requests otherwise.
Final Reports
If you are awarded a grant, you will be expected to send us a report within three months of the trip having taken place.
Your report must include:
- Confirmation that the grant has been spent on the purpose for which it was given — i.e. the trip that you told us about in your original application. If not, please explain.
- Information about how the trip went, how many children benefited, what they gained or learned from it, and any practical results it has produced. Include details of any useful lessons learned that will inform you future work, or that could be of use to others.
- Confirm of whether or not the trip was delivered within budget. If it was not, for example if you have over or under spent, please explain the reasons for this.
If your organisation does not submit a final report, or your report is not satisfactory, we will not consider further requests for funding.
For further information please contact Jo Marren on 020 7264 4978.
Downloadable Documents
Links to documents open in a new window.
These documents are for information only as this grant programme is now closed.
Holiday Grant Guidelines - Word
Holiday Grant Guidelines - PDF
Holiday Grant Application Form - Word
Holiday Grant Application Form - PDF