What We Fund
The Henry Smith Charity makes grants for work throughout the UK. Applications can be made for revenue and capital activity. Priority is given to work with groups experiencing social and/or economic disadvantage, for example, people with disabilities; and work that tackles problems in areas of high deprivation, by which we mean those that fall within the bottom third of the National Indices of Deprivation. Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information about the Indices.
We make grants in the following categories and have given some examples of the type of work we will fund under these categories below:
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME)
Projects providing culturally appropriate services to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities; including those that promote integration and access to mainstream services.
Carers
Projects providing advice and support; including respite services for carers and those cared for. Work can include educational opportunities for young carers.
Community Service
Projects providing support for communities in areas of high deprivation; including projects providing furniture recycling services, debt advice and community centres.
Disability
Projects providing rehabilitation, training or advocacy support to people who are disabled; this includes learning disabilities as well as physical disabilities.
Domestic and Sexual Violence
Projects providing advice, support and secure housing for families affected by domestic violence or sexual violence. Perpetrator programmes can be considered where organisations have secured, or are working towards, Respect accreditation.
Drugs, Alcohol and Substance Misuse
Projects supporting the rehabilitation of people affected by, or at risk of, drug and/or alcohol dependency, and projects supporting their families.
Ex-Service Men and Women
Projects providing services or residential care to ex-service men and women and their dependents.
Family Services
Projects providing support to families in areas of high deprivation.
Healthcare
Projects providing residential care, health care or outreach services, such as home care support. Services operated by the NHS will not normally be funded. In the case of applications from Hospices, priority is given to requests for capital expenditure.
Homelessness
Projects providing housing and services for homeless people and those at risk of homelessness.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
Projects providing advice, support and counselling for people who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgendered.
Mental Health
Projects promoting positive mental health or providing advice and support to people experiencing mental health problems.
Older People
Projects providing residential care, health care or emotional support, such as befriending services and day care centres. Priority will be given to projects in areas of high deprivation and those where rural isolation can be demonstrated.
Prisoners and Ex-offenders
Projects that help the rehabilitation and resettlement of prisoners and/or ex-offenders; including education and training that improve employability, and projects that support prisoners’ families.
Prostitution and Trafficking
Projects that provide advice and support to sex industry workers; including advice on housing support and personal health, escaping exploitation and exiting prostitution.
Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Projects providing advocacy, advice and support to refugees and asylum seekers, and those promoting integration.
Young People
Projects maximising the potential of young people who experience educational, social and economic disadvantage; including young people in, or leaving, care.
This information should be read in conjunction with the information about what we cannot fund, which you will find on our Not Normally Funded page.