Funding Friday
BBC Children in Need
BBC Children in Need funding is intended to create lasting, positive change for the children and young people who need it most. Grants can therefore be used to support children who are facing challenges such as growing up in poverty, mental health issues, being ill or disabled, family challenges, and social injustice.
Applications can be made by not-for-profit organisations working with children and young people aged 18 or under.
You can apply for grants towards core costs (day-to-day costs of running your organisation) or project costs (for the delivery of specific piece of work). Grants range from £1,000 to £40,000 per year and can be awarded for up to three years.
We’re there for you- BBC Children in Need
In addition:
Emergency Essentials – registered referrers can apply for funding for individual children living in poverty. Emergency Essentials funding can be used towards items that meet children’s most basic needs eg. a bed, clothing etc. This programme is delivered separately by BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme – Family Fund Business Services
7Stars Foundation
The 7Stars Foundation supports young people aged 18 years and younger who are living in challenging circumstances.
Applications will be considered from organisations that require funding for:
- combatting abuse
- battling addiction
- tackling homelessness
- supporting child carers
Funding is supplied through the following streams:
- Project funding – one-off grants up to £5,000 for registered charities, children’s homes or schools delivering projects for vulnerable children
- Shine Bright – two-year grants totalling £60,000 (£30,000 per year) for registered charities with innovative ideas to tackle the underlying causes of issues facing vulnerable children
- Child Poverty – one charity partner is selected to receive a two-year grant of £60,000 to support its work to tackle child poverty (currently closed)
- Social Impact – two-year unrestricted grants of £10,000 (£5,000 per year) for charities tackling key societal issues affecting young people. The focus areas for the Spring 2026 round are child exploitation and child mental health (one charity partner will be selected per focus area).
- Individual funding – one-off grants up to £500 made via safeguarding professionals to meet a critical need of an individual child
- Apprenticeships – fully-funded apprenticeships (up to Level 4) for registered charities and other organisations supporting vulnerable young people
Application deadline: Spring 2026: Apply by 1 February 2026. Summer 2026: Apply by 30 April 2026. Autumn 2026: Apply by 31 August 2026.
the7stars foundation – Lending a hand for a brighter day
The Wise Music Foundation
The Wise Music Foundation provides small grants for a range of charitable activities – not necessarily music related. The focus of the funding is on children, the homeless and people living in poverty but the foundation also supports education, culture, arts and heritage, and health initiatives.
The average grant is £1,500. Charitable groups, voluntary and community organisations, and other not-for-profit groups in the UK may apply. The preference is to fund smaller charities.
For further information visit the website: Home – Wise Music Foundation