Children in Need Core Costs funding is open for applications. Here’s everything you need to know about the funding and how to apply.
How much can I apply for?
Grants available – Up to £120,000 (£40,000 per year for a maximum of three years). Quicker decisions will be made for groups requesting £15,000 or less.
Is a Core Cost grant restricted or unrestricted funding?
Core Cost grants are awarded as restricted funding. They must be used to cover your organisations essential running expenses.
Who are grants for?
Registered charities and not-for-profit organisations working with disadvantaged children and young people aged 18 and under. To apply for funding over £15,000 you must be a registered charity or company.
Applications from smaller, local organisations will be prioritised therefore organisations with an annual turnover of more than £1million will rarely be funded with the exception of hospices, housing associations and applications delivering nationwide or UK-wide work.
Grants are available to organisations in the UK, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
The people and organisations that BBC Children in Need fund will be:
- Working with children and young people aged 18 years and under
- Working in the heart of their communities, particularly in times of crisis
- Putting children and young people at the centre of everything they do, from design to delivery
- Addressing challenges faced by children and young people, building their skills and resilience
- Empowering children and young people, and extending their choices in life
- Keen to keep learning about and developing their work with children and young people
- Committed to making a difference in children and young people’s lives
What won’t be funded?
BBC Children in Need doesn’t fund:
- Work that statutory bodies (such as schools or local authorities) have a duty to fund
- Educational institutions, including schools, universities, and pupil referral units. Special schools are the only exception; please see our A–Z Guidance for more detail
- Local government, prisons, or NHS bodies
- Capital or building projects
- Work that promotes religion
- Trips abroad, or other activity taking place outside the UK
- Medical treatment or research
- Pregnancy testing or advice, information, or counselling on pregnancy choices
- Awareness-raising work, except where targeted at children or young people most at risk
- Bursaries, sponsored places, fees, or similar costs
- Holidays where there is little or no project involvement
- Political activity, including party political organisations or direct lobbying
- Individuals
- Costs passed on to other organisations
- General appeals or endowment funds
- Help with budget shortfalls or debt repayments
- Work that has already taken place – or any costs incurred – before the date we give you a decision (retrospective funding)
- Expenditure unable to start within 12 months of the grant award date
- Unspecified expenditure
What’s the deadline for applications?
The Core Costs funding stream has no application deadline so you can apply at any time. If your request is successful, you must start spending your grant within 12 months. Work that’s already taken place will not be funded.
Find out more and apply for Children in Need Core Costs Funding here.