Aims/priorities: This Fund aims to improve the development of children most at risk of poor Early Childhood Development (ECD) outcomes, by investing in effective parenting support.
The first round is focused on communities where outcome gaps are largest.
Organisations should be working closely with and understand parents with children aged newborn to five years from:
- Black (Caribbean or African, Any Other Black), Pakistani, and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities and/or
- Growing up in the most deprived 20% areas nationally (using the official deprivation index for that nation, eg, IMD for England and Wales).
The funding aims to support organisations that are trusted by the communities they serve and that can evidence the difference their work makes.
Note "parents" for this fund refers to anyone with a primary caregiving role for a young child. This includes parents, carers, kinship carers, guardians, and other family members responsible for raising a child. The foundation recognise that families take many forms, and welcome applications from organisations supporting a wide range of caregivers of children aged newborn to five.
Organisations working with a wider age range than newborn to five years may apply but they must clearly demonstrate how the work they are planning to do benefits children aged newborn to five. If they are successful, the funding may be restricted to early years activity only.
Who can apply? Applications will be accepted from charitable organisations registered in and working in the UK, including:
- Registered charities and Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs)
- Community Interest Companies (CICs) that are not-for-profit with an asset lock
- Other not for profit charitable organisations delivering work aligned with the Foundation's object
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Have an annual income between £100,000 and £5 million (as shown in their most recent published accounts).
- Have a year's worth of accounts that have been audited or independently examined.
Priority will be given to applications that:
- Demonstrate their organisation is strongly rooted in the communities they serve, with staff, partnerships or governance that reflect those communities
- Evidence support that is culturally relevant, accessible and responsive to the lived realities of participating families
- Show how they will use learning and data to strengthen and sustain their work and contribute to local systems change and wider sector understanding
Grant amount: Grants are £56,250 per year for four years (£225,000 total).
In addition, grant recipients will receive support and relationship-building beyond just funding
Application process: The guidelines, FAQs, eligibility quiz, sample Expression of Interest and application form, as well as other relevant documents, are available on the Henry Smith Foundation website.
A live launch webinar will be held on 2 June 2026 (11 am to 12 pm) with a recording and transcript available for those who are unable to attend the live event.
This new fund opens for applications on 3 June 2026 (9 am).
There is a two-stage application process:
- The first stage is to submit an Expression of Interest by the deadline of 1 July 2026 (17:00).
- Around 35 organisations will be invited to submit a full application by 21 August 2026 (17:00).
Decisions are expected in October 2026, and successful applicants must start their grant within six months of the award date.
Deadline: Wednesday, 1 July 2026 (17:00).
Contact information: Email: gettingstarted@henrysmith.foundation