Aims/priorities: The key aims of the fund are to:
- Strengthen parenting skills to improve children’s outcomes.
- Build confidence and reduce stress in the home.
- Connect families to their local community.
The funding is for not-for-profit organisations working in the UK who:
- Support families with children aged 0-5 (including during pregnancy) who face financial hardship or social isolation.
- Work in areas with high levels of child poverty - at least 24.9% of children live in poverty in their local authority area.
Who can apply? Applications will be accepted from formally registered, not-for-profit organisations with a charitable purpose, such as registered charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs)*, community benefit societies, who are providing direct service delivery.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be based and deliver services in the UK.
- Have an annual income below £1 million from their most recently published accounts.
- Support families with children aged 0-5 and/or during pregnancy.
- Provide long-term face-to-face support to families in their homes.
- Be part of the local community and able to connect families to other services and support
*CICs will need to demonstrate a clear charitable purpose and any surplus is reinvested into their work.
The applicant’s local authority must be in an area where child poverty is 24.9% or higher.
Grant amount: Grants of between £40,000 and £50,000 per year for up to three years are available (a maximum total of £150,000).
It is expected that 40 grants will be made.
Accessibility support grants are also available to help cover costs such as BSL interpreters, scribes, translation services, assistive technology, or support workers:
- £250 at the Expression of Interest stage
- £500 at the Full Application stage (if invited).
Application process: The guidelines, faqs, and online application can be found on the Henry Smith Foundation
The Foundation’s Grant team will hold a free live webinar on 30 July 2025 (14:00 to 15:00). Registration is required. A recording will be available after the event for those who cannot attend.
To start the application process, groups need to complete a short eligibility quiz on the Foundation's website.
Eligible organisations will then be able to submit an Expression of Interest from 31 July 2025 to the deadline of 28 August 2025 (17:00).
Those who are successful will hear by 17 September 2025 if they have been invited to submit a full application. Notification of decisions is expected in mid December 2025.
Deadline: Thursday 28 August 2025, (17:00).
Contact information: Email: gettingstarted@henrysmith.foundation
Website: Together We Begin - Henry Smith