Aims/priorities: The funding is for projects taking place in the UK that address one of the following:
- Asylum Seekers and Refugees - For organisations working to provide essential services which help meet the needs of asylum seekers and refugees and support their integration/participation in the wider community.
- Penal Affairs - for work "through the door" where charitable organisations go into prisons with projects and support to help prisoners (especially women) cope and/or maintain family bonds and to be better able to resettle positively when released. Post-release projects which support positive settlement, re-stablishing family bonds, and a reduction in the likelihood of re-offending are also welcomed.
Who can apply? The funder is keen to support small organisations with a preference to fund those already established rather than new ones.
Applications will be accepted from:
- Registered charities.
- Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs).
- Charitable Companies (must be registered both as a charity and a company)
- Excepted charities (see Excepted charities - GOV.UK for more information on these)
To be eligible for UK funding, charities that are registered and operating in the UK must:
- Have a project that meets the Foundation's priority areas.
- Have a total annual income (from all sources) of under £200,000 in the last three financial years.
- Be able to demonstrate UK charitable purposes.
- Have adequate insurance and safeguarding policies and procedures for your service users, volunteers and employees, including DRB screening if necessary.
- Hold less than 12 months spending in cash reserves.
Priority will be given to organisations:
- Which either have a significant number of people on their boards and/or staff team who have lived experience of the issues they are addressing, or have robust systems in place for people with lived experience to be able to shape the services provided.
- Which have a sufficient track record and/or expertise in delivering the services for which they are seeking support. In some cases a recognised qualification or quality mark may be required (eg for formal advice services; or delivery of ESOL).
- Organisations holding less than 50% of annual income in free unrestricted reserves.
If the fund is oversubscribed, priority may be given to organisations based outside Greater London.
Groups that received a one-year grant in the recent grant cycle or were unsuccessful with an application may apply again..
Groups that were funded for two years in the most recent grant cycle may not apply this year.
Grant amount: Around £400,000 is available.
Grants will usually be in the range of £5,000 to £7,000 per year for up to two years.
Application process: The general guidance and priorities are available on the Hilden Charitable Fund website.
The first step in the application process is to take the eligibility test. If successful, applicants will be able to access the online application form.
Notification of decisions will be given by email to everyone that has applied by the end of October/early November 2026. Successful applicants will be able to use their funding from November 2026 onwards.
Groups should use the 'contact us' form on the Hilden Charitable Fund website for enquiries.
Deadline: Thursday, 27 August 2026 (15:00).
Contact information: Tel: 0207 603 1525
Website: UK Funding - Hilden Charitable Fund