Aims/priorities: After pausing for applications in September 2024, the funder is reopening in early March 2025 with two focus areas through which it aims to drive social impact,
The focus going forward will be to help people experiencing hardship and/or underserved groups to:
- Access a place to call home.
- Improve financial wellbeing.
For both focus areas, priority will be given to charities supporting people in the top 50% of the UK Index of Multiple Deprivation.
The target outcomes for 'Access a Place to Call Home' are people have:
- Access and support into a safe and secure permanent or temporary place to call home. The funder wants to support charities that enable people most in need to live independently.
- Access and support into a safe and secure home in times of crisis. Enabling people into temporary accommodation in emergency situations such as homelessness or a health crisis.
- Access to a safe and secure place in the community. When 'home' doesn't feel like home - people need somewhere to go to receive appropriate help and wellbeing support. For some people a community centre, charity hub or simply a safe space feels like home, so the funder wants to make sure these services continue to thrive.
The target outcomes for 'Financial Wellbeing' are people have:
- The support needed to prevent and/or address financial difficulty. Support for charities who provide help and guidance on how to manage money and improve financial wellbeing.
- Access to financial education. Support for charities whose work will support financial independence and education.
- Better digital competence to enable financial wellbeing. Support for charities who support people to navigate the digital world especially where it relates to managing money.
Who can apply? UK registered charities based and working in the UK may apply.
To be eligible, applicants must be charities:
- Registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, and the Scottish Charity Regulator.
- Established for at least three years and able to provide three years of accounts published on the relevant Charity Commission.
- Which have a direct benefit to people in the UK.
Priority will be given to charities supporting people in the top 50% of the UK Index of Multiple Deprivation.
Successful applicants must wait three years before re-applying. Unsuccessful applicants must wait one year before re-applying.
Grant amount: The maximum grant available is being increased from £6,000 to £10,000.
Application process: The trustees meet twice a year in June and December.
Applications received outside the submission dates will not be accepted.
Notifications of decisions can take up to 28 days from the trustees meeting date. Successful applicants will be notified by email.
The online application form can be found on the Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation website.
Deadline: The 2025 application window opens:
- 3 March and closes 1 May 2025 (17:00) for the June meeting
- 1 September and closes 31 October 2025 (17:00) for the December meeting.
Contact information: Email: charitablefoundation@skipton.co.uk
Website: Skipton Charitable Foundation