Aims/priorities: The funding is intended for projects across two funding streams:
- Luton Matters Fund - This fund aims to provide financial support to organisations working on the ground in Luton to improve services in the town and provide positive outcomes and quality of life benefits for its residents.
- UK Under 26 Fund - This fund aims to improve outcomes for children and young people in the UK (regardless of their nationality, culture or ethnic origin) who are wholly or mainly under 26 years of age.
Who can apply? To apply for the UK Under 26 Fund, groups must:
- Be a UK-registered charity or exempt charity as defined in the Charities Act 2011 or its equivalents in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- Be seeking funding for work that will be delivered in any part of the UK, except Luton.
- Have a minimum income of £50,000 in the previous financial year.
- Be able to produce at least one full year of accounts, that confirms the required income threshold.
To apply for the Luton Matters Fund, groups must:
- Be a UK-registered charity or an Exempt Charity as defined in the Charities Act 2011 or its equivalents in Scotland and Northern Ireland, or be a Community Interest Company (CIC) or other formally structured not-for-profit organisation.
- Be seeking funding towards work that will be wholly/mainly delivered within the Luton town boundary for the benefit of the town and its residents
- Have a minimum income of £50,000 in the previous financial year
- Be able to produce at least one full year of accounts, that confirm the required income threshold
Unless specifically invited to do so, groups may only make one application within any 18 months (on the month of application), whether successful or not.
Grant amount: The minimum grant size is £10,000.
For UK under-26 funding, most one-off grants will fall in the range of between £10,000 and £25,000.
For Luton Matters funding, most one-off grants will fall in the range of between £10,000 and £50,000.
Application process: Applications for the UK Under 26 Fund are taken and reviewed on a rolling basis. The trustees meet quarterly to discuss applications. In 2025 the following changes have been made:
- Applications received between 16 October and 15 January 2025 will be reviewed in mid-March for a decision by the end of March.
- Applications received between 16 January and 15 April will be reviewed in mid-June for a decision by the end of June.
- Applications received between 16 April and 15 July will be reviewed in mid-September for a decision by the end of September.
- Applications received between 16 July and 15 October will be reviewed in mid-December for a decision by the end of December.
Applications for the Luton Matters Fund will be accepted between 10 March 2025 and 30 September 2025 and reviewed at meetings in mid-June, mid-September, and mid-December.
Applications must be made using the Trust's online application form.
Deadline: Tuesday 15 July 2025.
Contact information: Email: info@steelcharitabletrust.org.uk
Website: UNITED KINGDOM Under-26 Fund