CLA Charitable Trust Grant

This grant is to support charitable organisations that access the benefits of the countryside to pursue the health and wellbeing of people and to provide opportunities for education about the countryside, with priority for children and young people, disadvantaged financially, physically, mentally, or from areas of deprivation.

It covers applications for running costs, project works and capital works. Evidence of need should be demonstrated.

They make one-off grants and applicants can reapply after three-years. Occasionally, multi-year funding may be awarded at the discretion of the trustees.

The CLA Charitable Trusts seeks to support the most disadvantaged, and especially disadvantaged young people, to access the benefits of the countryside.

Their charitable objects are:

• Advancing people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing through financial support of charities, not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises, which are delivering access, recreational and educational opportunities within and about the countryside.
• To promote and encourage education in sustainable farming, food production and rural land management.

They support a wide range of organisations providing activities engaging young people and communities in these areas. This include but are not limited to:

• Farms providing day or residential experiences for disabled or disadvantaged young people.
• Growing projects including horticultural therapy and community projects supporting people through outdoor activities and gardening.
• Forest school type activities giving people the opportunity to utilise their outdoor spaces for the benefit of their mental and physical wellbeing.
• Conservation and environmental projects giving people the chance to learn about the natural environment and how to care for it.

The maximum grant is £5,000. Grant applications for amounts larger than this will not be considered.

They will fund registered charities or community interest companies.

They will fund other organisations but they must be clearly constituted, run on a not for profit basis and have a clear social benefit. This includes schools exclusively for children with additional needs.

They prioritise smaller organisations with a turnover of less than £1.5million. Larger organisations may still apply but are less likely to be successful. Organisations should have a clear reserves policy and organisations with significant unrestricted reserves will not be funded.

Previous Applicants

If your organisation has made a previous application you must wait three years before reapplying. This applies to both successful and unsuccessful applicants.

Religious Organisations and Activities

They will consider applications from faith-based organisations if activities are inclusive and welcome people of all faiths and none. They cannot fund activities that promote a specific religion or are restricted to a specific religious group.

What they do not fund

They do not fund:

• Uniformed groups such as Guides, Scouts, Cadets etc
• Animal parks, zoos, wildlife parks, tourist attractions
• Arts organisations, projects and activities
• Housing associations
• Mainstream schools, including PTAs and similar funds
• Grants for individuals
• Sports, including water sports
• Outdoor adventure / outward bound type activities
• Equestrian activities

They will also not fund grants for individuals, retrospective funding, and non-educational holidays.