Children in Need – Project Grants

Project Costs support the aims and delivery of a specific piece of work. This work will usually be time-limited, and based on a defined set of activities.

The BBC Children in Need Project Costs Funding Stream is for charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Applicants to this programme can apply for grants for up to three years.

They aim to give quicker decisions for grants of £15,000 or less per year.

The grant is for not-for-profit organisations working with children and young people aged 18 or under that are based in the UK, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands or organisations that work with children and young people who live in the UK, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands.

They will only consider applications for over £15,000 per year from organisations who have registered with the appropriate regulatory body

You can only apply for and hold one grant at any time.

If you have a current BBC Children in Need Small or Main grant that is due to end within 12 months, check their FAQ section on their website to confirm if you are eligible to apply

If they do not fund your application, they will advise you when you are next able to apply to them

You won’t be eligible for their Project Costs stream if you have a current grant with more than 12 months left to deliver.

They seek to prioritise smaller, local organisations. For Project Grants, they understand that in certain circumstances, larger organisations can be best placed to deliver work to the communities that need it most. If your organisation has a turnover of over £2m in the most recent, complete financial year you may only apply for a Project Grant if you are:

• A Hospice
• A Refuge
• Delivering work that is a strong fit with their geographic and thematic areas of interest and can evidence why your organisation is best-placed to deliver the work

If you fit into the above, you must have a conversation with your local team who will advise on whether you should apply. You can find out how to contact your local team on their website.

If your organisation is delivering in more than one nation in the UK, you are able to apply to and hold a project grant in more than one nation (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales) at any one time

If you apply to us for UK-wide delivery, a centrally based decision panel will consider your application. Please see their A- Z Eligibility Guidance for more information on UK Wide Delivery on their website.

The people and organisations that BBC Children in Need fund will be:

• Working with children and young people aged 18 years and under
• Working in the heart of their communities, particularly in times of crisis
• Putting children and young people at the centre of everything they do, from design to delivery
• Addressing challenges faced by children and young people, building their skills and resilience
• Empowering children and young people, and extending their choices in life
• Keen to keep learning about and developing their work with children and young people
• Committed to making a difference in children and young people’s lives

BBC Children in Need does not fund:

• Work that statutory bodies (such as schools or local authorities) have a duty to fund
• Educational institutions, including schools, universities, and pupil referral units. Special schools are the only exception; please see their A–Z Eligibility Guidance for more detail
• Local authorities, NHS bodies, hospitals or prisons
• Capital or building projects
• Projects that promote religion
• Trips abroad, or other activity taking place outside the UK
• Medical treatment or research
• Pregnancy testing or advice, information, or counselling on pregnancy choices
• Awareness-raising work, except where targeted at children or young people most at risk
• Bursaries, sponsored places, fees, or similar costs
• Holidays where there is little or no project involvement
• Political activity, including party political organisations or direct lobbying
• Individuals
• Costs passed on to other organisations. They expect all organisations applying for funding to take full responsibility for finance, governance and safeguarding during delivery of the work
• General appeals or endowment funds
• Help with budget shortfalls or debt repayments
• Work that has already taken place – or any costs incurred – before the date they gave you a decision (retrospective funding)
• Projects unable to start within 12 months of the grant award date
• Unspecified expenditure
• Full cost recovery models
• Any activity that is already being funded through another grant. They cannot fund the same activity twice. All applications should clearly demonstrate that they are either for different work, or for work with a different cohort of children and young people