The Christchurch Charitable Trust is a local, independent charity. We provide grants for projects which benefit the community in the Christchurch area.

We actively invite applications for funds from not-for-profit groups and organisations, including registered charities, community interest groups, volunteer groups, scout or youth groups, local sports clubs, local schools, local town and parish councils and the like.

The application needs to be for charitable purposes, which include:

• The advancement of community cohesion and development (including supporting the running of community events)
• Providing funds to support services to vulnerable groups in the community, be they the young or elderly or those with disabilities or other disadvantages
• The advancement of education, health, heritage and environmental protection & improvement

The project needs to be for the benefit of the community in the Christchurch area, which is defined as the former Borough of Christchurch and therefore includes the area covered by the current wards of Christchurch Town; Commons; Burton & Grange; Mudeford & West Highcliffe and Highcliffe & Walkford.

Applications from organisations outside of Christchurch will be considered if satisfactory assurances can be given that the funds granted will be ringfenced to provide benefit to Christchurch residents.

We are keen to support worthwhile community projects that need funds to help achieve their goals.  Applications for identifiable projects  – and ones that are either run by or include volunteers – will be preferred.

Most grants will be in the £500 to £5,000 range. Grants for amounts above that figure will be considered in exceptional circumstances.

To get a feel for the projects and organisations we are likely to support, do read the Blogs on our Charity News page to see the grants we have made.

An application is made by completing and submitting the form on the Apply page. If you have an interesting project that is likely to help the local community – do apply!

Applications from individuals or for individual benefit will not be accepted.

Grants will not be given if the trustees consider that the organisation applying for the grant has sufficient funds of its own to cover the project, or if the trustees consider the project would be better funded from another source, or by central or local government

Grants for the payment of salaries or general running costs for already established organisations will not be considered other than in exceptional circumstances.

Grants will not be considered for purposes that are considered by the trustees to be political or religious (but this should not prevent religious bodies from applying for grants for charitable non-religious projects).