Small Charities Programme

General Guidance for Applicants

In the current round for which applications are invited, the Trustees are looking to award grants of up to £8,000 per annum for three years, subject to satisfactory annual reporting. 

Applicants are advised to indicate clearly how such a multi-year grant will be of significant benefit. The Trustees need to be convinced that such a grant will provide meaningful support for a particular cost or project area, and that it will have demonstrable impact. They will consider requests for funding for specific projects or for core costs. At the end of the grant period you will be asked to make a final report to demonstrate the impact of the grant. 

You can read more about our recent Small Charity Partners here.

Engagement

The Trustees seek to develop supportive relationships between the Armourers & Brasiers' Company and charities in receipt of grants.  Engagement could take the form of visits to the charity, invitations to report at meetings of the Trustees, opportunities to attend events at Armourers’ Hall, the opportunity to use the Hall once during the period of the grant, at the discretion of the Master & Wardens of the Armourers & Brasiers' Company.  Applicants should understand the value of such engagement and be enthusiastic partners.

Eligibility

Applicants should: 

• be charities registered in the UK (with the Charity Commission of England Wales, the Scottish Charity Regulator or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland)
• be operating either throughout the UK (ie not regionally) or in London (defined as within the M25).
• have had income below £500,000 in the last financial year for which full accounts are available
• be operating in one of the following categories:
  • Community or Armed Forces (the trustees have an emerging but not exclusive interest in projects that support military veterans in the prison system or post-release);
  • Children, Youth or General Education (the trustees have an emerging but not exclusive interest in projects that support children at risk of exclusion from mainstream education);
  • Health or Medical;
  • the Arts, Arms or Armour.

Exclusions

Applicants should not: 

• be applying for general maintenance, repair or restoration of buildings
• be applying for sponsorship as individuals
• be applying for the benefit of an individual
• be applying for charities or projects outside the UK
• be applying for funding for any legal dispute.

Applications Process and Timetable for 2025 Applications Period

• Applications must be made via the online application form
• the Closing Date for applications is Monday 30th June 2025
• initial shortlisting undertaken by staff members
• review of shortlist by Trustees
• Staff or trustees may request to visit shortlisted applicants
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to meet the trustees at Armourers' Hall, (likely to be in November 2025)
• Grants to successful applicants will be paid in December 2025

Applications will only be considered if submitted via the online application form. You will be asked some questions to verify your eligibility before you can access the full form.  As part of the application process you will be asked to upload your most recent financial statements. If you are a new charity and do not yet have audited accounts, you should upload your budget and/or business plan for the year.  If your accounts show a substantial cash balance you may wish to explain why this is the case.