Apply

OUR NEXT TRUSTEE MEETING IS 

Monday 29th September 2025 

For an application for a grant to be considered at our next Trustee meeting, please submit it on the form below, by Monday 22nd September 2025.

Applications received after that date will be considered at our next meeting.

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

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

• Application for a grant is made by downloading the word document below and emailing that to us at [email protected] with the attachments requested. Please take your time to complete the form as fully as possible so the Trustees have all the information they need to consider your application.
• As we are dealing with charitable funds we need to be certain that the funds will be correctly used for the purposes indicated and therefore applications from organisations with a track record will be preferred but we will consider applications from newly formed organisations if there is good evidence that they will be sustainable.
• Applications will be preferred from organisations that are both based in the Christchurch area and which will benefit the residents and community in the area but will be considered from organisations based outside of the area if assurances can be given that the funds will be used to benefit those who live in Christchurch. As indicated above, Christchurch is defined by the boundaries of the former Christchurch borough and therefore includes Highcliffe, Walkford, Mudeford, Stanpit, Somerford, Purewell, Burton, Christchurch Town, Fairmile, Jumpers, Commons and Hurn.
• The application must be for charitable purposes as defined by the Charities Act 2011. Section 3 of that act should be referred to at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/25/section/3
  It will be seen that this is widely drawn and includes, among other purposes, those mentioned on the first page.
• Applications for identifiable projects  – and ones that are either run by or include volunteers – will be preferred.
• Grants will not be given if the trustees consider that that the organisation applying for the grant has sufficient funds of its own to cover the project or if they consider the project would be better funded from another source or that it should be funded by central or local government  
• 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 government or the local authority 
• Grants for the payment of salaries or general running costs for already established organisations will not be considered other than in exceptional circumstances.

NEXT STEPS

1. When an application is received, it will be acknowledged.
2. It will be reviewed to ensure it is an appropriate application that falls within our scope and that the necessary information has been supplied. We may contact you if further information is required.
3. The application will then be placed before a meeting of the Trustees for consideration. The Trustees will decide whether to approve or refuse the grant and may offer a grant of an amount different to that requested and may place conditions on grants offered.
4. The Trustees will then inform the applicant when a decision is made.
5. We are a charity and have limited funds and are therefore limited in the number of grants we can make. We also have to act within our charitable objectives. You should not assume that all applications will be granted and there are bound to be some that will be refused. Please do not take offence if we are unable to grant your application.
6. The Trustees decision will be final. The meetings of the Trustees are private and confidential and there will be no obligation on the Trustees to give reasons for their decisions and we reserve the right to refuse to enter into correspondence as to why a grant has been refused or reduced or made subject to conditions.
7. The Trustees reserve the right to refuse to consider a repeat application for one already refused.
8. We will endeavour to keep each applicant informed of the progress of their application. Please recognise that the trustees are all unpaid volunteers and we have no paid staff so the speed with which we will be able to deal with matters will depend on the number of applications received.