The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust has announced its latest funding round, offering grants of £500 to £8,000 to UK-registered charities working in the performing arts, creative health, and heritage crafts.

Funding is aimed at work that increases access to opportunity through:

• Performing arts engagement, community music-making and early-stage career development
• Creative health activity such as arts accessed through referral, short breaks for young carers, animal-assisted therapy and horticulture
• Heritage crafts projects that protect rare skills and link training to employment, particularly for young people

Grants may support projects or organisational costs. Project budgets may include proportionate core costs. Unrestricted funding is available for charities with an annual income under £250,000.

Small charity grants are available for organisations with an annual income of up to £5 million. The deadline for applications is 5pm 22 January 2027.

Large charity grants are available for those with an annual income above £5 million. First stage applications must be submitted by 5pm  8 January 2027, with second-stage applications accepted until 5pm 22 January 2027.

Grants will be decided by 9 March 2027. Applicants will be informed by the end of March.

Examples of projects funded by the Trust include:

• The Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling, which received funding towards weekly dance sessions with live music for people with Parkinson’s, alongside their carers or family members.
• The Youth Adventure Trust, South West England, which received funding to support 12 young carers to participate in camps and activity days building resilience, confidence and life skills.
• The Bishopsland Educational Trust received funding to purchase and install a silver-spinning lathe to support training in endangered silversmithing skills.

Useful Links:

Funding Guidelines