BBC Children in Need’s Main Grants 2021 Programme Opens for Applications

Funding for not-for-profit organisations that are working with disadvantaged children and young people aged up to 18 years and living in the UK.

After a six-month break, the BBC Children in Need Main Grants programme has reopened for applications for grants of over £10,000 to support projects for up to three years.

Registered charities and not-for-profit organisations in the UK can apply if they are supporting children and young people of 18 years and under who are experiencing disadvantage through:

  • Illness, distress, abuse or neglect
  • Any kind of disability
  • Behavioural or psychological difficulties
  • Living in poverty or situations of deprivation

The funding is for projects that make differences in children’s lives that help prevent or overcome the effects of the disadvantages they face. Projects achieve these differences by either working directly with children or seeking to improve their social and physical environments.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the funder has temporarily broadened the types of applications it is accepting. Currently funding is being offered that can be used more flexibly than usual.

Applications are encouraged for:

  • Project delivery (including staffing and salary costs)
  • Creative solutions to deliver much needed services
  • Organisational costs to support stability and adaptation. (Including the day-to-day running costs of an organisation as opposed to specific project costs)

All applications will have to show how this funding will make a difference to children and young people’s lives during this crisis.

Applications are not limited to one specific project and a request can be made for organisational running costs. The funder is committed to supporting voluntary groups with these types of grants.

The deadline for applications is 11:30 am on 23 August 2021 for decisions in late January 2022.