How to apply
Find out more about the application process and start an application.
Through Active Lives we make grants totalling about £700,000 per year. Due to an extremely high volume of applications we were only able to provide a contribution towards 10% of the applications received in the last funding round. Therefore, the Trustees have decided to focus our limited resources on those who live in the top 40% of areas of deprivation (Indices of Multiple Deprivation deciles 1-4). More information on this can be found below. Work in the top 10% most deprived areas (IMD decile 1) is our highest priority. To avoid wasting your time, please ensure you meet our revised eligibility and funding criteria before starting an application.
Type of funding: We will consider applications for capital, project or core funding.
Location of project: Anywhere in the United Kingdom.
Grant amount: We accept applications for £5,001 – £30,000
All applications to Active Lives MUST:
and / or
*Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD):
You can check the IMD for the areas in which you are working using:
Applications MUST also:
Applications which evidence that they meet the funding priorities below will have the best chance of being successful.
Meet income level priorities
Focus on deprivation
Are experienced
Provide high impact opportunities
Prioritise grassroots and community engagement
Demand excellence
Have an entrepreneurial mind set
Work with integrity
Strive for sustainability
Our Trustees meet quarterly to consider grant applications. The timescales for assessment and decisions are:
Application deadline | Decision |
1 January | 30 April |
1 April | 31 July |
1 July | 31 October |
1 October | 31 January |
Find out more about the application process and start an application.
Before you start an application, it's important that you use our eligibility checker to ensure you are eligible to apply to our grant programmes.
Read a selection of case studies that showcase some of the amazing work the Foundation has supported over the last 25 years