How to apply for a grant | Stratford Town Trust

We offer grants and support to community groups and charitable organisations so that they can continue to do amazing things for our local community. Our funding must be used to support people who live, work or study within the town.

Our large grants is open from 3 March until 5 September, 2025.

Please read the steps below if you'd like to apply.

1. Talk to us!

We encourage you to talk to us about your ideas for funding first.

You can email us: applications@stratfordtowntrust.co.uk
Call us: 01789 207108 / 207114
Or chat in person at our weekly drop in advice sessions on most Wednesday afternoons, 1.30 - 4pm at our Community Hub, Venture House, Avenue Farm Industrial Estate, Birmingham Rd, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 0HR.

2. Read our guidance notes

Once you’ve talked through your ideas, if you need more guidance with any aspects of your application, you can read our series of guidance notes here:

3. Ready to apply?

To apply, start by completing our Expression of Interest form (EOI). If your EOI is successful, you’ll be invited to submit a full application. The application will be reviewed alongside your EOI, so there’s no need to repeat information.

4. Invited to make an application?

If after submitting your EOI you have been invited to make an application, you can complete it here. Good luck! We aim to make a decision within three months and you can read about how we make our decisions here.

Small Grants of up to £2,000 can be applied for at any time.

You can check if the community you will support is eligible for our funding by using our handy postcode checker, below.

What can I apply for?

Small Grants

Our Small Grants programme is designed to enable grassroots community projects and small local charities to support and develop their communities with grants of up to £2,000.

If you'd like a chat before you apply, please contact James or Catherine at; applications@stratfordtowntrust.co.uk or call 01789 207108 / 207114. On receipt of your application, we will usually let you know the outcome within 10 working days, provided that you have submitted all the required information.

To apply, community groups and charitable organisations must have:

A constitution or agreed set of rules.
A bank account with at least two, unrelated signatories.
Community Interest Companies (CIC/O) must be limited by guarantee.

APPLY FOR OUR SMALL GRANTS

Grants for Individuals

Through Citizens Advice South Warwickshire, we provide small, one-off grants for things like bedding, furniture, clothing, heating appliances and white goods such as microwaves and fridges.

Call 0808 250 5715 Monday- Friday 9am - 5pm to discuss if you can apply.

Large grants

Our large grants round is open from 3 March to 5 September, 2025

Please contact James or Catherine: applications@stratfordtowntrust.co.uk or call 01789 207108 / 207114 to to talk through any ideas!

Are we eligible to apply?

Voluntary community groups and charitable organisations must have:

A constitution or agreed set of rules
A bank account with at least two, unrelated signatories.

Community Interest Companies (CIC) must be limited by guarantee.

Your application must:

evidence the need for the project within Stratford-upon-Avon.
evidence genuine user involvement in its planning and ongoing delivery.
make it clear how it will make a positive impact on the quality of life in Stratford-upon-Avon.
demonstrate a commitment to collaborative and partnership working.
demonstrate a robust financial position (viability and sustainability), where applicable.

What can I apply for?

Small Grants

Grants for Individuals

Large grants

Our Small Grants programme is designed to enable grassroots community projects and small local charities to support and develop their communities with grants of up to £2,000.

If you'd like a chat before you apply, please contact James or Catherine at; applications@stratfordtowntrust.co.uk or call 01789 207108 / 207114. On receipt of your application, we will usually let you know the outcome within 10 working days, provided that you have submitted all the required information.

To apply, community groups and charitable organisations must have:

A constitution or agreed set of rules.
A bank account with at least two, unrelated signatories.
Community Interest Companies (CIC/O) must be limited by guarantee.

APPLY FOR OUR SMALL GRANTS

Through Citizens Advice South Warwickshire, we provide small, one-off grants for things like bedding, furniture, clothing, heating appliances and white goods such as microwaves and fridges.

Call 0808 250 5715 Monday- Friday 9am - 5pm to discuss if you can apply.

Our large grants round is open from 3 March to 5 September, 2025

Please contact James or Catherine: applications@stratfordtowntrust.co.uk or call 01789 207108 / 207114 to to talk through any ideas!

Are we eligible to apply?

Voluntary community groups and charitable organisations must have:

A constitution or agreed set of rules
A bank account with at least two, unrelated signatories.

Community Interest Companies (CIC) must be limited by guarantee.

Your application must:

evidence the need for the project within Stratford-upon-Avon.
evidence genuine user involvement in its planning and ongoing delivery.
make it clear how it will make a positive impact on the quality of life in Stratford-upon-Avon.
demonstrate a commitment to collaborative and partnership working.
demonstrate a robust financial position (viability and sustainability), where applicable.

You can’t apply to us for funding for any activities or services that have already been booked and/or taken place, or for any equipment already purchased or leased.

You can also only apply for one grant in any year – either small grants or through the main grants round.

Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (WCAVA) offer funding development and organisational support more broadly – and are always happy to help organisations apply for funding at the Trust and with other funders, as well as support groups to build skills, networks and confidence.

You can contact them on

Telephone: 01789 332962
Email: stratfordinfo@wcava.org.uk

Hardship grants for Individuals

Through Citizens Advice South Warwickshire, we provide small, one-off grants for things like bedding, furniture, clothing, heating appliances and white goods such as microwaves and fridges.

Please call: 0808 250 5715 Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm to discuss whether you can apply.

Non-Discretionary Grants

As well as our discretionary grant-giving, under the terms of the original Royal Charter that created what is now the Stratford Town Trust, we’re also required to make regular grants to each of the following organisations:

King Edward VI School
The Vicar of Holy Trinity Church
The Almshouses in Church Street

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Over £500,000 to support direct community activity across Stratford

More than £180,000 for young people’s activities in Stratford

Nearly 50 Community organisations supported to deliver amazing projects and ideas

Funding impact

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Pathway to success

We supported the refurbishment of Elta House to create a comfortable and functional day centre for Heart of England

Making Music

Street Arts Project provides weekly street music sessions to take place at Stratford Playhouse where those affected by

Thunderbirds

Thunderbirds are a netball club for both juniors and seniors based in Stratford Upon Avon.

Creating opportunities for fun and friendship

iLEAP works delivers a children's programme, a youth programme and an adult programme of inclusive leisure activities

Creating a vibrant and connected community.