Banner: Chris Smith with participants in The Caravan Darkroom (2022)

Introduction

Grants of between £500 and £1,500 are available to support the provision of participatory projects which seek to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people under 25.

The next round of grants will be in 2026 and will open for application on 16th June.

Both the Foundation’s grants schemes are currently undergoing review. New Applicant Guidance and application forms will be available from 16th June 2026.

In the meantime, the following information should help you to start considering a project that is likely to be a good fit.

Art Refuge, Summer Workshops

Art Refuge, Summer Workshops

What we can fund under the Community Grants Scheme

The scheme funds projects for children and young adults under the age of 25 to take part in organised activities that allow them hands-on experience of photographic techniques. Activities must have the ultimate aim of achieving a beneficial therapeutic effect on the children’s or young people’s physical and/or mental health and wellbeing.

Projects can use either digital or analogue photography.

Projects might be a single workshop or event, or a programme of linked activities and might involve working with the participants solo or in groups. Examples of activities that might be included are:

  • Outings with a photographer to learn how to take pictures of people or landscapes using digital or analogue film

  • Dark room experiences

  • Creating images using techniques such as cyanotype or pinhole cameras

  • Learning printing techniques using a range of media.

A project for which a grant is sought should not have already started, though it may be a phase of a longer-term programme or a part of a wider project.

Normally, projects benefitting from these grants would be expected to last for no longer than one year, and be implementable within the year of the grant being awarded.

You will find illustrations of some of the projects that have benefitted from past grants on the Supported Projects page on the ‘Supported Projects’ page of the website.

Strong, from the Accumulate project

Strong, from the Accumulate project

Amount of awards

You will be able to apply for a grant of between £500 and £1,500.

Grants Timetable for 2026

Applications open: 16th June

Closing date for applying: 30th September

Notification of award, if successful: early December

Project report due: within one year of an award and as soon as possible on completion.