Grants are offered to registered charities for a range of community and social welfare projects taking place within a 25-mile radius of Birmingham city centre.
The Harry Payne Fund is administered by the Heart of England Community Foundation as part of its grants programme. The Fund was founded in 1939 (as the Harry Payne Trust) by Harry Payne, a Birmingham businessman who had a particular interest in helping the disadvantaged and in helping the smaller causes where a modest donation can be seen to make a difference.
Grants of between £250 and £2,000 are available for up to one year. (Exceptionally the funders will go higher than £2,000.)
The funders have a strong preference for supporting registered charities and charitable incorporated organisations but will also consider applications from:
- Constituted community groups.
- Companies limited by guarantee with charitable aims.
- Parish councils, schools, PTAs and churches if community benefit can be demonstrated.
To be eligible, applicants must also have:
- An annual turnover of less than £500,000.
- A written constitution/set of rules.
- A management committee/board of trustees/board of directors with at least three unrelated people as members.
- Have a bank account in the group’s name.
- Safeguarding and equal opportunities policies.
The fund aims to:
- Help those who are disadvantaged.
- Helping smaller causes where modest donations can make a difference.
The funding can be used for a wide range of projects and activities. The fund will support core costs as well as specific projects.
Applicants will be expected to demonstrate evidence of need and – particularly in the case of project finance – where the balance of the required funding is coming from.
Applications can be made at any time.
The application form is available to complete on the Heart of England Community Foundation website.
