Charles Plater Trust
Funding is intended to support the Trust's three main priorities:
- Leadership for Laypeople - both large and small grants.
- Social Action - both large and small grants.
- Applied Research - large grants only.
There are two funding streams:
- Small grants of £1,000 to £5,000. Grants are typically around £3,000 to £5,000.
- Large grants of £5,001 to £60,000. Grants are typically around £30,000 and £50,000.
Registered charities with at least three unrelated trustees or directors can apply. Groups applying to the:
- Small Grants programme must have an annual income of less than £100,000.
- Large Grants programme must have an annual income of less than £10 million.
Consortia are also welcome to apply provided there is an appointed lead organisation. Applicants do not need to be Christian as long as their aims align with the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
The funding will cover the following types of activity:
- Leadership for Laypeople. Projects that deepen the awareness of Catholic Social Teaching and Catholic Social Thought to better equip people to take on leadership roles in tackling poverty, exclusion, economic inequality and environmental concerns.
- Social Action. Projects that deliver tangible outcomes to tackle poverty, exclusion, economic inequality and environmental concerns for marginalised people and communities.
- Applied Research. Projects that develop and apply Catholic Social Teaching and Catholic Social Thought, in partnership with those who are delivering social action work, to ultimately improve public policy and practice.
Grants can cover project revenue costs.
How To Apply
The Trust currently operates a biannual grant-making process, accepting large grant applications in Spring, and small grant applications in the Autumn, of each year.
Small grant applications are now open with a deadline of 9 October 2025 (17:00). Notification of decisions will be conveyed by 19 December 2025.
The guidelines, faqs and online application forms are available on the Trust's website. Contact Charles Plater Charitable Trust for more information.
