Grants and interest-free loans are available to registered charities in England, Scotland and Wales for projects that provide housing for people in need.
The Quaker Housing Trust offers two separate funding programmes, each with their own application process:
- Best practice grants for early in the development of a project to ensure the project reaches the highest possible standards, and
- A Main Grants and Interest-Free Loans Programme to fund projects which create homes.
Please note that applicants do not need to be part of the Quaker movement in order to apply for a grant or loan.
Best practice grants
The Trust encourages all organisations at an early stage in developing a project to consider these grants, which are up to £6,000. There are two areas which can be funded:
- The Environmental Assessment Grant which will fund professional fees associated with helping identify and use environmentally-friendly options for a housing project, and
- The Feasibility Study Grant will help with the professional fees associated with testing the feasibility of specific proposals to improve, expand or create new genuinely affordable rented housing.
For both these grants, the Trust will expect applicants to detail the specific project in development and the impact the grant will have. Successful applicants to this scheme are eligible to apply to the Main Grants and Loan Programme to take forward their project.
The Main Grants and Loans programme
The Trust encourages organisations to make applications to its main programme when a project is well progressed in terms of planning, with feasibility studies undertaken, a robust budget established and relevant planning permissions secured. Awards of up to £50,000 are available, often consisting of a blend grants and loans. The maximum grant available is £25,000. For loans of over £20,000, the Trust will require security against its investment. Applicants will be required to have their own legal advice on the loan agreement.
The Trust also offers the following services:
- Advice at an early stage of new housing provision and to existing projects experiencing difficulties or seeking to expand.
- A Health Check Service to evaluate the potential problems and growth for housing projects, and
- Access to interest-bearing loans from the ethical Quaker Social Housing Account run by Triodos Bank.
Further information, guidance and details about the separate application processes for the Best Practice and Main Grants programmes is available on the Trust’s website.
There are usually four deadlines per year in April; July; September and December.