Postcode Neighbourhood Trust - North of England
Background
Postcode Neighbourhood Trust operates its own society lottery and receives all of its funding from players of People's Postcode Lottery.
Objectives of Fund
The funding is intended to support organisations whose core purpose and everyday work align closely with one of the Trust's current themes:
Enabling participation in the arts.
Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty.
Supporting marginalized groups and/or tackling inequality.
Improving mental health with a focus on organisations that are actively supporting specific mental health issues, rather than general mental wellbeing activities.
Value Notes
Grants of up to £50,000 in total over a three-year period are available, depending on the organisation's income.
The grant request must be no more than 75% of the applicant's annual income listed on their most recent set of signed accounts.
Grant recipients will be asked how they want to split the award over the three years, with no more than 50% being taken in any one year.
Who Can Apply
Organisation types supported through this fund are:
Registered charities
Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs)
Community Interest Companies (CICs) with an asset lock (Schedule 1 and 2 only)
Community Benefit Societies
To be eligible, applicants must be based and working in the north of England and have:
An income between £10,000 and £1 million in the most recent financial year. Priority may be given to organisations with an income of less than £250,000.
Been operating for a minimum of 12 months and have a set of signed accounts at the time of application.
A governing document in the name of their organisation
A bank account in the name of their organisation with two unrelated signatories.
No more than 50% of their Trustees/Directors/Committee members who are related.
All relevant policies in place at time of application.
As funding rounds are consistently oversubscribed, priority may be given to organisations that meet one or more of the following:
Have an income of £250,000 and below
Work in communities located in the top 15% of the English Index of Multiple Deprivation
Organisations whose main activities are focused on supporting marginalised groups. This could include, but is not limited to, disabled people, communities experiencing racial inequity, and LGBT+ people.
Are in areas that have not recently received funding.
Location
North of England
Restrictions
The following are not eligible for funding:
Local, regional or government institutions and organisations with core statutory responsibilities (eg, NHS Foundation Trusts, parish councils, town councils and public bodies)
Political parties or party-political activities
Companies Limited by Guarantee
Constituted Voluntary Organisations
Excepted and Exempted charities.
Individuals
Organisations operating for less than one year old and/or do not have signed accounts.
Universities, Colleges, Schools, Academies, Nurseries and Preschool
Parent Teacher Associations and affiliated groups.
Organisations with solely religious objects in their governing document
Organisations outside of Great Britain
Organisations with an annual income of less than £10,000 or in excess of £1 million
Organisations that have received funding through People’s Postcode Trust within the last 12 months (this is counted from the date payment was received into the organisation’s account)
Previous grant holders who have not submitted the end of grant review form
Schedule 3 Community Interest Companies (CICs)
Organisations that have previously breached their Funding Agreement with People’s Postcode Trust
Organisations with core support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery through other Trusts.
Activities taking place outside of Great Britain or foreign travel
Medical research, clinical treatment, medical staff in a clinical setting where the diagnosis, and/or prescribing of clinical advice or medication is taking place and medical equipment
The promotion or practice of religion
Animal welfare. (Note: applications will be considered where animals are a part of the project which focuses on the human element such as therapy animals)
Distribution of grants/funds to individuals or other organisations. This would include but not be limited to bursaries, per diems, and honorarium payments
Funding being allocated to the organisation’s reserves.
Retrospective costs.
Eligible Expenditure
The unrestricted multi-year funding is designed to offer flexibility and long-term support to strengthen the organisation and deepen their impact.
How To Apply
There will be three funding rounds in 2026:
Round 1 opens 25 March and closes 1 April 2026
Round 2 opens 24 June and closes 1 July 2026
Round 3 opens 24 September and closes 1 October 2026
Applications open at 9am and close at 12 noon.
The 2026 funding guide and eligibility quiz are available on the Trust's website.
An example application form will be available in early January 2026.
Contact the Postcode Neighbourhood Trust for further information.
Useful links
Postcode Neighbourhood Trust
https://www.postcodeneighbourhoodtrust.org.uk/
