BBC Children in Need grants
BBC Children in Need is a national and overseas grant-maker that gave around £35.7m to organisations in its latest year, with a typical grant of £29,671.
Guidance last checked 16 July 2026· from the funder’s own website
Overview
BBC Children in Need is a fundraising grant-maker supporting children and young people across the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It gave around £35.7m to organisations in its latest year, awarding 7,864 grants with a typical (median) award of £29,671. Its funding supports work tackling challenges caused by mental health, poverty, social inequality and family-related issues, with grants typically ranging from £1,000 to £40,000 a year and running for up to three years.
What they fund
BBC Children in Need funds general charitable purposes, the prevention or relief of poverty, education and training, and disability-related support, with priority given to work addressing mental health, poverty, social inequality and family-related issues facing children and young people.
Who and where
It supports children and young people and other charities and voluntary bodies, funding organisations throughout England and Wales and across the UK, including Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
Who they help
Where they fund
What BBC Children in Need says in its own guidance
Quoted directly from the funder’s own website, with a link to the page each quote came from. Always the most current word is theirs — check the source before you apply.
What they say they're looking for
“we fund vital support for children and young people struggling with challenges caused by mental health, poverty, social inequality and family-related issues”
Source: bbcchildreninneed.co.uk — What we do - BBC Children in Need →
Who they say they'll fund
“You must be a not-for-profit organisation working with children and young people aged 18 or under”
Source: bbcchildreninneed.co.uk — Apply For Funding - BBC Children in Need →
What they say they won't fund
“We don't fund work that statutory bodies (such as schools, local authorities or the NHS) have a duty to provide.”
Source: bbcchildreninneed.co.uk — Apply For Funding - BBC Children in Need →
Grant sizes they mention
“Available grants range from £1,000 to £40,000 per year and can be awarded for up to three years.”
Source: bbcchildreninneed.co.uk — Apply For Funding - BBC Children in Need →
Deadlines they mention
“We offer Core and Project funding with no application deadlines, so you can apply at any time.”
Source: bbcchildreninneed.co.uk — Apply For Funding - BBC Children in Need →
How they say to apply
“Before you submit an Expression of Interest, you must attend a pre-application advice session where the majority of your work is delivered.”
Source: bbcchildreninneed.co.uk — Apply For Funding - BBC Children in Need →
What a typical grant looks like
| Typical (median) grant | £29,671 |
|---|---|
| Middle half of grants | £2,500 – £69,304 |
| Grants published openly | 7,864 |
| Most recent published grant | 2024 |
Recent grants
- Treetops Hospice TrustThis grant will support the continuing development and ongoing running costs for the DIYSOS build for Treetops Hospice Trust, named The Saplings. This will provide a bespoke setting for children and young people to receive bereavement support.£40,000January 2024
- Spiral Skills CIC0£100,000December 2023
- Childrens Law Centre (Northern Ireland)This core grant will provide children and young people with access to advice and representation though legal and advocacy support, helping them overcome barriers around access to mental health services.£120,000December 2023
- Future Men (formerly Working With Men)This organisation will deliver development & mentoring programmes for boys / young men in Westminster & neighbouring boroughs, leading to improved mental health, increased healthy relationships and improved wellbeing.£120,000December 2023
- SafelineThis project will deliver educational and wellbeing programmes for young people who have experienced or who are at risk of sexual abuse in Coventry and Warwickshire, leading to emotional wellbeing, physical safety and increased skills.£120,000December 2023
- Netherthorpe & Upperthorpe Community AllianceThis project will deliver a range of youth club activities for young people impacted by the effects of poverty and deprivation. It will lead to improved confidence and self-esteem, access to safe spaces and life skills.£118,813December 2023
From grants BBC Children in Need publishes openly via 360Giving (the UK open grants-data standard), used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence.
Their charitable objects
As registered with the Charity Commission (their formal purposes):
The Charity's objects are to further such exclusively charitable objects and purposes in any part of the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man as the Trustees think fit and in particular to advance life and help children and young people, in particular (without prejudice to the generality of the…
How to approach them
Start with the official sources — they’re always more current than any directory, including this one.
Common questions
How much does BBC Children in Need typically give?
Across 7,864 recorded grants, the typical (median) award is £29,671, with the middle half of grants ranging between £2,500 and £69,304. BBC Children in Need states that available grants generally range from £1,000 to £40,000 per year and can be awarded for up to three years.
What does BBC Children in Need fund?
It funds general charitable purposes, the prevention or relief of poverty, education and training, and disability. It says it funds vital support for children and young people struggling with challenges caused by mental health, poverty, social inequality and family-related issues.
Who can apply to BBC Children in Need?
Applicants must be not-for-profit organisations working with children and young people aged 18 or under.
What won't BBC Children in Need fund?
It does not fund work that statutory bodies, such as schools, local authorities or the NHS, have a duty to provide.
How do I apply to BBC Children in Need?
BBC Children in Need says there are no application deadlines, so applicants can apply at any time, though a mandatory pre-application advice session must be attended before submitting an Expression of Interest. Full guidance is on its website, www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey, and its Charity Commission entry can be checked using charity number 802052 — always confirm current rules with the funder directly, as these can change.
Is your charity a fit for BBC Children in Need?
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Finding a funder is the easy part. These short guides help with the part that decides whether you get the money.
Contains public sector information from the Charity Commission for England and Wales licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, and grants data from 360Giving used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Figures are derived (filtered and summarised by TrusteeMeetings), not republished unchanged. About the data · Terms of use. This page is a starting point for your own research, not a promise of funding, and is not endorsed by or affiliated with BBC Children in Need.