Prestigious Grants 2026: Sir Halley Stewart Trust Funding (Up to £60,000)

Grants are now open through the Sir Halley Stewart Trust for UK-based charities and educational institutions seeking funding between £5,000 and £60,000 for innovative religious, social, and medical projects. Applications for the next main funding round must be submitted by 29 June 2026.

The Sir Halley Stewart Trust is a Christian-based foundation committed to supporting projects that promote the development of body, mind, and spirit, encourage justice and fairness, and foster international goodwill. Through its 2026 Grants programme, the Trust continues its long-standing mission of investing in initiatives that focus on prevention rather than simply alleviating human suffering.

The Trust particularly prioritizes pioneering, ground-breaking, and innovative projects that can deliver sustainable impact within communities. Whether addressing social injustice, advancing medical research, or strengthening religious dialogue, applicants must demonstrate originality and transformative potential.

About the Grants

The Sir Halley Stewart Trust supports projects across three primary funding streams: Religious, Social, and Medical.

All Grants awarded must demonstrate innovation and meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Explore and test new ideas, methods, interventions, or devices.
• Represent pioneering developments that lay foundations for future work.
• Offer preventive solutions rather than reactive support.
• Deliver impact beyond immediate beneficiaries.

The Trust strongly favors imaginative proposals and often supports early-career researchers or leaders with whom it can build a long-term relationship.

Projects must be UK-based and administered through UK charitable organizations or educational institutions.

Funding Levels

There are two main categories of Grants available:

Main Grants

• Between £5,000 and £60,000
• Normally awarded for salary costs
• Can be spread across 1 to 3 years
• Maximum annual allowance: £30,000
• In exceptional cases, grants up to £80,000 may be awarded

Small Grants

• Up to £5,000
• Designed for one-off projects
• Accepted on a rolling basis

The Trust typically prefers to fund at least 50% of total project costs, though match funding is generally not required.

Focus Areas

Religious Grants

Religious Grants prioritize innovative Christian and multi-faith projects that:

• Break down religious and secular divides
• Encourage dialogue between faith and contemporary issues
• Improve inter-faith relationships
• Promote Christian engagement in public life
• Develop spiritual exploration and vocational leadership

Special interest is given to improving dialogue between Christian and Muslim communities and encouraging ecumenical collaboration within the UK and internationally.

Social Grants

Social Grants aim to support under-funded causes and organizations serving disadvantaged communities.

Priority areas include:

• Preventing and resolving conflict
• Promoting reconciliation within families and communities
• Addressing unemployment, crime, imprisonment, homelessness, migration, and mental health challenges
• Supporting vulnerable populations, especially the elderly

Projects must:

• Involve beneficiaries in project design and governance
• Demonstrate sustainability beyond the grant period
• Show measurable impact beyond immediate beneficiaries
• Be service-delivery charities (annual income up to £3 million)

The Trust also funds select projects in politically stable African countries through UK-administered charities.

Medical Grants

Medical Grants are awarded to practical research projects capable of clinical application within 5–10 years.

Priority areas include:

• Improving quality of life for the elderly
• Preventing disease and disability in children
• Addressing tropical infectious diseases
• Advancing healthcare innovations
• Supporting disadvantaged populations through medical innovation

Medical projects must:

• Be written in accessible language for non-medical trustees
• Have Ethics Committee approval (where required)
• Be administered through UK-based charitable institutions

The Trust particularly welcomes projects that may struggle to secure funding from major research councils.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be a registered UK charity or educational establishment
• Submit proposals directly from individuals involved in the project
• Demonstrate innovative and preventive impact
• Ensure the Trust is a significant funder of the project

The Trust does not fund:

• Running costs of established organizations
• Large well-funded charities
• Building construction or capital projects
• University overhead charges
• Conference attendance
• Direct funding to individuals

Duration & Location

• Funding duration: 1–3 years
• Location: United Kingdom (some projects may operate internationally if administered by UK charities)
• Maximum grant: £60,000 (exceptionally £80,000)

How to Apply

There are three stages to the application process:

1. Complete the Eligibility Test.
2. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form if eligible.
3. If invited, submit a Full Application through the online portal.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Grants Manager using the online expression of interest form before beginning the full application process.

Main Grant applications are currently accepted until 29 June 2026. Small Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

APPLY HERE

 

Deadline

29 June 2026

Final Note

The Sir Halley Stewart Trust Grants provide a unique opportunity for UK-based charities and institutions to secure funding for bold, innovative, and preventive projects in religious, social, and medical fields.

Organizations committed to addressing root causes of inequality, improving healthcare, fostering interfaith dialogue, and supporting vulnerable communities are strongly encouraged to explore this funding opportunity.

For more opportunities click here