The Charles Hayward Foundation grants: what they fund and how to apply

Funder Last checked 11 July 2026

The Charles Hayward Foundation gives grants to UK registered charities. Two programmes are open now: Social & Criminal Justice (grants of £15,000–£25,000 a year for one to three years) and Overseas (up to £15,000 for projects in Commonwealth African countries). Applications close three times a year.

What the Foundation funds

The Foundation supports registered charities across four categories, though not all are open at any one time.

  • Social & Criminal Justice (open) — work to prevent people entering the criminal justice system and to help those already in it rebuild their lives. This includes early intervention with troubled families, preventative work with young people at risk, rehabilitation and resettlement of offenders, alternatives to custody, and support for victims of domestic abuse and criminal exploitation.
  • Overseas (open) — UK-based charities running projects in the Commonwealth countries of Africa, covering clean water and sanitation, sustainable livelihoods linked to environmental and wildlife conservation, and self-sufficiency through farming and income-generation training.
  • Older People (Small Grants — currently closed, suspended due to a high volume of applications) — projects tackling isolation and depression, practical help for people in their own homes, support for older carers, and dementia care.
  • Heritage & Conservation (currently closed, with no plans to reopen).

How much you can apply for

Social & Criminal Justice grants are £15,000–£25,000 per year, for projects lasting one to three years. Overseas grants are up to £15,000 for one-off projects. When the Older People Small Grants programme is open, grants are up to £7,000. The Foundation is unlikely to fund large charities that hold big reserves, make grants themselves, or have substantial government contracts.

Who can apply

You must be a UK registered charity. Income limits vary by category: Social & Criminal Justice is for charities with annual income between £350,000 and £4,000,000; Overseas is for income between £150,000 and £4,000,000; and the Older People Small Grants programme is for charities with income under £350,000. If you have had a grant before, you must wait at least two years from the last payment before reapplying. If you were turned down, you must wait one year before reapplying.

Deadlines and rounds

Social & Criminal Justice and Overseas share three submission deadlines a year. The 2026 dates are 30 January, 22 May and 18 September. The Grants Committee meets in March, July and November to shortlist applications for Stage 2, and trustees make final decisions at board meetings. Expect about four to five months from deadline to final decision. The next deadline is 18 September 2026.

How to apply

For the open categories there is a two-stage process. At Stage 1 you submit a proposal of no more than four A4 pages by email, following the guidance on the relevant category page. If shortlisted, you provide additional financial and project information at Stage 2. Read the category guidance and the exclusions list before you start.

Tips

  • Check your income against the exact band for your category before applying — the thresholds differ between Social & Criminal Justice, Overseas and Older People.
  • Confirm the category you want is open. As of July 2026 only Social & Criminal Justice and Overseas accept applications.
  • Keep the Stage 1 proposal to four A4 pages and cover project aims, cost, funds already raised and the shortfall.
  • Respect the reapplication waits: two years after a grant, one year after a rejection.

Official source and last updated

Last updated: July 2026. Always confirm details on the Foundation’s own site: charleshaywardfoundation.org.uk/grants.

Recent grants

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Similar funders

Check if your charity is eligible for funders like this — CharityIQ’s free Grant Finder matches your charity to real, published UK funders and cites the source for each. → /grant-finder/

Frequently asked questions

It funds UK registered charities across four categories: Social & Criminal Justice, Overseas work in Commonwealth African countries, Older People, and Heritage & Conservation. As of July 2026 only Social & Criminal Justice and Overseas are open. Older People (Small Grants) and Heritage & Conservation are closed to new applications.

Main Grants cover Social & Criminal Justice (income £350,000–£4,000,000, £15,000–£25,000 a year over one to three years) and Overseas (income £150,000–£4,000,000, up to £15,000). Small Grants cover Older People for charities with income under £350,000, up to £7,000 — but this programme is currently closed.

Social & Criminal Justice grants are £15,000–£25,000 per year for one to three years. Overseas grants are up to £15,000 for one-off projects. When the Older People Small Grants programme is open, grants are up to £7,000.

Social & Criminal Justice and Overseas share three submission deadlines a year. The 2026 dates are 30 January, 22 May and 18 September. The Grants Committee shortlists in March, July and November. The whole process takes about four to five months from deadline to final decision.

For the open categories there is a two-stage process. At Stage 1 you submit a proposal (no more than four A4 pages) by email. Shortlisted applicants provide extra financial and project detail at Stage 2, and trustees make final decisions at board meetings. Read the category guidance first.