The Swire Charitable Trust grants: what they fund and how to apply
The Swire Charitable Trust is an independent UK funder that supports registered charities across three programmes: Opportunity (improving life chances), Nature (UK biodiversity and connecting people with nature) and Heritage (regeneration through restoration and heritage skills). There is no fixed minimum or maximum grant size — the Trust generally does not award more than about 10% of a charity's most recent annual income — and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
What the Swire Charitable Trust funds
The Trust organises its grant-making around three programmes:
- Opportunity — improving life chances and helping people reach their potential, with a focus on ex-service men and women; survivors of modern slavery and trafficking; and children and young people who are in the care of their local authority, involved with the criminal justice system, or from the most socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Nature — supporting the UK’s biodiversity and connecting people with nature.
- Heritage — regeneration through restoration, and supporting heritage skills.
Your work needs to fit clearly within one of these three programmes.
How much you can apply for
There is no fixed minimum or maximum grant size. As a guide, the Trust generally does not award more than about 10% of a charity’s income, as stated in its most recent accounts, and it may award more or less than you apply for. In 2024 the Trust awarded over £7m in grants to more than 280 charities — an average of roughly £25,000 — though individual awards vary widely by programme and project. Read the guidance for the relevant programme to judge a realistic request for the kind of work you do.
Who can apply
UK registered charities whose work fits the Opportunity, Nature or Heritage programme. Before you apply, you complete an online eligibility test on the Trust’s website, which checks that your organisation and project qualify. If you are not a registered charity, or your work does not fall within one of the three programmes, you will not be eligible.
Deadlines and rounds
There are no deadlines — the Trust runs a rolling programme, so you can apply at any time. Once you submit a full application, it is assigned to the next available trustee meeting, and you can usually expect a decision within about two to three months. Plan for that timescale rather than expecting a quick turnaround.
How to apply
- Go to the Trust’s “Our funding” page and complete the online eligibility test.
- If you are eligible, you will be directed to the full application form for the relevant programme.
- Read the programme guidance, complete the form, and submit when your project is ready.
Start here: swirecharitabletrust.org.uk/our-funding.
Tips
- Match your application to one specific programme — Opportunity, Nature or Heritage — rather than applying generically.
- Use the eligibility test first; it saves time if your work is not a fit.
- For the Opportunity programme, be clear which priority group your work reaches (for example care-experienced young people or ex-service personnel).
- Allow two to three months for a decision, as applications go to the next trustee meeting.
Official source and last updated
Source: The Swire Charitable Trust website (swirecharitabletrust.org.uk), “Our funding” and “Our work” pages, checked 10 July 2026. Last updated: July 2026. Confirm the current programmes and guidance on the Trust’s own website.
Recent grants
[Placeholder — the theme renders recent grants from 360Giving where available (charity 270726).]
Similar funders
For similar UK-wide funders spanning opportunity, heritage and nature themes, see the Garfield Weston Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
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 three programmes. Opportunity improves life chances for groups such as ex-service men and women, survivors of modern slavery and trafficking, and children and young people who are in care, involved with the criminal justice system, or from the most disadvantaged backgrounds. Nature supports UK biodiversity and connecting people with nature. Heritage supports regeneration through restoration and heritage skills.
There is no fixed minimum or maximum grant size. As a guide, the Trust generally does not award more than about 10% of a charity's income as stated in its most recent accounts, and it may award more or less than you ask for. In 2024 it awarded over £7m in grants to more than 280 charities — an average of roughly £25,000 — so read the guidance for the relevant programme to gauge a realistic request for your project.
UK registered charities whose work fits one of the three programmes — Opportunity, Nature or Heritage. Before applying, you complete an online eligibility test on the Trust's website to check your organisation and project qualify. If you are not a registered charity, or your work does not fit a programme, you will not be eligible.
No — the Trust runs a rolling programme with no deadlines, so you can apply at any time. Once you submit a full application, it is assigned to the next available trustee meeting, and you can usually expect a decision within about two to three months. There is no rush against a deadline, but do allow that time.
Start with the online eligibility test on the Trust's "Our funding" page. If you pass, you are directed to the full application form for the relevant programme. Read the programme guidance first so your application answers what the Trust is looking for, and apply when your project is ready.