The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund – grants for charities working in the field of learning disability (notice of forthcoming deadlines: Thursday 1st March 2012 for Research Projects and Tuesday 1st May 2012 for General Grants)

The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund is a registered charity which was established to support projects in the area of learning disability and to aid the care and relief of those affected by learning disability by making grants to voluntary organisations within the UK working in this field.  The Trust does not fund individuals.

The Trust considers under learning disability the conditions generally referred to as severe learning difficulties, together with autism.

In this area, it considers projects concerning children or adults.

Application for funding is normally considered for capital and revenue costs and for both specific projects and for general running/core costs.

The Trust offers grants from £250 upwards.

The following areas of work normally fall within the Fund's policy:

o        Capital building/renovation/refurbishment works for residential, nursing and respite care, and schools;

o        Employment schemes including woodwork, crafts, printing and horticulture;

o        Play schemes and play therapy schemes;

o        Day and social activities centres including building costs and running costs;

o        Support for families, including respite schemes;

o        Independent living schemes;

o        Support in the community schemes;

o        Swimming and hydro-therapy pools and snoezelen rooms.

The Trust does not normally fund:

o       Hospices;

o       Minibuses except those for residential and/or day care services for the learning disabled;

o       Advocacy Projects;

o       Arts and theatre projects;

o       Physical disabilities unless accompanied by significant learning disabilities.

The next deadline for applications is 1 March 2012 for research applications and 1 May 2012 for general grant applications. For more information, visit www.bailythomas.org.uk.