BBC Children in Need — open grants for UK charities

Finding a funder is the easy part. The hard part is working out which of their programmes you're actually eligible for — and not wasting a week on an application that was never a fit. This guide lists BBC Children in Need's currently open programmes so you can check the basics before you commit.

Open BBC Children in Need programmes right now

• Core (Organisational) Costs
  £1,000–£40,000 · Rolling — applications open
  UK-wide (incl. Isle of Man & Channel Islands). £1,000–£40,000 per year (max £120,000 over up to 3 years) for the core running costs of not-for-profits working with children and young people aged 18 and under. Organisations with turnover under £1m prioritised. No deadline – apply any time (pre-application advice session + Expression of Interest required).
• Project Costs
  £1,000–£40,000 · Rolling — applications open
  UK-wide (incl. Isle of Man & Channel Islands). £1,000–£40,000 per year (up to 3 years) for projects delivering positive change for disadvantaged children and young people aged 18 and under. No deadline – apply any time (pre-application advice session + Expression of Interest required).

Each programme links to BBC Children in Need's official page. Always confirm eligibility, amounts and deadlines there before applying — funders update their pages, and "rolling" does not mean funding is guaranteed.

Before you apply to BBC Children in Need

• Check the eligibility basics first: where you work, the type of organisation you are, who you help, and the realistic size of grant you can deliver.
• Look at who BBC Children in Need has funded recently — recent grants are the best signal of whether your work fits their priorities.
• Don't rely on one funder. The charities that win consistently keep a live shortlist of several well-matched opportunities, not a single bet.

GrantNest helps you discover and draft funding opportunities. We are not affiliated with BBC Children in Need. We don't guarantee you'll win funding, and nothing here is financial or legal advice. Programme details verified 2026-06-07.