Pargiter Trust Fund

Grants to support the work of charities, voluntary and community groups providing services, support or advice to older people.

The fund’s criteria reflects the mission of the Pargiter Trust to: ‘to support disadvantaged elderly people to be independent, healthy and socially included’. 

Grants up to £5,000 are available to support the work of charities, voluntary and community groups providing services and support or advice to older people with an emphasis on reaching smaller grassroots organisations in Suffolk. Grassroots organisations with an income below £500,000 will be given priority (applications from national organisations will not be accepted). The fund is keen to receive applications with a focus on underrepresented BAME and LGBT groups, as well as applications that help organisations adapt to the new operating environment post-COVID and recovery both in terms of their service delivery and operating models. 

At least 90% of the beneficiaries of a grant must be over the age of 65.  

The fund supports projects addressing one or more of the following themes: 

• Improving health and wellbeing – Reducing isolation, providing hot meals and refreshments and helping older people to stay active through sports, arts, recreation, social clubs and volunteering. 
• Improving access to facilities, advice and training – Supporting projects providing respite for carers, supporting Good Neighbourhood and befriending schemes and improving access to information and IT for older people, particularly where this involves intergenerational work. 
• Overcoming problems – Helping older people who are experiencing difficult circumstances due to; illness, injury, disability, bereavement or financial difficulty. 

The fund does not support: 

• Community transport schemes 
• Vehicle costs 
• The purchase of second-hand mini-buses 
• National organisations 
• Church or faith groups who would use a grant to promote religious activity  

Grants may fund existing services or facilities and new initiatives and can contribute to either capital costs such as funding new equipment or support on-going running costs. This is a small-grant fund with awards up to a maximum of £5,000. 

Larger grants of up to £10,000 may be considered if this would fund a complete project, and multi-year funding may also be considered where appropriate. If you would like to apply for more than £5,000 or for multi-year funding, please contact Nicki Bray at [email protected] or call 01473 786916 to discuss before submitting your application.