Hadrian Trust

Hadrian Trust, an independent charitable grant-maker founded in 1972, focuses on improving lives in England's North East, specifically Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, County Durham north of the River Tees, and Hartlepool. Its mission centers on addressing social disadvantage and promoting community wellbeing through responsive grant-making to UK-registered charities and not-for-profits, guided by core values of social justice, support for vulnerable groups, and a pragmatic, community-first ethos upheld by a small board of trustees. Distinctively regionally rooted and unbureaucratic, it prioritizes grassroots organizations delivering hands-on services with local impact over top-down or short-term initiatives.

The Trust funds broad thematic priorities including social welfare (poverty relief, isolation reduction, family support), youth development, disability services, older people's activities, women's empowerment, ethnic minority inclusion, extra-curricular education and skills, community arts and cultural projects, and environmental improvements like green spaces. Grants support core costs, project staff, equipment, and running expenses for initiatives benefiting disadvantaged communities, often intersecting multiple themes for holistic impact.

Eligible applicants are small to medium-sized local charities with a strong North East presence; national organizations without a regional base are ineligible, as are individuals, private ventures, major capital projects, places of worship repairs, animal charities, or medical research. Typical grants range from £500 to £2,000. Unsolicited applications are accepted via online form or post, requiring organization details, budgets, bank statements, and governing documents; no preliminary enquiry needed. Trustees meet quarterly, with the next deadline 1 July 2025 (midday) for the 22 July meeting, and decisions follow shortly after. This flexible, low-barrier approach sets Hadrian apart as a committed generalist funder enhancing North East civil society.