Misses Barrie Charitable Trust

The Misses Barrie Charitable Trust, established in 1979 by the late Miss Sheila Coupar Barrie and Miss Moira Morrison Barrie, is a discretionary grant-making trust dedicated to supporting UK registered charities through small, impactful grants that foster wellbeing, community engagement, and cultural enrichment for marginalised and underserved groups. Rooted in a generalist ethos, it prioritises organisations addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, with a distinctive focus on high-impact giving to smaller charities that struggle to secure alternative funding, maintaining consistency in its values without thematic shifts over decades.

The Trust funds a broad spectrum of causes, emphasising support for children and young people, older people, and those with physical, learning, or sensory disabilities, alongside arts and culture (e.g., music, drama, heritage), health and wellbeing (including mental health and inequality), environment and conservation, sports, and community services. Grants cover core costs, project delivery, capital, and revenue needs for initiatives like adventure programmes, victim support, offender rehabilitation, and access to recreation for women, girls, and ex-offenders, as seen in awards to groups like Encephalitis International, Scouts Scotland, and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Eligible applicants are exclusively UK-registered charities, with a strong preference for small to medium-sized organisations (annual income under £1 million) operating anywhere in the UK—no geographic priorities or religious restrictions apply. Typical grants range from £500 to £3,000, awarded biannually (or two to three times yearly) following unsolicited applications submitted anytime by email or post, including a detailed letter, funding request, and recent accounts. Decisions prioritise clear beneficiary impact; no fixed deadlines exist, but apply months in advance. It avoids large charities and funding without tangible community benefit, standing out for its low-barrier, responsive approach to overlooked grassroots efforts.