Postcode Children Trust

Postcode Children Trust, a registered Scottish charity established in 2014, is an independent grantmaker funded entirely by People's Postcode Lottery proceeds. Its mission is to inspire and support children and young people across Great Britain to thrive in their communities, regardless of background, by placing their voices and rights at the center. Core values emphasize early, non-judgmental support to strengthen families, alleviate poverty, boost mental health and resilience, expand opportunities, aid those with disabilities, and aid recovery from trauma and abuse. Distinctively, it pursues lasting systemic change through proactive research and invitation-only partnerships, prioritizing unrestricted, multi-year core funding over short-term projects.

The Trust funds thematic priorities including family stability, child and youth mental health, disability inclusion, trauma/abuse recovery, poverty relief, and education access. Beneficiaries are children, young people, and their families throughout England, Scotland, and Wales, with grants supporting national/regional charities delivering holistic, preventative services—such as care-experienced youth programs, early years support, and mental health initiatives—for deep, sustained impact.

Eligible entities are UK-registered charities, with a preference for medium-to-large organizations with proven track records; small grassroots groups are rarely funded. There are no geographic restrictions within Great Britain or formal income limits, but alignment with child-centered objectives is essential. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—only invited charities proceed via in-person Board presentations. Typical grants range from £100,000 to £1,000,000 annually, often multi-year for core operations, capacity building, or emergencies; no public deadlines exist, with decisions at Board discretion.

Unlike open funders, Postcode Children Trust avoids reactive applications, statutory services, or restricted short-term projects, uniquely combining lottery-scale resources with strategic, flexible funding to transform vulnerable children's life outcomes.