Radio Clyde Cash for Kids

Radio Clyde Cash for Kids, established in 1984 as the charitable arm of Radio Clyde, is a grant-giving charity dedicated to alleviating child poverty, advancing education and health, and providing relief to vulnerable children and young people in Glasgow and the West of Scotland. Rooted in local radio stations like Clyde 1, Clyde 2, West FM, and Westsound, it channels community-raised funds back into grassroots needs with a pragmatic, agile ethos—prioritizing immediate relief for poverty, deprivation, disability, illness, or crisis, especially during Christmas and economic shocks like COVID-19 or the cost-of-living crisis. Its values emphasize local impact, efficiency without bureaucracy, and tangible support for basics like food, clothing, beds, school uniforms, heating, and white goods, alongside wellbeing, mental health, educational attainment, and youth activities for disadvantaged families, including the 'working poor.'

It funds project-based and emergency interventions for children facing hardship, additional support needs, or exclusion risks, targeting grassroots charities, schools, food banks, and frontline agencies delivering direct services—no unrestricted or core funding.

Eligible applicants include UK-registered charities, community groups, and academic institutions based in and serving Glasgow, East/West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, North/South Lanarkshire, and Ayrshire, with preference for small-to-medium organizations showing clear local need; no income thresholds or religious restrictions apply.

Grants typically range from £500 to £3,000, awarded via online forms during campaign-specific rounds (e.g., 2025 Sports Challenge deadline: 2 September; Christmas appeals in autumn)—check website for openings, with decisions in 4–8 weeks. Distinctively, its radio-driven model ensures rapid, visible community mobilization and hyper-local responsiveness, excluding non-local or non-child-focused projects.