Ukh Foundation

The UKH Foundation is an independent grant-making charity established in 2014 to formalise and expand local philanthropy, with a clear mission to promote mental and physical health and wellbeing in North West England communities. Overseen by four unremunerated trustees, it embodies values of compassion, public benefit, inclusivity, and impact-driven stewardship, channeling resources to charities tackling health inequalities through evidence-led, community-rooted interventions. Its distinctive approach emphasises trusted relationships, rigorous evaluation, and low-bureaucracy support for vulnerable groups, prioritising measurable improvements in resilience, access to services, and quality of life.

The Foundation funds projects addressing mental health (e.g., counselling, youth support, bereavement services), physical health (e.g., rehabilitation, activity programmes), and broader wellbeing initiatives like community outreach, preventative work, and selective capacity-building. Beneficiaries include at-risk populations such as the elderly, youth, and marginalised groups, with grants supporting frontline delivery, core costs, and local health programmes delivered by not-for-profits.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities with strong North West connections—primarily Greater Manchester, Cheshire, and surrounding areas—preferring small to medium-sized organisations (annual incomes £50,000–£1,000,000) demonstrating local impact; national charities are rarely funded unless delivering locally. Applications are invite-only: trustees proactively identify grantees via networks, with no unsolicited submissions, public forms, or deadlines. Decisions occur at ad hoc trustee meetings (2–4 times yearly), with typical grants of £2,500–£10,000 (occasionally up to £15,000).

UKH avoids unrestricted, capital, or emergency grants, non-health activities, and organisations outside its geographic or thematic remit. What sets it apart is its hyper-local health specialism, trustee-led flexibility, and commitment to sustainable, high-impact giving for North West charities serving disadvantaged communities.