u3a - Grants available for u3as

The Trust offers a selection of grants for u3as to support their efforts to promote u3a and increase local membership. u3as can only apply for 1 grant in each financial year (April to March).

We offer 4 different types:

Start-Up Support Grant
Membership Growth & Community Connections Grant
Publicity Support Grant
Large Grants.

There is further information about each type in the individual documents linked below.

To apply for a grant please click on the online application form button. This takes you to an online application form, where you will be asked to provide details about your u3a, a key contact and if your u3a has received a grant from the Trust in the past.

As part of the online application process, you will also be asked to provide the following information:

a breakdown of how your u3as plans to spend the grant monies
an outline of how the grant will benefit your u3a
the amount of money you have chosen to applying for
the financial contribtion being made by your u3a
your u3a bank details
if your u3a has more than 6 months running costs as reserves, and why these funds can't be used.

Once you submit the grant application you will receive an email to confirm that it has been received by the Trust. You should get a decision on the outcome of your application within 2-3 weeks. If approved, our finance team will pay the grant directly to your bank account.

Grants can only be applied for in advance of events, they cannot be applied for retrospectively after an event has happened. Please read the further information for the grant type before applying.

Grants programme 2026 /27

Start-up Support grant

£500 available to new u3as to cover start-up costs and publicity materials.

New u3as who receive this grant may be offered additional non-financial support, including mentoring and access to workshops, to ensure effective and sustainable establishment of the new u3a.

What the grant covers

New u3as who receive this grant will also be eligible for the following, in additon to the £500.

Recipients will not pay membership subscription fees to the Third Age Trust until the April following their affiliation.
Recipients will receive u3a Matters magazine at no charge until the April following their affiliation.
Recipients will be offered a SiteWorks website at no charge until the April following their affiliation.

Eligibility criteria

The group applying must be newly formed.
The u3a group must be working towards membership of the Third Age Trust.
The u3a should have opened (or be in the process of opening) a dedicated bank account in the group’s name.

Acceptable use of funds

Venue hire for initial meetings.
Promotional materials and advertising (either print materials or digital media advertising).
Purchase of necessary initial administrative supplies and equipment (stationery, IT equipment).
Costs associated with initial community engagement and membership recruitment activities.

Start up Support Grant (93.19 KB)

Start-up Support grant application form

Membership Growth & Community Connections grant

Up to £500 to help u3as build connections within their local communities and grow and diversify their membership.

Further information
Membership Growth and Community Connections Grant (92.46 KB)

Membership Growth & Community Connections grant application form

Publicity Support grant

Up to £250 to allow u3as to purchase either physical publicity materials, such as leaflets and posters, or to purchase digital media advertising such as Facebook or LinkedIn Ads.

Further information
Publicity Support Grant (90.94 KB)

Publicity Support grant application form

Large Event grant

The large grant has a maximum value of £2500 to allow u3as to participate in large events which either have a national reach or reach a more diverse audience.

Further information
Large Event Grant (90.85 KB)

Large Event grant application form

Grants for u3as

Grants programme 2026 /27

Start-up Support grant

Membership Growth & Community Connections grant

Publicity Support grant

Large Event grant