The Connolly Foundation is a Bedfordshire place-based funder that concentrates on improving life chances for young people and quality of life for older residents. Its giving is especially hands-on and partnership-driven, supporting school bursaries, aspiration-raising programmes with universities, teacher training, and local services that reduce isolation for older people. It tends to fund practical, local interventions with clear pathways into education, mobility, or social support rather than broad, national initiatives.
Mostly local, program-specific grants and bursaries, often through partner schools, colleges, or invited collaborations rather than open national competition. Awards range from small individual bursaries (around £1,000-£1,200) to larger multi-year programme commitments and pooled annual bursary funds, with some capital support for local transport assets.
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This funder is highly Bedfordshire-specific and many opportunities are invite-only or routed through partner schools, colleges, or collaborative programmes. Nonprofits should emphasize local impact in Bedfordshire, clear educational progression or older-people outcomes, and strong partnerships; unsolicited proposals are unlikely to fit most streams.
Current and upcoming funding from The Connolly Foundation (UK) Limited that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Projects must benefit young people in Bedfordshire. The foundation prioritises initiatives that help young people expand horizons, take next steps in life, and overcome barriers to learning; lower priority is given to capital equipment. Applications should fit the Grant Giving Policy.
Who can apply: Projects must benefit older people in Bedfordshire. The foundation does not support health care services or advocacy services, and research into diseases affecting older people is difficult to support if benefits extend beyond the county.
Who can apply: Community groups and charities delivering transport services for older people in Bedfordshire.
Who can apply: Charitable organisations and community groups delivering services for older people in Bedfordshire.
Who can apply: Charitable organisations, schools and other not-for-profit groups delivering services to young people in Bedfordshire. For individual student bursaries applicants are nominated by partner schools/colleges.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.