The William Leech Charity is a North East England-based trust that primarily supports registered UK charities delivering visible local benefit in Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, and County Durham. It places particular emphasis on volunteer-led charities, practical community projects, and small-scale interventions that improve health, wellbeing, education, and opportunity, while its Lady Leech Fund extends support to disadvantaged children overseas, especially where there is a connection to North East England. The charity also makes interest-free loans for urgent capital needs, suggesting a flexible approach that can combine grantmaking with short-term financial support.
Annual Giving$500K
Focus Areas
Volunteer-Led Community ProjectsNorth East England Local CharitiesChildren's Welfare in Developing CountriesPoverty Relief and Community WellbeingEducation and Skills DevelopmentInterest-Free Capital Loans for Charities
Giving Approach
Rolling applications via a portal, with trustees considering proposals at board meetings; grant sizes are typically small to mid-sized, from about £500 to £50,000, with volunteer-support grants usually under £5,000 and interest-free loans up to £10,000 or 10% of project cost. Funding is mainly for registered UK charities, and some programs are restricted to organizations with at least two-thirds volunteer-delivered charitable activity.
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How to approach this funder
Apply through the online portal rather than expecting a fixed public deadline; proposals are reviewed by trustees on a rolling basis. Tailor requests to show clear local impact in Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, or County Durham, and highlight volunteer involvement, measurable outcomes, and any connection to the North East for Lady Leech Fund requests.
Notable grantees:
• J Jones Charity
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from The William Leech Charity that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowRolling / open intake
William Leech Charity Main Fund - Grants
Community developmentPoverty alleviationHealth and wellbeing+1 more
Who can apply: Registered UK charities/charitable organisations with projects that deliver clear community impact; North East-based charities and volunteer-led projects are supported. The charity does not support individuals, core costs, or recently funded organisations, and generally does not support projects outside Northumberland, Tyne & Wear and County Durham.
Deadline: Rolling basis; applications are reviewed at the next board meeting.
Who can apply: Small registered charities where at least two-thirds of the charitable work excluding administration and fundraising is done by volunteers. Applicants must apply through the standard portal and select the William Leech Charity Main Fund and Grant.
Deadline: Rolling basis; applications are reviewed at the next board meeting.
Volunteer supportSmall-scale community projectsCapacity for volunteer-led charities
Who can apply: Small registered charities where at least two-thirds of charitable work (excluding administration and fundraising) is performed by volunteers. Applicants must supply organisation name and charity number, contact details, project aims, funds raised to date, outstanding funding needs, number of paid staff and volunteers, and annual salary/overhead costs.
Deadline: No fixed deadlines specified; applications submitted via portal and considered by Trustees. Funding guidelines and eligibility documents available as downloads.
Child welfareDisadvantaged childrenInternational development
Who can apply: Projects should help disadvantaged children, especially in the developing world, and wherever possible should have a personal connection with Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, or County Durham. The fund does not support individuals, travel/gap year projects, or projects without child-focused impact.
Deadline: Rolling basis; applications are reviewed at the next board meeting.
Community developmentEducation and skill developmentHealth and wellbeing+2 more
Who can apply: Registered UK charities based in the North East (Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, County Durham); volunteer-led projects prioritised. Not for individuals; not usually for full core costs; not for general fundraising, debt repayment, political/religious promotion, projects outside specified geographic area, or minibus purchase. Organisations recently funded (within previous 12 months) are typically ineligible unless previously agreed.
Deadline: Main fund is open on a rolling basis; applications considered at the next Board meeting. Trustees may limit repeat funding to not more than three years in special cases and typically do not fund organisations funded within previous 12 months.
Capital projectsCrisis/urgent financial needsBuilding works
Who can apply: Organisations able to repay the loan; used where an unexpected crisis exists and a repayment plan is in place. Not for fully funded projects or where no repayment plan exists. Grants are not made to individuals.
Deadline: Applications accepted via portal; offers valid for two months. No fixed public application deadlines.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.