Ernest Cook Trust

Archived Age Arts, culture and heritage Children (0-12) Community and neighbourhood development Craft and design Cultural heritage Cultural, events and festivals Education and learning environment Natural environment and climate Performing arts Rural development School, College and University Verbal arts Visual arts and media Young people (13-25) Antrim & Newtownabbey Ards & North Down Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Belfast City Causeway Coast and Glens Derry City and Strabane England Fermanagh and Omagh Great Britain Lisburn and Castlereagh Mid and East Antrim Mid Ulster Newry, Mourne and Down Northern Ireland Scotland Wales Micro (up to £1,000) Small (up to £10,000)

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Overview

The Ernest Cook Trust gives grants to registered charities, schools and not-for-profit organisations wishing to encourage young people’s interest either in the countryside and the environment or the arts (in the broadest sense) or aiming to raise levels of literacy and numeracy.

Since the ECT is a land-based Trust, work which encourages or ensures the continuation of rural skills and crafts is of particular interest to the Trustees. All applications are expected to link in with either the National Curriculum or with recognised qualifications.

Each year the ECT Trustees give around £1.8 million to support hundreds of educational projects throughout the UK.

A large grants programme for awards of over £4,000 and a small grants programme for awards of under £4,000 operate throughout the year.
For small grants, most awarded are in the range £1000 - £1500.
For large grants, apart from a few larger awards to projects especially close to the interests of the Trustees, most awards are in the range of £4,000 – £12,000

Small Grants Programme

Spports state schools and small registered charities which would like to undertake projects which meet the Trust’s objectives and require a small amount of pump-priming in order for such projects to take place. The programme is a rolling one, with meetings at two-monthly intervals throughout the year – but it is wise to think well ahead. Suitable applications are allocated to the next available meeting, however due to high demand you are advised to submit an application at least six months ahead of your project start date.

Large grants programme

is aimed at more comprehensive education programmes: these sometimes require support for the salary of an education officer; in such cases the ECT would always expect to be a part-funder. The range of the programme is wide; over the years education projects linked to theatres, art galleries and orchestras have been supported, as have those covering a wide range of environmental and countryside projects.

Grants are normally awarded for one year only.

Track grant Notes