The Robert McAlpine Foundation Grants

Overview

The Foundation was established by the family of Sir Robert McAlpine and gives grants to support small charities situated throughout the UK that fall within specific categories - namely children, youth, the elderly, social and medical research.

Their funding is focused on bespoke applications which aim to improve mental and physical wellbeing. This includes applications for care and carers, assistive equipment, befriending and community social activities, education, training, outward bounds and sport provision for vulnerable people.

They support registered charities which meet the following criteria:

• Total income should be less than £1m per annum
• The funds must be used for a UK-based project
• The work of the charity for which the appeal is being made must fall within one of the following categories:

Children

Providing families with financial help towards the purchase of specialist equipment for children and young people with severe learning and physical disabilities. The equipment improves quality of life and helps regain and maintain mobility and sensory function providing the opportunity for each child to achieve their potential. 

Examples

• Nursing care for children with a terminal illness in their own homes.
• Respite care for severely disabled, life limited and life threatened children under six.
• Part funding a Speech and Language Specialist to improve articulation and communication for children with speech difficulties.
• Support for the purchase cost of a mobile home for compassionate care breaks for families of children disabled through illness.
• Funding towards junior sports equipment for children with severe learning difficulties.

Social

Offering expert advice, relief and support to people with debilitating conditions that significantly impact their quality of life - and their families. Tailored activities help people participate fully in community life and develop self-confidence, friendships, emotional/physical wellbeing and greater independence. Activities include clubs, respite breaks, skills training and employment opportunities.

Examples

• Purchase of a security intercom system at a supported housing project for vulnerable young women.
• A training programme at a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre.
• Personalised one-to-one support for visually impaired people to enhance their quality of life, build confidence and independence.
• Purchase of wheelchairs and mobility aids to improve sport and physical activity.
• Recruitment, training and placement of volunteers to work with people with learning difficulties to assist them to contribute to community life.

Elderly

Providing practical and emotional help for carers, those they care for and older people living alone. Skilled volunteers make regular visits to elderly people providing one-to-one support and transport, befriending to reduce loneliness and offer companionship to a person being cared for - providing respite for the carer. Intergenerational activities provide the opportunity for young volunteers to interact with older people and offer IT support to improve contact with distant friends and relatives.

Examples

• A wheelchair accessible greenhouse for a day care centre for the elderly.
• Door-to-door community transport scheme.
• Running costs of a day centre which provides a befriending service for the disabled and elderly.
• Increasing the number of volunteers trained to provide befriending and a digital inclusion service.
• Part funding the opening of a new club for the elderly with dementia and their carers to facilitate socialising, support and companionship.

Youth

Working holistically with young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless - and their families. A range of specialist interventions offer support and guidance to those facing the root causes of youth homelessness such as mental health and wellbeing; education and employment; relationships and social pressures.

Examples

• Provision of new kit and equipment to a boxing club promoting physical health, community cohesion and learning discipline to youngsters.
• Awareness workshops aimed at reducing youth offending and anti social behaviour.
• A family support co-ordinator at a youth project working with young people with a range of learning disabilities and behaviour issues.
• Relationship-based, therapeutic sessions to help young people to raise self-esteem, resilience and build confidence in themselves and others.
• Outdoor and sporting activities aimed at improving the confidence and self esteem of vulnerable young people.

Medical Research

• For medical research, they can support specific research projects.
• They will consider funding up to £50k per annum when funding research assistants or PhD research.
• They will also consider joint funding for medical research projects, and research projects over multiple years.
• They typically like to donate to charities and research institutes that are fairly small and where their support is significant.