Henry Smith Foundation – Welcome for Newcomers

• Value: £200,000 over three years
• Application deadline: 26 August 2026
• Summary: This is flexible funding that can be used towards organisational running costs, helping charities support newcomers to the UK through specialist advice, community integration activities, and systems-change work. Additional accessibility grants are available to support participation in the application process.

Who can apply:

Applications will be accepted from charitable organisations registered in and working in the UK including:

• Registered charities and Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs)
• Community Interest Companies (CICs) that are not-for-profit with an asset lock
• Other not for profit charitable organisations delivering work aligned with the Foundation’s objects

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Have at least one year worth of accounts that have been audited or independently examined
• Have up-to-date safeguarding policy and practices
• Have a record of at least 18 months providing the three core elements of Welcome work
• Support newcomers as their charitable purpose, mission or objects
• Have ongoing, long-term access to safe, accessible physical space or spaces where the work is delivered. They should own, rent or have written permission to use the space.

Partnerships need to have:

• Been established with the charitable purpose to support newcomers to the UK
• A record of at least 18 months providing the three core elements of Welcome work
• A lead partner in place to manage the grant that meets the Foundation’s charitable eligibility criteria for organisations.
• A formal partnership agreement in place between all partners setting out clear roles and responsibilities, with a suitable governance framework.

Eligible Expenditure:

This is flexible funding to support an organisation’s running costs.

The funding is for organisations and partnerships whose charitable purpose is to support newcomers to the UK. They should have ongoing, long-term access to safe physical spaces and have a proven track record of providing comprehensive help through three core elements of ‘Welcome’ work:

• Specialist support enabling high-quality support, either directly or through specialist providers, for activities such as IAA-regulated immigration advice, help with rights and entitlements, destitution and housing matters, healthcare and therapeutic trauma support, English language education and employment.
• Enabling belonging through regular social contact and relationship building within newcomer communities and between newcomers and other residents.
• Influencing work to help improve local conditions for Welcome, by improving collaboration between services, amplifying newcomer voices and influencing local systems.

Grants of £200,000 over three years are available. It is anticipated that around 20 grants will be awarded.

Groups can apply for an accessibility support grant to help cover the cost of things like BSL interpreters, scribes, translation services, assistive technology, or support workers. Grants of up to:

• £250 at the Expression of Interest stage
• £500 at the Full Application stage.