Wooden Spoon supports projects across the UK and Ireland that make a positive impact on the lives of children and young people who are disadvantaged physically, mentally, or socially.
Vision
“Through the power of rugby, every child and young person has access to the best life opportunities.”
Who Can Apply
Organisations with legal status including schools, charities, and clubs in the UK or Ireland. Partnership applications are accepted with one organisation taking the lead.
Cannot apply if:
- You have received a Wooden Spoon grant within the past five years
- You have an application currently being considered
- Your organisation has large uncommitted reserves
Who Benefits
Projects must work directly with groups of children and young people (with a cognitive age under 25) who are disadvantaged physically, mentally, or socially. Wooden Spoon cannot make grants to individuals.
Two Types of Projects
Capital Projects – Physical, tangible assets of a permanent nature
- Must have a minimum predicted lifespan of five years (preferably ten years)
- Must be non-transferable and permanent
- For leasehold properties, the lease must have at least five years remaining from completion
- Grants will not cover salaries, administration costs, professional fees, or ongoing overheads
Revenue Projects – Educational, health and wellbeing, or disability sports focused
- Must include a key educational, sporting, or physical activity element (preferably rugby)
- Defined timescale of at least 12 weeks
- Can include kit and equipment, salaries, and administration costs
- Must have a clearly defined project brief including objectives, participants, recruitment, budget, legacy planning, and evaluation
Grant Amount
There is no minimum or maximum grant level, though capital projects under £2,000 are unlikely to have sufficient scale to qualify. Wooden Spoon’s contribution may be up to 100%, though organisations are encouraged to raise 20% of project costs where practicable.
For grants of £50,000 or more, a legal charge on an asset will be required for five years from project completion.
Grant Conditions
- Grants must be spent within 12 months of the grant letter being issued
- Projects should be named for brand recognition (e.g. ‘The Wooden Spoon Playground’)
- Grant details and benefits must be shown on the applicant’s website and social media for five years
- Monitoring and evaluation reports required after 1, 2, and 5 years for capital projects, or at project end for revenue projects
- Organisations must cooperate with publicity and allow occasional access for corporate sponsors
How to Apply
Contact the Projects team:
- Phone: 01252 773720
- Email: projects@woodenspoon.org.uk
Visit the Wooden Spoon website for full project criteria and application details.
Find out more and apply for a grant: Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby