McCarthy Stone Foundation Creating Connections Grants

The McCarthy Stone Foundation has announced its new funding programme will open for applications on 1 August 2025.

Registered charities, constituted community groups and Community Interest Companies (CICs) limited by guarantee with an annual income of less than £250,000 will have until 29 August to apply for grants of up to £7,500 for projects to reduce loneliness and isolation for people over 65 living in the more deprived areas of England, Scotland and Wales. It is anticipated that at least 20 grants will be awarded.

The funding is for initiatives that help create meaningful social connections for people aged 65 and over, including:

• Befriending services, including meal delivery for those living independently.
• Social groups, such as art classes, dance sessions, lunch clubs, and coffee mornings.
• Community transport, connecting older people to local activities and services.

Dementia-specific charities and groups will not be eligible in this grant round, as the Foundation has a dedicated Dementia Grants Programme launching in Spring 2026. However, charities that serve a broad older population, including individuals with dementia, may apply.

Please note, this year, the Foundation has decided that to help ensure an equitable allocation of funds and to help with selection of grant applicants, it will adopt a place-based approach to reviewing grant applications. Funding will be prioritised to organisations able to demonstrate they are working in specified locations across the Foundation’s six grant-award regions. These can be found in the guidance notes which are now available on the Foundation’s website.

Applications will be accepted from 1 August until 29 August 2025 at 5pm.‍