The Border Fund

Funding

Contact funder

Deadline

Check with the funder

Location

North West England

Applications

Check the current application window with the funder

Overview

The Border Fund offers grants of up to £2,000 to individuals and not-for-profit organisations in Cumbria. It funds projects that reduce poverty, improve health, tackle inequality, or promote climate action. Priority goes to people and groups in rural areas northeast of Carlisle, including north and east of Longtown, through to Gilsland and Newbiggin. The fund particularly wants to support hearing loss clinics, skills and confidence training for adults over 25, domestic abuse training for women's centre staff, and mature students changing career. It can also cover hardship costs that help someone complete a course. Core costs, gap-year funding, and role-specific professional qualifications are not eligible.

Requirements to check

Who can apply:

charityindividual

Key requirements:

  • Applicants must be charitable or not-for-profit organisations, or individuals
  • Priority given to projects in rural areas northeast of Carlisle, including north and east of Longtown, Gilsland, and Newbiggin
  • Individual applicants' household income will be considered in assessment
  • Core costs are not eligible
  • Gap-year funding is not eligible
  • Role-specific professional qualifications are not eligible

• charitable, not-for-profit organisations • individuals

This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.

Who is this for?

This grant is for individuals and charitable or not-for-profit organisations based in Cumbria, especially in rural areas northeast of Carlisle. It suits adults over 25 seeking a career change, mature students, and groups delivering skills or mental health support. It is not for businesses, gap-year projects, or role-specific professional qualifications.

Funder track record
Last published award 2023

Awards published

338

Typical award

£3,000

Most awards

£1,000 to £8,060

Most funded region

North West

Contains data from 360Giving publishers, used under open licence.

Full details from Cumbria Community Foundation

Grants to individuals and organisations for initiatives that reduce poverty, improve health, tackle social inequality, and help people reach their potential, or for projects that nurture a sense of place or promote climate action in Cumbria. Priority will be given to individuals and groups in the rural areas northeast of Carlisle, including north and east of Longtown, and through to Gilsland and Newbiggin. Donor Anonymous Who can apply? • charitable, not-for-profit organisations • individuals Priority will be given to projects that: • increase personal skills • increase independence • support individuals and communities in rural areas • support groups helping people to build long-term skills • support disadvantaged individuals over the age of 25 who wish to change career • support mental health The donor would like to support: • hearing loss clinics • groups providing training to build skills and confidence to disadvantaged adults over the age of 25 • domestic abuse training for staff delivering women’s centre group sessions • mature students seeking a career change or wishing to undertake a professional qualification or work-based education • hardship costs which enable the completion of studies or a course What the Fund will not support in addition to our normal exclusions: • core costs • gap-year funding • role-specific professional qualifications How much can you apply for? Grants will normally be up to £2,000 for both individuals and groups. Household income will be considered in the assessment of applications for individuals. How to apply? • All applications are now made through our online application portal • Read our step‑by‑step portal help guide here If you would like further information about this fund please contact: Tracy Cheesbrough, Grants & Programmes Officer, on 01900 512395 or email: tracy@cumbriafoundation.org

How to apply

Apply through Cumbria Community Foundation's online application portal. A step-by-step help guide is available on their website. For questions, contact Tracy Cheesbrough on 01900 512395 or tracy@cumbriafoundation.org.

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Last updated: 4 October 2026