Up to £100,000 for Health, Heritage and Youth Projects: Barcapel Foundation
The Barcapel Foundation is accepting applications for its November 2026 trustee meeting. Grants usually range from £5,000 to £45,000, and occasionally reach £100,000, for charities working in health, heritage and youth.
The foundation funds both core costs and project delivery, and gives most of its support to charities in Scotland. The application process is short: a two-stage process that starts with a preliminary form, a covering letter and your latest accounts.
The deadline is Monday 5 October 2026, so there is less than a week to get an application in.
About the Funder
The Barcapel Foundation has supported charitable work in Scotland and beyond for over 50 years. It is a family trust, now run by the third and fourth generations of the Wilson family, guided by the philosophies of the original settlors, R Clement Wilson and Andrew C Wilson.
Trustees meet twice a year, around May and November, to consider applications. The next meeting is on Monday 30 November 2026.
What the Fund Supports
Barcapel prioritises three areas:
- Health: all aspects of physical, mental and social wellbeing. This includes medicine and healing, with a particular interest in complementary and alternative therapies, as well as mainstream medical research, healthcare delivery and disease detection.
- Heritage: preserving artistic, literary and cultural heritage, especially the built environment. That covers historic properties, civic spaces and architectural preservation, along with contemporary and historical arts.
- Youth: the development of young people, especially those from socially or financially disadvantaged backgrounds, helping them break cycles of poverty, build skills and fulfil their potential.
Grants can be used for project costs or core costs.
The foundation will not fund:
- Individual applications for travel or similar
- Organisations or individuals promoting religious or political beliefs
- Feasibility studies or similar
It is also unlikely to support local charities whose work takes place outside the British Isles.
How Much Funding Is Available
Grants typically range from £5,000 to £45,000 or more, depending on the project. The foundation says it is highly unusual for a single award to exceed £100,000. There is no published minimum.
Pitch your request realistically. For most applicants, an ask within the £5,000 to £45,000 range will fit best with what the trustees usually award.
Who Is Eligible
Barcapel mainly funds organisations with registered charitable status recognised by OSCR, the Scottish Charity Regulator. On occasion it makes awards to non-registered organisations and individuals with charitable aims.
Grants go predominantly, but not exclusively, to charities working in Scotland. Charities elsewhere in the UK can apply, but a strong Scottish connection will help your chances.
What Makes a Strong Application
The trustees look favourably on applications that clearly align with one of their three themes. Make the link to health, heritage or youth obvious from the first line of your form and covering letter.
Keep it concise. The foundation asks applicants not to send any additional information at the first stage. If you have important supporting documents, mention them in your covering letter and the directors will request them if they need them.
Some practical pointers:
- For youth projects, show how you reach young people facing social or financial disadvantage and what difference your work makes to their prospects
- For health projects, be clear about the wellbeing outcomes. Complementary therapy work is a particular interest
- For heritage projects, explain what is being preserved, why it matters and who benefits
- Make sure your latest accounts are up to date and tell a clear financial story
What You Will Need
Have these ready before you start:
- The completed preliminary application form (Word document, downloadable from the Barcapel website)
- A covering letter
- A copy of your most recent annual accounts
How to Apply
- Check your aims and objectives fit with Barcapel’s priorities
- Download the preliminary application form
- Complete the form concisely
- Email it to admin@barcapelfoundation.org with your covering letter and latest annual accounts by Monday 5 October 2026
- If your application is likely to succeed, the foundation will contact you for more information
Key Dates
- Application deadline: Monday 5 October 2026
- Trustee meeting: Monday 30 November 2026
- Next round: trustees meet again around May 2027
