The Fund is a Registered Charity established in 1993 with The late Queen’s consent to benefit a wide range of causes throughout the County Palatine of Lancaster – in effect, the
three counties of Lancashire, Greater Manchester & Merseyside.

In Lancashire, the Fund is administered from the Lieutenancy Office in County Hall, Preston to which all requests should be made by completing a brief application form which can be found following this link: https://www.lancashire-lieutenancy.org/your-lieutenancy/duchy-benevolent-fund/. Generally, applications are considered at the end of the month in which they are received.

The Fund’s current practice in Lancashire is to make one-off grants to help with specific needs of individuals, organisations and voluntary groups throughout the community for purposes for which statutory funding is not available. For example grants to groups and organisations may be made for the provision of equipment or the refurbishment of premises but are not normally given to support running costs. Repeat grants will not be
given to the same organisation for at least three years. Normally, grants are of modest amounts, typically, less than £500.

Grants are not available for the following:
1) *Uniformed Youth Groups (eg Scouts/Guides/Cadets)
2) Schools
3) For Further or Higher Education
4) Animal Welfare Charities
5) Hardship
6) General Appeals
7) *For work under the Equality Act (or for similar purposes)
8) *Sports Clubs
9) Theatre Arts Training
10) Running costs (to be determined on a case-by-case basis)
*To be determined on a case-by-case basis – would be considered more favourably, that if a grant was awarded, it would also provide a strong community benefit.

All decisions on applications are entirely at the discretion of the Fund and the Fund is unable to enter into any correspondence in connection with an unsuccessful application.

The nomination period is now open for The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS), which recognises exceptional local volunteer groups across the UK. Established in 2002 to mark the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, it is the highest honor given to volunteer groups, equivalent to an MBE, and awarded for life.

It would be fantastic to put Blackpool on the map by encouraging as many nominations as possible!

About the Award:

• The King’s Award for Voluntary Service follows an annual cycle, with nominations opening each September and award announcements the following November.
• The benefits of receiving this award include royal recognition and the right to use The King’s Award emblem on group materials and websites.
• The nomination period closes on 1st December.