BBC Children in Need commits to fairness and making a positive difference for children and young people.

Core costs support essential organisational and administrative spending. These are the key expenses required to keep your organisation running.

Core Costs funding can be spent on your organisation’s central day-to-day operations. These might include, for example:

• Management and administration
• HR and payroll
• General office expenses
• Accountancy and audit
• Communications and outreach
• Monitoring, evaluation, and learning
• Governance, regulatory, and compliance costs

Core Costs grants are awarded as restricted funding. They must be used to cover your organisation’s essential running expenses.

Type of funding: Grant

Type of cost: Core costs

Who can apply
They seek to prioritise smaller, local organisations and will rarely fund organisations with an annual turnover of more than £1 million in the most recent, complete financial year with the exception of Hospices; Housing Associations or applications which deliver nationwide or UK-wide work where there is no limit on turnover.

They will only consider applications for over £15,000 per year from organisations who have registered with the appropriate regulatory body.

Organisations with a current BBC Children in Need grant can also apply, as long as that funding is due to end within 12 months.

When to apply
There are no deadlines and applications can be submitted at any time.

They receive a very high number of applications between October and January. If you submit a form during these months, it make take longer to get a decision.

How to apply
Complete an Expression of Interest form on the Children in Need website. If they would like to support the work, you will then be send a full application.

Exclusions

• Work that statutory bodies (such as schools or local authorities) have a duty to fund
• Educational institutions, including schools, universities, and pupil referral units. -Special schools are the only exception
• Capital or building projects
• Projects that promote religion
• Trips abroad, or other activity taking place outside the UK
• Medical treatment or research
• Pregnancy testing or advice, information, or counselling on pregnancy choices
• Awareness-raising work, except where targeted at children or young people most at risk
• Bursaries, sponsored places, fees, or similar costs
• Holidays where there is little or no project involvement
• Help with budget shortfalls or debt repayments
• Retrospective funding
• Projects unable to start within 12 months of the grant award date

See BBC Children in Need website for a full list.