Supporting local communities across the UK
Boots Charitable Trust is an independent registered charity wholly funded by Boots UK Limited. Our purpose is clear: to support people, customers, and communities wherever we can make the greatest positive impact.
In 2025, we reviewed our funding strategy to focus support on our home county of Nottinghamshire, but remain accessible to impactful projects across the UK that closely align with our funding priorities. The Trust funds charities and voluntary organisations working in the areas of health, lifelong learning, community development and social care, and encourages applications from organisations where our grants of up to £10,000 can make the biggest impact.
Throughout the year the Trust allocates funds on a 50/50 split between Nottinghamshire and national applications. If your organisation is creating positive change in your community, and fits within our funding priorities, we’d love to hear from you.
Who can apply?
We’re pleased to announce that new applications will reopen for quarterly funding on Monday 3 August 2026.
Please note:
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In Quarter 1 (August 2026), we are open for projects that support the Nottinghamshire community.
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We intend to open for applications supporting communities across the UK in Quarter 2 (November 2026), in line with the timetable below.
Further updates will be made available on this webpage for applications ahead of Quarter 2.
Before you begin an application, please ensure that you read the guidance depending on the area your project will support:
Your organisation’s activities must align with the relevant priority areas for your location, and you must be a registered charity or a not-for profit organisation with charitable purposes.
Your organisation’s activities must align with the relevant priority areas for your location, and you must be a registered charity or a not-for profit organisation with charitable purposes.
If you have any questions relating to the application process, please contact bootscharitabletrust@cafonline.org.
Applying for support: Charities supporting the Nottinghamshire community
Applications for funding will open to projects supporting communities in Nottinghamshire on Monday 3 August, via CAF’s online portal.
Please ensure you review the Nottinghamshire Application Guidance before beginning an application. UK-wide and Nottinghamshire funding priorities differ and it is important you review the correct application guidance before applying.
While we look at applications from all charities, our main focus is on the following areas that are very close to our hearts and heritage:
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Health: improving wellbeing and access to care
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Lifelong learning: opening opportunities through education and skills
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Community development: Helping groups to organise and respond to problems and needs in their communities or networks.
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Social care: Personal, social or community activities or schemes.
Additionally, a particular focus within each of these priorities is how the projects demonstrate a commitment to improving diversity, equality and inclusion within the community.
Please note that further to the submission of an application form, Trustees from Boots Charitable Trust may contact you for a telephone interview and/or an in-person visit, availability permitting, as part of the selection process. The interview will last no longer than 60 minutes and is intended to provide an opportunity to clarify any questions they and you may have regarding your application form and proposed activities.
Applying for support: National applicants
Applications for funding for projects supporting communities outside of Nottinghamshire and across the UK will open later in 2026, from Quarter 2. In advance of this application round opening, you can review the National Application Guidance.
UK-wide and Nottinghamshire funding priorities differ and it is important you review the correct application guidance before applying.
While we look at applications from all charities, our main focus with UK-wide applications is on the following areas that are very close to our hearts and heritage:
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Health: To support people and families living with cancer in deprived communities by improving access to practical, emotional, and ongoing healthcare support. The Trust will prioritise organisations delivering community-based cancer support, rehabilitation, and prevention services that reduce health inequalities.
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Lifelong Learning: To enable young people aged 16–30 from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain the skills, confidence, and experience needed to secure employment and progress into stable, meaningful careers. Grants will prioritise structured skill building, vocational learning, and transition- to-employment programmes.
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Social Care: To support children and young people, up to age 18, who have experienced rape or sexual abuse, by funding trauma-informed services that provide access to safety, therapeutic recovery, safeguarding education, and specialist advocacy.
Additionally, a particular focus within each of these priorities is how the projects demonstrate a commitment to improving diversity, equality and inclusion within the community.
Please note, that further to the submission of an application form, Trustees from Boots Charitable Trust may contact you for a telephone interview and/or in-person visit, availability permitting, as part of the selection process. The interview will last no longer than 60 minutes and is intended to provide an opportunity to clarify any questions they and you may have regarding your application form and proposed activities.
Projects we do not fund
Here is some guidance on projects we do not supply funding for:
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Individuals
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Organisations that are not registered charities and which have income of more than £5,000 per year
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Charities seeking funds to redistribute to other charities
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Projects for which there is a legal statutory obligation
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Capital projects, large building or construction
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Projects with ongoing maintenance costs that would be dependent on Boots Charitable Trust funding for delivery to continue.
Application links
Apply here: Boots Charitable Trust application form
Return to applicant portal: https://bbgm-apply.yourcausegrants.com/apply/applications
Please note, CAF’s online grant portal has changed from previous application rounds. Further information on the portal can be found on CAF’s website here.
Key dates
Applications are reviewed quarterly by a board of Trustees.
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Q1 2026-27 Round 1 |
Q2 2026-27 Round 2 |
Q3 2026-27 Round 3 |
Q4 2026-27 Round 4 |
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Application window opens |
3 August 2026 |
2 November 2026 |
1 February 2027 |
4 May 2027 |
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Deadline for applications |
5pm 1 September 2026 |
5pm 30 November 2026 |
5pm 1 March 2027 |
5pm 1 June 2027 |
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Decisions communicated by |
End of Oct 2026 |
End of Jan 2027 |
End of Apr 2027 |
End of July 2027 |
Who are our Trustees?
Kyle Rowe – Managing Director Boots Opticians
Beneeta Shah – Director of Pharmacy Stores
Jennifer Moffat – Financial Controller
Michael Benford – Director of Finance – Operations
Adam Wiles - Senior Dispute Resolution, Investigations & Healthcare Lawyer
Jenny Rose - Director of Stores (Wales & West)
Rebecca Hitchings - General Merchandise Business Unit Director, Boots UK & ROI
Boots Product Donations
If you are seeking support in the form of Boots products for raffles or to support your work, please complete a Donation Request Form. Please contact inthecommunity@boots.co.uk only for queries relating to stock donations.
Boots Charitable Trust and CAF will be unable to support with requests of this type.