
Wade’s Charity, Leeds oldest charity has been making life better for the people of Leeds since 1530 (during the reign of Henry VIII). Nowadays as well as owning many green spaces around the city, including Middleton Park, Wade’s provides grant funding to Leeds based charities for a range of activities.
Trustees of Wade’s Charity meet three times a year to review grant applications and agree funding from their main Grants Programme. The next meeting takes place on 24 February 2026, so organisations looking for charitable funding should aim to apply before the end of January 2026.
At present Wade’s historical grants criteria mean that they can only support projects in the pre-1974 boundary of the City of Leeds which roughly equated to the Leeds postcodes LS1 to LS17, although this geographical area is presently under review.
Other grants criteria means applications must come from a registered charity, exempt or excepted charities or industrial and provident societies plus must meet one of either two more purposes – offering recreational opportunities for people in the city or it must be related to the use of public open space.
Wade’s has supported various groups involved with community projects for the youth, the elderly and the arts over the last 12 months with plenty of examples of projects supported on their website from funding day trips for elderly community groups, grants for improving facilities for clubs and youth groups, aiding improvements to amenities and diversity at green spaces or parks, supporting activity days, youth clubs events, sports sessions, family support and help for people with physical or learning disabilities.
For more information about Wade’s Charity’s grants criteria and details on how to apply Charities should visit Wade’s website.
Wade’s Charity is one of Leeds best kept secrets, an organisation that works tirelessly behind the scenes to benefit the people of Leeds. To find more about Wade’s Charity’s history or to find out about their community grants criteria, visit www.wadescharity.org
This post is based on a press release issued by Wades Charity
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