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Stanhope Castle Charitable Trust

Supports young people (under 25) who are or who have been in the care of, looked after or under a Supervision Order to the local authority for a minimum of six months or who fall within Section 17 (10) of the Children Act 1989 to undertake educational and training activities.

Maximum Grant: £1,000

About the fund holder

Stanhope Castle was an approved school from 1941 until 1973 (when approved schools ceased to exist nationally) at which point it became a community home . In 1981 the community home closed and proceeds from the sale of the property were invested to create the Stanhope Castle Charitable Trust.

What we will fund

Educational or tuition fees, study aids or equipment, i.e. books, subscription fees.
Training courses.
Bursaries to pay for young people to participate at a regional, national or international level in their chosen field.
Driving or motorbike lessons (maximum contribution £250) where you can prove either an extensive interest in car or motorbike mechanics and have been offered employment for which you will need a driving licence.
Educational trips will be considered but not Operation Raleigh type support.

Applications from a number of young people who wish to undertake educational or training activities together and who can demonstrate why they should be considered as a group application will also be considered.

Are you eligible?

This fund makes grants to young people who are or were in the past in the care of the local authorities in the following areas for at least six months: County Durham, Darlington, Hartlepool, Redcar & Cleveland, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Gateshead, South Tyneside or Sunderland. Young people who fall within Section 17 (10) of the Children Act 1989 and are resident in these areas are also eligible. Individuals can hold one grant each financial year starting in April.

You should have explored and exhausted all available statutory sources of funding and provision for your proposed activity before you apply to us.

Apply for a grant

The application must be completed by the individual applying for the grant. If this is not possible, please ask someone else to help you e.g. your social worker or carer.

We cannot make retrospective awards so please ensure that you allow three months from the time of your application to the start date of your project.

Step 1. Download and read the full guidelines and application form or call 0191 3830055 to request a paper copy. Please read the guidelines throughly to ensure you fit within the criteria.

Step 2. Fill out the application form including a telephone number for your referee (and ask permission for us to contact them if necessary) and send it to:

County Durham Foundation
Jordan House
Forster Business Centre
Finchale Road
Durham
DH1 5HL

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