The Manjit Wolstenholme Fund is open for applications!

A partnership between GiveBradford and Vanquis Banking Group, this fund honours Manjit Wolstenholme, the first woman from an ethnic minority background to chair a FTSE 100 company. Founded in her memory, the fund awards grants to community organisations that support young people in deprived areas to achieve their true potential and to take the next steps in education or employment.

Key information

• We actively welcome more applications from, or benefitting, people under-represented in our grant making, for example LGBTQIA+, racially minoritised, d/Deaf or disabled people
• Activity must be delivered with people up to age 21, their parents, carers, family and/or key influencers who work directly with young people
• Organisations must have a gross income of less than £750k in the most recent financial year to be eligible
• Previous recipients must have completed all activity, spent the grant and reported on their grant prior to August 2026 to re-apply
• Vanquis Banking Group as a bank are required to screen all applicants to this fund, to comply with specific anti-money laundering and anti-bribery and corruption regulations. Please see here
• Only one application per organisation can be considered

Examples of activity that can be funded

Proposed activity must support one or more of the following:

• Increasing aspirations and empowerment / platforming
• Developing confidence, resilience and life skills
• Addressing low education attainment and inequity of opportunity

This could be achieved through activity such as:

• Educational projects which enhance learning and develop career or work experience opportunities
• Wellbeing activities that promote self-esteem, confidence and resilience, empowering young people to believe in their abilities and talents
• Visits to colleges or universities which signpost to education opportunities
• A series of speaker events and workshops with inspirational figures / potential role models

This is not an exhaustive list of activity examples.

Grant Size: £10,000 (fixed amount)
Location: Bradford
Duration: up to 1 year
Deadline: 10/08/2026 at 12 noon
Decisions: October 2026
Read more and apply here

GiveBradford

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