Friends' Trust Applications

This guide is linked from our core how-to guide on Raising, Spending & Managing Money.

Friends' Trust Applications 2025/26

Term 1 Friends' Trust applications open at 10:00am, Wednesday 1st October 2025 and close at 10:00am, Thursday 30th October 2025.

The UCL Friends’ Trust was established in 1953 ‘to make provision for such projects as would enhance the prestige and reputation of the College as an educational institution and would promote corporate life.’ In recent years the Trust has supported thousands of students’ across the full span of students’ extra-curricular activities.

The Friends' Trust recognises the central role that clubs and societies play in creating positive experiences, helping build relationships  and supporting students through challenges. Each academic year the Trustees make an allocation of money to the Students' Union and applications can then be submitted in Terms 1 and 2 for support of such activities. Applications are assessed by a panel and grants of between £100 and £3,500 are made.

We welcome bids from clubs and societies, and are particularly keen to support initiatives that keep communities connected while groups may be unable to meet face to face on a regular basis, or only in limited numbers.

How to Apply

The UCL Friends' Trust awards grants to students, societies, clubs and UCL student-led projects that make a real difference to students at UCL. Whether that be new equipment, an amazing new initiative or an exciting one off activity. There are two rounds of applications each academic year. One round in both terms 1 and 2. For 2025/26 Term 1 applicants, you should receive a decision by the end of November. If you need funds sooner, please have a look at our other grant pots which we review on a rolling basis.

The criteria for awards normally include: 

• How many students will benefit from the funding
• Urgency of the application (e.g. does the group need the equipment to be able to run core activities)
• How clear the application is – unclear applications will be rejected
• Existing funds available to the club or society
• Whether the club or society has been awarded Friends’ Trust in the past for the same or similar activities or equipment (for example, the Friends' Trust may not grant you funding two years in a row).

Friends' Trust Guidelines and Criteria

The UCL Friends' Trust awards grants to student societies, clubs and associations. The Friends' Trust also give financial support for UCL projects and amenities which could not otherwise be funded. Retrospective applications for funds are not usually considered.

The Friends' Trust invites applications from both recognised Union Clubs & Societies and individual students for awards made in November and February of each year to enhance and encourage extracurricular activity at UCL.

In carrying out the object of the Trust as stated in the Trust Deed of 16 December 1953 (“to make provision for such projects as would enhance the prestige and reputation of the College as an educational institution and would promote its corporate life as such”). 

The Trust will consider applications from members of the UCL community for the award of funds in accordance with the guidelines set out in the following paragraphs:

1. Applications for funds will be expected to be for projects of demonstrable benefit to UCL students and/or the UCL community in general.
2. Applications will be considered for projects including (but not limited to) the following:
   1. Activities and amenities associated with recognised Union societies or UCL societies;
   2. Amenities for the improvement of the UCL environment or operation, excluding capital projects;
   3. The acquisition of items of specific relevance and value to UCL as an institution.
3. Grants of funds for any single project will not normally exceed 10% of the total sum which UCL expects to disburse in any one financial year. The Trust’s disbursement over the current financial year is not expected to exceed £25,000.
4. In considering an application UCL will normally take into account the number of students likely to benefit from the project and/or the more general benefit to the UCL community.
5. Funds will not be provided to support academic projects being undertaken as part of an academic programme of study.
6. Applications which appear to be contrary to the principles of equal opportunity will not be considered.
7. UCL may award funds in the form of a grant, a repayable (interest-free) loan, an underwritten sum of money, or any combination of these.
8. Awards which have not been taken up by the end of the financial year (31st July) will normally be cancelled.
9. The application should be limited to not more than 1000 words. It is vital that within this the application has very clear aims and objectives. If the applicant will be making a contribution to the funding then this must be clearly stated on the application. Unclear applications will be rejected.
10. Successful applicants are invited to be available to present on the use and impact of the grant at an annual donors’ reception in May each year.
11. Decisions made by UCL stakeholders and the advisory group shall be final.

Both recognised Students' Union UCL clubs & societies (including recently affiliated clubs & societies) and individual UCL students may apply for this grant. If you are applying on behalf of a club/society, only presidents and treasurers are eligible to submit this form on behalf of their group.

All applications must be submitted via the online form below.

Funding is awarded twice a year, in November and February.

Please note that in order for your application form to be accepted you must attach a detailed budget for events, and/or quotes for one-off purchases. Applications that do not include budgets or quotes will be rejected. Ensure budgets clearly include any contribution from the club/society. 

• Information on how to create a budget can be found in our how-to guide on 'Organising Activities & Events'.

FRIENDS' TRUST APPLICATION FORM

If you have any questions, feedback, or concerns about the contents of this guide, please email us at [email protected].