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Friends' Trust Applications 2024/25

Term 1 Friends' Trust applications are now closed.

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 £3,000 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.

The criteria for awards normally include: how many students will benefit from the funding, the 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, the existing funds available to the club or society and 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).

Both recognised Students' Union UCL 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.

If you are in your first year of affiliation, you can apply for Friends' Trust funding.

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 include any contribution from the club/society CLEARLY. Information on how to create a budget can be found here.

If you would like any additional information please contact us.