Unity Impact Grants
Bring your community project to life.
We’re no longer accepting applications for our 2026 Unity Impact Grants
The application window closed at midnight on 30 September 2026.
Thank you to all customers that applied, we’ll be in touch soon.
What are Unity Impact Grants?
Unity Impact Grants are awarded to existing customers to support specific projects making a difference in local communities. Unlike a loan, it doesn’t need to be repaid – it’s our way of giving direct financial help to initiatives that deliver positive impact.
In 2026, we’ve doubled our total grant funding pot to a total of £100,000, which will fund up to 16 grants.
Unity Impact Grants are split between two different initiatives: Unity Social Impact Grants support projects that make a positive social, economic or community impact; and Unity Environmental Impact Grants support activities that deliver positive environmental change or improve sustainability.
The grants programmes are open to Unity Trust Bank customers who have banked with us since 1 September 2025. Customers were welcome to apply for both types of grant, but may only be selected to receive one grant so we can support as many customers as possible.
Our 2026 grants at a glance
Grant name: Unity Social Impact Grant 2026
Amount: £5,000 per grant
Number of recipients: 12
Total grant pot: £60,000
Grant name: Unity Environmental Impact Grant 2026
Amount: £10,000 per grant
Number of recipients: 4
Total grant pot: £40,000
Information for 2026 Unity Impact Grant applicants
- All applications are now being reviewed by an independent assessment panel. Each application is assigned to a panel member, who will assess it against the published eligibility criteria. Assessors complete a scoring and feedback form before submitting their recommendations.
- The assessment results are then brought together and considered by the judging panel, who make the final decision on which applicants will receive funding.
- We’ll let all applicants know the outcome once the judging process is complete. If you’re successful, we’ll also explain the next steps for receiving your grant.
- We’ll respond to all applicants, whether successful or not, by email by 5pm on Monday 30 November 2026. Please note we are unable to provide individual feedback on unsuccessful applications.
If you need to contact us about your application
If you have any questions about either of the two 2026 Unity Impact Grants or your application, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Email the grants team directly at donationspanel@unity.co.uk. We’ll aim to respond within three working days.
Please note, the donations team can only offer guidance on the Unity Impact Grant programme. If you have a general banking query, please contact the Unity Customer Service team at us@unity.co.uk or call us on 0345 140 1000*
*Opening hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank and public holidays in England and Wales. Calls are charged at local rate. Calls may be monitored and recorded for training, quality and security purposes..
We have a long history of supporting good causes and we’re proud to back grassroots community projects and charities across the UK.
Our Unity Impact Grants programme was launched in September 2024 to mark our 40th anniversary, with six £5,000 grants awarded to socially-minded customers. In 2025, we raised the grants pot to £50,000 for ten recipients. For 2026, we’ve increased the total grant funding pot again to a total of £100,000 for 16 recipients.
Created through our employee-led Unity & Me programme, Unity Impact Grants are designed to support our people, communities and the planet. The grants are managed by our dedicated Grants & Donations team and are subject to eligibility criteria.
Our 2025 Unity Impact Grants recipients
In 2025, we created a Unity Impact Grants pot of £50,000, offering our customers the chance to receive one of ten £5,000 grants to help support the change they’re driving in their local communities. Find out more about our 2025 grants recipients below.
We received almost 200 applications and were overwhelmed by the quality of them. It was a difficult task to select just 10 recipients, as so many are delivering vital support services in their communities.
Our panel chose the projects that demonstrated the strongest local impact and clear, sustainable benefits.
Spotlight: Whitby Lobster Hatchery
North Sea Conservation received a £5,000 Unity Impact Grant in 2025 to support its flagship Whitby Lobster Hatchery project.
With the local lobster population depleted, the charity rears larvae at its facility in a repurposed section of Whitby Fish Market. They then release the juveniles back into the sea when they have a better chance of survival.
Watch our video to see this process come to life.
In their own words
These organisations shared what the funding meant to them when they received their 2024 Unity Impact Grant, and how they planned to use it.
Bee Wirral
Bee Wirral is a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting members of the Birkenhead community through a range of activities, facilities and training.
Rachael McCoosh, Director at Bee Wirral, said: “Receiving this grant from Unity Trust Bank will make such a difference to our men’s Elemental Project. The funds will support our allotment site, allowing the men to learn about a whole range of eco-therapy activities and to engage in woodwork, which is one of the most popular projects. This will undoubtably go a long way in improving and maintaining positive mental health in the community. We are especially privileged to be one of the first recipients from a grant funder whose ethos and vision align so well with our own.”
Harbour Ayrshire
Harbour Ayrshire is a Scotland-based, trauma-informed organisation that provides support to individuals affected by addiction, mental health challenges, homelessness and violence.
Eddie Gorman, Project Manager at Harbour Ayrshire, said: “The Unity Impact Grant is a lifeline for our transport services, which play a crucial role in supporting those most in need. From helping people access group support and one-to-one interventions, to assisting those fleeing violence or experiencing homelessness, these vehicles are essential to delivering our services.”
Ian Murray, Community Support Coordinator at Harbour Ayrshire, added: “This funding ensures we can continue breaking down barriers for vulnerable individuals, especially those in rural or isolated areas. By providing safe and reliable transport, we’re able to offer critical support, help people rebuild their lives, and foster lasting change in our community.”
More ways to grow your impact
Explore our Unity Impact Toolkit to understand how you can measure and grow the impact of your organisation, or visit our Impact Hub to explore the full social, economic and environmental impact we deliver.