Impact Toolkit

Apply Now

Unity Impact Grants Recipients 2025

Supporting projects that strengthen our communities.

Home » Impact Hub » Unity Impact Grants » Unity Impact Grant Recipients 2025

Celebrating our Impact Grants recipients

In September 2024, we launched our Unity Impact Grants programme to celebrate our 40th anniversary. Our aim was to provide £40,000 of grants and donations to help our customers make a positive difference in their communities.

The programme was so successful that we decided to run it again this year, with an even larger total grants pot of £50,000. 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.

See what each of our recipients had to say below when we shared the great news with them!

Birmingham PlayCare Network

“This grant is absolutely fantastic to kick start our support of the Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s Ward Buddies programme. The craft and play packs we will be sending to patients will make a massive difference to aid their recovery. It will help reduce the boredom and feelings of abandonment that these children often experience. We are so proud to be able to support this amazing initiative.” Emma Martin, Business Development Manager, BPCN

Break the Silence

“We are committed to the support and service of others – making a positive contribution to our clients, our communities and society as a whole. Our purpose is to make a positive difference in the lives of those affected by childhood sexual trauma. Our greatest wish is to continue the legacy of our Founder by ensuring continuity of support despite the challenging economic landscape. We are therefore absolutely delighted to have been awarded a £5,000 grant from Unity Trust Bank which supports us with this aim and will directly contribute to the provision of professional counselling support for those in need.” Lesley Craig, CEO (Operations)

Canley Community Centre

“We are absolutely delighted to receive this grant. It means that we can keep doing what we know our community has asked for – real, practical support that helps our families stay warm, well-fed and connected. For many of the families in our community, a slow cooker and a few good meals is more than just food. It’s dignity, confidence and a reminder that they are part of something, and not on their own.” Julie Hughes, Food Hub Coordinator & Funding Writer

Green Futures Greater Grimsby

“We are grateful for the award of an Unity Impact Grant. It will enable us to improve the site infrastructure and growing areas and extend the range of tools and resources available for use by our volunteers and clients. It will also provide additional training opportunities to enhance the employability of those seeking work and enable further donations of vegetables to food banks to be made.” Vic Goose, Chair of Trustees

Health Psychology Management Organisation Services

“Thank you, Unity Trust Bank, for your generous £5,000 grant. Your support allows Health Psychology Management Organisation Services to empower young people, boost their mental health and wellbeing, and combat stigma. The grant will also enable us to create safe spaces where young people feel heard, supported, and empowered to thrive.” Dr Mercy Maclean, Founder

In Your Space Circus

“We are incredibly grateful for the generous support of Unity Trust Bank. This £5,000 grant will directly support our CircAbility project, which uses circus and play to engage children with disabilities and neurodiverse conditions. This funding will allow us to reach more young people in special schools across the wider Derry–Londonderry area, offering joyful, confidence-building activities that support self-esteem and physical development. At a time when fundraising is increasingly challenging, particularly for arts organisation, this grant is a tremendous boost and a welcome affirmation of the value and impact of our work.” Cath McBride, Company Director

Orange Bow CIC

“The Unity Impact Grant means young people in our community will have real opportunities to build skills, confidence and futures they can be proud of. With this support, Orange Bow can help more young voices be heard, turning creativity and ambition into lasting change for themselves and their communities.” Ryan Bakare, Head Assessor

The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company

“We are absolutely delighted to receive the Unity Impact Grant. It will support our six-day per week theatre and music programme for people with a learning disability and autistic people. This will enable those who are typically excluded from the arts to express their creativity, have a voice about what is important to them, develop their skills, confidence and social connections, and achieve their aspirations as artists.” Jay Hare, CEO

Whitby Lobster Hatchery, North Sea Conservation

“Our mission to continue maintaining the balance in the North Sea is ambitious, and this support from Unity will be a great help in achieving that. Whitby Lobster Hatchery is deeply appreciative of the generous grant. The support comes at a crucial time for the charity, strengthening our ability to protect and restore the health of the North Sea. The funding will be put to immediate use, helping the team release even more juvenile lobsters back into local waters while expanding vital education work around native marine life, fishing heritage, and the role of the hatchery in supporting sustainable coastal communities.” Joe Redfern, General Manager

Women’s Aid Luton

“We are absolutely delighted to receive an Unity Impact Grant, it really will make a difference to women and children experiencing abuse in Luton. The grant will ensure more people in Luton know about our service and understand how we can support them, giving women options and enabling them to start to rebuild their lives after the trauma of domestic abuse.” Gaby Price, CEO

Read our Press Release

See how one of our 2024 recipients is making an impact

Futureproof Cumbria

In 2024, Futureproof Cumbria was one of the first recipients of an Unity Impact Grant. They support individuals, communities and businesses to lower their carbon footprint, with a vision for Cumbria to reach net-zero by 2037. With a focus on tackling the root causes of the climate crisis, they provide a range of services and initiatives across the county that inspire local people to advocate for a low carbon future. Watch the video to discover how they used their grant to deliver meaningful impact in their community.

Find out more about Unity Impact Grants

More Ways to Grow Your Impact

We’ve created our Impact Hub to provide everything you need to measure and strengthen your impact, from practical tools, tailored guidance and other useful resources.

Explore the Impact Hub

Our customers’ impact stories

From heritage organisations to frontline charities, our customers are transforming lives and local economies every day. See how we’re helping them grow their impact.

Access – The Foundation for Social Investment

"We bank with Unity because as well as a way of getting a good return on our investment and knowing our money is safe."

Find out more

Canopy Housing

Leeds homeless charity unveils its biggest retrofit housing project to date following £250,000 funding

Find out more

Durham Miners Association

Trade Union and co-founder of Unity Trust Bank restores historic community hub for future generations

Find out more