Established in 2022, the Blue Light Card Foundation exists to give back to those who dedicate their careers to keeping the UK safe, healthy, and supported.
We champion the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of the entire Blue Light Community, across health, emergency, social care, and armed forces, recognising the vital role they play in our society every day.
The Blue Light Card Foundation is evolving its funding priorities to ensure we deliver the greatest possible impact for Blue Light communities.
We now award funding through an invite-only application process. This allows us to take a more strategic approach, working closely with selected partners to support high-quality, evidence-informed programmes that align with our charitable objectives.
At present, our funding is focused on nature-based wellbeing interventions, particularly those using green and blue spaces to support the mental health, resilience and recovery of Blue Light personnel.
We make grants to a wide range of organisations:
You do not have to be a registered charity to apply, but the work you ask us to support must be legally charitable. However, please note that we can only make grants for general running costs or unrestricted purposes to charities. Grants to any other organisations will always be restricted for a specific charitable purpose.
You must have a governing document (constitution, rules, memorandum, and articles of association etc.), a governing body of at least three unrelated individuals, and a bank account in your group’s name with at least two unrelated signatories.
Community Interest Companies (CICs) and other non-charitable social enterprises with a business plan that shows realistic aspirations for non-grant income generation can apply for a restricted grant to support the charitable costs of any start-up or expansion. We do not normally support such organisations with the costs of continuing services, which should be financed by the sale of goods and services in line with the governance model they have chosen.
If you have a project that meets our current eligibility criteria, please reach out via our contact form.
Yes, we encourage collaborative approaches across our aims. We can fund both existing or new collaborations.
One organisation will need to apply as the ‘lead’ – they will be treated as the grant-holding organisation in our system and hold responsibility for the progress of the work.
We’ll need the collaboration partners to confirm their involvement. Not all partners have to be registered charities. You’ll also nominate two contacts; one from the ‘lead’ organisation and one of the partners.
You can include anticipated costs of setting up and coordinating networks or partnerships in your application.
Please note: The ‘lead’ organisation will need to meet our minimum eligibility criteria. If you would like to discuss this further, get in touch through our contact form.
Please read our eligibility and frequently asked questions – most queries will be answered here. If you still need help, please reach out through our contact form.
Direct Costs (Project-Specific Expenses)
These are costs directly related to delivering the project.
Indirect Costs (Operational & Administrative Overheads)
These are essential costs that support project delivery but are not directly tied to a single activity.
If you have a press enquiry, please get in touch through our contact form.
We would love to hear from you as supporting our projects and programmes wouldn’t be possible without extra help. Contact our fundraising manager through our contact form.
Terms and conditions of Prize Competition participation:
The Prize Draw is operated by the Blue Light Card Foundation, a registered charity in England and Wales charity number:
T&Cs
Promoter: This Prize Draw is organised and promoted by Blue Light Card Foundation charity number 1198492.
Eligibility:
Opening & Closing Dates:
How to Enter:
Prize Details:
Win £1,000 for your team’s wellbeing!
The Prize Draw is open to individuals or teams who are currently working in a blue light role. You must be applying on behalf of a team, unit or workplace group, not as an individual for personal use.
The Prize will be issued via bank transfer to an authorised bank account for your Organisation or Charity.
Services classes as the Blue Light Community
The Prize is designed to support wellbeing in the workplace for blue light teams. That could include:
We won’t be able to support:
The winner be contacted by a member of the Blue Light Card Foundation Team who will process the prize.
Draw & Winner Notification:
The winner will be drawn at random on Monday, 6th July and will be notified by email.
Data Protection & Consent:
General:
Promotional Use:
Please play responsibly. For more information or support with gambling, visit www.begambleaware.org or call 0808 8020 133
If a complaint is about the Blue Light Card Foundation, then there are three stages that can be used to try to resolve the problem.
If a complaint is about the CEO, then it should be addressed to the Chair of the Board of Trustees (marked private and confidential), which is responsible as trustees of the organisation.
Stage One (Informal)
To make an initial complaint (Stage 1), please speak to or email the individual(s) concerned or their line manager and we will endeavour to satisfy your complaint and let you know of any remedial action that is to be taken.
Stage Two (Formally registering a complaint)
Stage Three (Appeal)
If you are dissatisfied with Blue Light Card Foundation’s response to a fundraising complaint you can contact the Fundraising Regulator (FR) to access their independent complaints procedure.
Any appeals or complaints regarding grant activity will be subject to the Grant appeals and complaints policy.
If you are dissatisfied with the Blue Light Card Foundation complaints process, you can contact the Charity Commission, who will be able to guide you on whether they may be able to advise on the matter. The Charity Commission can be contacted here.