Grants
A number of organisations administer grants and hardship funds for writers, including Arts Council England, the Royal Literary Fund and the Society of Authors. See the Writers’ and Artists Yearbook (A & C Black) or the Writer’s Handbook (Macmillan) for full listings.
Arts Council of England
Arts Council England award 'grants for the arts', which help individuals or arts organisations who use the arts in their work to carry out their work. The grants are funded by the National Lottery. For further information and eligibility visit their website
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/gfta2006.php
The Royal Literary Fund
The Royal Literary Fund is a registered charity which has been helping authors since 1790. Last year it made means-tested grants and pension to 200 writers of literary merit. Applications are welcome throughout the year. More information can be found on the RLF website or by contacting Eileen Gunn at egunnrlf@globalnet.co.uk tel 0207 353 7159.
www.rlf.org.uk
The Society of Authors
The Authors’ Foundation and K Blundell Trust make grants to writers to assist them while writing books, for important research, travel, or more general expenditure. In addition there are a selection of other grants that writers may be considered for. The Authors’ Foundation is generously supported by authors and charitable trusts, including the Royal Literary Fund (RLF), and gives annually almost £100,000 to writers.
The Society also administers three charitable trusts, which provide grants to eligible professional authors (including non-members) who find themselves in sudden, temporary financial difficulty.
For further information, eligibility and guidelines, visit
http://www.societyofauthors.org/prizes-grants-and-awards/grants/