Holiday activity schemes for autistic children and young people

Holiday activity schemes for autistic children and young people is sponsored by Three Guineas Trust. This program provides grants for holiday play and activity schemes specifically for autistic children and young people, and their siblings. The trust supports practical projects that promote the autonomy, liberty, and human rights of autistic and neurodivergent people.

Holiday activity schemes for autistic children and young people | Three Guineas Trust Holiday activity schemes for autistic children and young people The 2026 round will only fund autistic-specific holiday schemes. It will not fund playschemes that include some autistic children along with other Disabled or neurodivergent children.

The programme is for autistic-specific activity programmes that run in the school holidays in the UK, including sessions for siblings. This programme only funds work based in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The 2026 round is now closed for expressions of interest.

If you submitted an expression of interest and met the criteria listed below we will be in contact. We have received 218 expressions of interest. 80% are not eligible because the schemes do not appear to be just for autistic children and their siblings, or are new schemes.

Application forms sent out by Friday 20 February. Application deadline 6pm Monday 16 March 2026. Decisions released week commencing Monday 20 April 2026.

This scheme provides grants of up to £15,000 to organisations which deliver autistic-specific activity schemes exclusively for autistic children and young people, and their siblings, which run in the school holidays. Grants are usually for part of the costs. To apply you will need to meet these conditions: The programme must provide activities just for for autistic children and their siblings.

Be a not-for-profit organisation. Have a safeguarding policy ( what we expect on safeguarding ). You will need to obtain a DBS or Disclosure Scotland check for staff or volunteers who work directly with or carry out administrative work relating to children, young people and their siblings.

Have Public Liability Insurance. If you pay staff, have Employer’s Liability Insurance. If you use volunteer drivers, make sure they are properly insured.

Pay staff the Living Wage or better (we will ask for details). Use professionally trained staff and volunteers (not parents/guardians). Staff and volunteers must have training on the following (we will ask for details): Positive approaches to behaviour and communication support including de-escalation skills.

Run with at least one staff member/volunteer present who is trained in first aid and medical needs support. Have a management committee that meets at least twice a year. Have a bank account with two unrelated people to authorise or check on payments.

Have two years published accounts. Work in ways that discourage bullying, discrimination and harassment. Have a diversity, equity and inclusion policy.

Operate a complaints procedure. Have a policy for public interest disclosure (whistleblowing). Have policies that cover confidentiality and data protection.

Projects that use Applied Behavioural Analysis or other contested forms of coercive behavioural control. Schools, nurseries, early years settings, local authorities or NHS Trusts. Organisations with an income of over £1 million.

The programme will not fund the set up of new holiday activity schemes. Last updated: 17 February 2026.