Yorkshire Agricultural Society

Registered charity 513238 · since 1982yas.co.uk·England·Updated 30 October 2026

At a glance

£36,237

Annual giving, year to 31 December 2025

From filed accounts

3 weeks

Typical decision time

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

Your work is a good fit if it promotes farming, food, rural industries or public understanding of farming in Yorkshire, and your organisation must have operations there and benefit Yorkshire; large commercial organisations, other grant-making charities and national organisations (unless they have a specific project in Yorkshire or the North of England) are not funded.
Most grants are small, with an average under £2,000, so a modest request is realistic, and the Society favours smaller charities and not-for-profits that have already raised money elsewhere.
Submit the online application form by 4 January, 22 March or 23 August for the January, April or September meetings, explain how the project advances its charitable objectives, and attach your backing documents; the charity says it decides within about 3 weeks of the meeting.
If you are unsure whether you qualify, telephone or email the grants address before you apply, and note that previous applications will be taken into account.
Schools should know that farm visits are generally not funded.

Overview

Yorkshire Agricultural Society is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 513238).

Founded in 1837 to promote agriculture in Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society today supports agriculture, rural and allied industries across the North of England, including championing farmers and encouraging consumers to choose healthy and local produce. Its annual report shows £36,237 awarded in grants. The Society awards small grants and also sponsors events and conferences.

What they fund

Priority Areas

YAS awards grants to organisations and individuals working in the agricultural sector, to help promote food and farming throughout Yorkshire. Organisational projects must benefit Yorkshire and support its charitable objectives: agriculture and rural industries, farmers’ role in high-quality produce, healthy and local food, research and knowledge transfer, public understanding of farming and rural affairs, particularly among children, and protection of the rural environment. The Society favours charities and not-for-profit bodies, smaller organisations, projects that have raised funding elsewhere, transferable outcomes and work that helps many people. Applicants must explain how their project advances YAS’s charitable objectives. Its Charitable Activities Committee allocates grants at three meetings each year.

Themes

Agriculture and rural industries
Food and farming
Healthy local produce
Agricultural research
Public understanding of farming
Rural environment

Geographic Focus

Yorkshire. Priority: The North of England.

What they don't fund

For organisations only:
- Large National organisations unless they have a specific project in Yorkshire or the North of England
- Other grant making charities
- Large Commercial organisations
- Projects with minimal relevance to agriculture or rural affairs
- The organisation must have operations in Yorkshire, and the project must benefit Yorkshire
- Applicants that have engaged or intend to engage in civil disobedience or illegal acts to further their general objectives or in connection with the project for which funding is sought
For Schools only:
- Grants will not generally be awarded for visits to farms as there are several organisations who already organise school visits to farms such as: The Country Trust (free visits)
- Countryside Learning
- LEAF
- Countryside Classroom
- Partial grants for travel to The Yorkshire Show or to Countryside Days may be considered but are unlikely to receive funding

How to apply

Organisations should read the grant guidelines and complete the online Application Form.

Deadlines:

For the January meeting, submit by 4 January.
For the April meeting, submit by 22 March.
For the September meeting, submit by 23 August.

Application windows:

Deadline for the January meeting: 4 January
Deadline for the April meeting: 22 March
Deadline for the September meeting: 23 August

Who can apply:

Grant applications are open to individuals, schools and organisations.
Grants for organisations: The organisation must have operations in Yorkshire, and the project must benefit Yorkshire.
Grants for schools: Applications are encouraged from schools within Yorkshire.
Grants for organisations: Organisations must have a base or operations in Yorkshire.

What to send:

Grants for organisations: Relevant backing documents must be attached to the application.

Applying again: Previous applications will be taken into account.

Application success factors

What the charity says:

Applicants must show how the grant will help YAS achieve its charitable objectives.
The Society favours applications from charities and not-for-profit organisations.
The Society favours applications from smaller organisations.
The Society favours organisations that have raised funds from other sources.
The Society favours transferable outcomes that can be adopted by similar organisations.
The Society favours projects that help a large number of people.
The Society favours organisations with strong connections to Yorkshire.
Organisations must disseminate the funded activity’s results to their local community.
Organisations must publicise the YAS award and the project it funded.
Organisations are asked to use YAS logos in their communications and display a wall plaque where applicable.
If applicants are unsure, they are encouraged to telephone the Society to discuss their application or email the grants address.

Where they fund

Where it says it funds

England

Similar funders

Funders supporting work similar to Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

The Royal Agricultural Society of EnglandNo public process The Royal Bath & West SocietyFixed deadlines Groundwork YorkshireNo public processGave £2.9M YMCA England & WalesNo public processGave £1.4M Burwarton & District Agricultural SocietyFixed deadlinesGave £3,479 Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural SocietyNo public processGave £5,000 Clan Trust LimitedMixed deadlinesGave £217k The Charles Sykes Trust Also Known As The Charles And Elsie Sykes TrustRollingGave £538k South of England Agricultural SocietyFixed deadlinesGave £11,000 W W Spooner Charitable TrustRolling

Five years of accounts

Financial year	Income	Expenditure	Grants paid	Accounts document
year to 31 December 2021	£10,356,332	£8,956,574	£43,850	Accounts for year to 31 December 2021
year to 31 December 2022	£11,754,366	£11,155,225	£61,502	Accounts for year to 31 December 2022
year to 31 December 2023	£13,377,377	£13,046,931	£67,105	Accounts for year to 31 December 2023
year to 31 December 2024	£13,543,439	£13,356,774	£48,425	Accounts for year to 31 December 2024
year to 31 December 2025	£12,818,003	£13,059,040	£36,237	Accounts for year to 31 December 2025

Income vs grants paid

IncomeGrants paid

Total value each financial year

YE 2021

£43,850 grants

YE 2022

£61,502 grants

YE 2023

£67,105 grants

YE 2024

£48,425 grants

YE 2025

£36,237 awarded

Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.

Grants paid, year to 31 December 2021; year to 31 December 2022; year to 31 December 2023; year to 31 December 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
Grants paid, year to 31 December 2025: grants awarded in the year, as reported in the accounts.

Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.