I am in need of some sound advice. I have graduated with a joint hons degree with 1st class and a Masters with distinction, however I can't get PhD funding no matter how hard I try. I have been applying for about three years, have created my own proposal and gone for various awards with my university with no luck and have applied for many advertised PhDs with no luck. I have seen many go for the same funding as me with lower grades or without a MSc and get the award. I am beginning to wonder if it's due to being a 40 year old bloke as opposed to the young go getters which is putting people off as I really can't see what else I am doing wrong. So my question is, are things like age etc taken in to account when being considered for an award, if so then I'll begrudgingly have to start looking at alternitaves or give up academia altogether, but if not then what could it be that I'm doing wrong? I graduated top of my class for the MSc and yet others in my group seem to be getting awards all over the place. Starting to feel pretty desperate.

It shouldn't be your age. There are plenty of us much older than 40 who have done PhDs.
It might be to do with which institutes you are applying to. There might be a lot of competition with others who may have summer research work experience. It could also be the discipline you are undertaking. Can you provide us with more detail?

Age doesn't matter during PhD applications and your grades also don't matter that much either. Sure they look at your academic performance but coming top of your class doesn't guarantee a PhD. Academics want to see potential alongside ability and sometimes they will take people with awful grades who show amazing potential. You sound like you are focusing on your past success and not what you can accomplish.

Also as pm133 said; filed, institution, funding type would help in giving advice.