Funding and awards

This month's featured award from Practical Funding for Schools

Organisation

Deadline

Amount of grant

£500 to £5,000

Criteria

Dickie Bird, former cricket umpire, has launched a new foundation to help children and young people, under the age of 18 from less privileged backgrounds, participate in sport.

Applications can be made by schools, community groups, universities and other educational establishments, local clubs and individuals.

Projects that aim to provide the opportunity for children and young people to take part in sporting activities, for the benefit of healthy recreation or the development of physical education, are eligible to apply.

All sports are eligible as well as the following: kit, equipment, specialist coaching or expenses to help children access swimming lessons, for example. Schools cannot apply for funding for projects that would receive mainstream support. Committee members are looking for projects that show you are unable to raise money through other means.

Incomplete application forms will be deemed invalid and will not be not sent back to the applicant. Each valid application will be sent an acknowledgement receipt which will include the date when it will be considered by the executive committee and, if successful at that stage, by the trustees. Unsuccessful applications will be notified immediately after the meeting that has made the decision to reject it. The foundation says that it aims to issue successful applications with a cheque within seven working days of the trustee meeting. Successful applicants will be required to fill out a monitoring form detailing how the money was spent and the benefits the project has had for its users.

Contact details

The Dickie Bird Foundation
Jefferson House
Orchard Lane
Guiseley
Leeds LS20 9HZ

Tel: 01943 873482

Email: info@thedickiebirdfoundation.org

Website: www.thedickiebirdfoundation.org

Other grants and awards

Organisation

The Garfield Weston Foundation

Deadline

Ongoing

Amount of grant

No minimum or maximum

Criteria

Primary, secondary and special schools are all eligible to apply for a grant. Although the foundation’s guidelines state that submissions are welcome from registered charities only, it does not require a charity number from a school.

All applications are taken on individual merit. On-site visits may be requested by the foundation so that it gets to see how the project will benefit the school and/or wider community.

Single, one-off grants are usually made. Forward funding is not normally granted. Applicants cannot reapply to the foundation within 12 months, whether successful or not.

All submissions will be assessed on the following criteria:

• The financial viability of the school
• The ability to reach the amount of funding required
• The aims and priorities of the school in relation to the aspirations of the trustees
• The ability of the school to achieve its goal(s)
• The amount spent on fundraising and administration compared to the charitable activities

Contact details

The Administrator
The Garfield Weston Foundation
Weston Centre
Bowater House
68 Knightsbridge
London
SW1X 7LQ

Tel: 020 7589 6363

Organisation

Summerfield Charitable Trust

Deadline

Ongoing

Amount of grant

No minimum or maximum

Criteria

The Summerfield Charitable Trust supports charities based in Gloucestershire or those engaged in a project that will benefit residents of the county.

The trust has a number of areas of specific interest, which include:

• supporting needs in rural areas with projects that encourage the use of volunteers (and which train volunteers)
• arts projects
• collaborative projects from groups working in similar areas who wish to develop their partnerships
• promoting excellence in a given field.

Individuals are rarely supported by the trust, although they state that students would be more likely to than others, but must be residents of Gloucestershire.

Trustees give preference to projects that show:

• clear indications that the project has been assessed for its impact on the environment
• planning for long-term self-sufficiency
• active involvement with those that will benefit.

Donations are not given to private education, to fund trips abroad, for animal welfare appeals or medical research.

The trust states that it prefers to award one-off grants to help develop specific projects rather than making payments for revenue items.

Interested parties must first fill out a Grant Application Cover Sheet before an application is made. The trust welcomes calls to discuss projects for eligibility before an application is submitted.

The trustees meet quarterly, usually in January, April, July and October. Deadline dates are therefore: 5th December, 5th March, 5th June and 5th September.

Applications will not be accepted by email or fax.

Contact details

Mrs Lavinia Sidgwick
Administrator
PO Box 4
Winchcombe
Cheltenham
GL54 5ZD

Tel: 01242 676774
Fax: 01242 677 120
Email: admin@summerfield.org.uk
www.summerfield.org.uk