Finding charitable funding for education & training. Supported by

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1 Finding charitable funding for education & training Supported by

2 Introduction Family Action and Barclaycard are delighted to bring you this simple guide to help you identify and apply for grants from charitable trusts for education and training. During these difficult economic times covering the costs of education and training can be a real challenge and we hope this guide will make things easier for you. Family Action is a national charity that has been in operation since 1869, providing support for the whole family when they are at their most vulnerable. Family Action and Barclaycard have been working together since 2005 and are committed to helping families achieve their potential. Together, we have helped 460,000 lone parents and their children do just that if you want to know more please visit We wish you luck with your search for funding and with your future! Contents Introduction 2 Educational Grants Search 3 What are grants? 4 What support is available? 4 Who can apply? 5 How do I identify suitable grant-giving charities? 6 Specific needs Subject Occupation Local charities How do I make a grant application? 7 Eligibility criteria The application form Supporting documents and interviews Who can submit the application form? When to apply Golden rules when applying 10 Where to find more information 11 Free (unrestricted access) resources Other resources 2

3 Educational Grants Search Since 2004, Family Action has run an online Educational Grants Search. This unique facility enables students to identify educational grant-giving trusts to which they are eligible to apply for funding. The Educational Grants Search is sponsored by Barclaycard, meaning students can access it free of charge. It is able to match individuals to 1,200 grant-giving trusts listed within the database. In 2010, the Educational Grants Search had more than 44,000 visitors, who between them were searching for million in grants. When visitors complete the search function, they will be supplied with a list of charities and trusts that they may be eligible to apply for. You can complete the online search today at: 3

4 What are grants? A grant is made as a gift of money, goods or services. The majority of grants made by charities are one-off to pay for a specific item such as college fees, books or travel costs. Less commonly, charities make repeat grants to support individuals in the medium to longer term, for instance, annual grants to support a student through a course of education/training. Some charities will supply goods or services, rather than funds. For example, they may provide specialist equipment to help a disabled student. What support is available? There are over 1,400 charitable trusts for educational needs in the UK, distributing over 60 million each year. Information on more than 1,200 of these grants can be accessed via Family Action s Educational Grants Search. This free online service, sponsored by Barclaycard, is a great place to start your search for funding, but this guide will also outline other resources and ways forward. Using our experience and expertise, over the next eight pages you ll find loads of helpful information on what grants are available, who they re for and some top tips on how to make successful applications. 4

5 Who can apply? Largely, but not exclusively, grant-giving charities assist individuals or families in receipt of welfare benefits, those from a low income household, or those suffering financial hardship. The definition of low income will vary and may be detailed in the charity s eligibility criteria, for example household income of less than 20,000 per year. As to financial hardship, most grant-giving charities adhere to the Charity Commission s guidelines those who do not have the resources to provide for themselves, either in the short or long-term, with the normal things of life which most people take for granted. There are also many grant-giving charities that help people who do not necessarily qualify for welfare benefits, but need support because of changes in their circumstance, such as illness, disability or loss of employment. 5

6 How do I identify suitable grant-giving charities? Matching the needs of individuals to suitable charities can be a time consuming business. Although it is tempting to stick with the charities you know, there are other options to consider when searching for funds. By following a few basic procedures the task need not be as daunting as it may at first seem. The most effective way of searching for funds for education or training needs is to do so under the following umbrella headings. Specific needs Many grant-giving charities assist a wide range of individuals. For example, they are not restricted to people with a particular occupation or living within a particular locality. Most of these charities will have restrictions on whom they help funds may be targeted at those: n from a particular client group, for example: students under 25, prisoners or ex-offenders, women, the disabled n at a particular stage in their education, for example: final year of degree course, first year of a planned course of study n studying at a specified level or type of study, for example: further education, postgraduate, vocational courses or apprenticeships. Occupation If the person seeking funds (or their parents) are associated with a particular trade or occupation, there are a number of charities that may help. The list of qualifying occupations is diverse and includes miners, gardeners, railway workers, social workers and solicitors. Service and ex-service charities fall broadly under this heading. They assist members of the armed forces (including those who did National Service and the Reserves), their wives, husbands, children, widows, widowers and other dependants. National Service ended as recently as 1960 so many people in their late sixties or older and members of their families may be eligible for support from service charities. SSAFA Forces Help is a good source of help for service and ex-service personnel. For more details, visit their website at Local charities The eligibility criteria of local charities means that beneficiaries need to have some sort of relationship with a specified geographical area. For example: they or their parents live or have lived in the locality. It is still necessary to check the remaining eligibility criteria, as most local charities have additional criteria which applicants must meet, for example: be in a certain age range or studying a particular subject. Subject A significant number of charities make grants to individuals studying a particular subject. The range of qualifying subjects is enormous and includes carpentry and construction, engineering, IT, furniture making, medicine and archaeology, social work and teaching. 6

7 How do I make a grant application? Making applications is a time-consuming and sometimes difficult process. Application procedures differ widely between charities. Many larger charities have their own websites providing details of their application process and most directories of grant-giving charities will do the same. If there is no clear guidance available, it is worth making a preliminary telephone call, sending an or writing (enclose a stamped, addressed, envelope) to the charity asking for details of their application process. Eligibility criteria The most important thing to remember when applying for a grant is to ensure the applicant meets all the eligibility criteria of the charity. These are likely to relate to one or more of the following: a specified client group, illness/disability, age, gender, occupation, subject or level of study, area of residence etc... It is the Trustees responsibility to ensure that funds are used in line with the charity s eligibility criteria. So, if an applicant does not meet a charity s eligibility criteria, they have no chance of success as the charity objects will prevent it, no matter how urgent the need. A scatter-gun approach to grant applications simply does not work, applications should be tailored to each charity. Charities often detail items/services they will not fund, e.g. computers, living expenses, debts, etc. These are usually referred to as exclusions. Where an applicant meets all the charity s criteria but applies for an excluded item, a grant will not be forthcoming. Exclusions are an integral part of the charity s eligibility criteria and should not be overlooked. Continues... 7

8 ...continued The application form Most charities require an application form to be completed, either by the applicant or a sponsor. Even if they seem irrelevant or unnecessarily intrusive, it is important to answer all the questions on the form. Each question helps to determine whether the applicant meets the charity s eligibility criteria. For example, requesting details of a person s age may seem irrelevant to their grant request, however, some charities only make grants to individuals within a particular age range. By failing to provide all the requested information, the applicant may be excluding themselves from funding for which they are eligible. Where a charity does not have a standard application form, write a succinct letter providing sufficient detail for the application to be assessed. This should include: n The applicant s personal details: name, address, date and place of birth. When applying to a local charity, provide details of how long the applicant has lived in the area and any family history in the area. n Family circumstance: number and ages of any children, single/married/divorced etc, details of any adult dependants. n Financial information: details of household income and expenditure, including debts and savings. n Details of grant requested: how much money is required, what it is for and how a grant would help. Many charities only make small grants and Trustees need to be able to see the benefit. It is important to demonstrate that a small grant will make a difference, particularly if the total sum requested is larger than the grant they can make. n Other sources approached for assistance: outline other grant applications made and their outcomes. This is particularly helpful if the total amount sought is more than a few hundred pounds. Some charities are keen to match fund with other charities or may be more inclined to make a grant if some of the required funds have already been raised. n Other relevant information: information on how the need arose, e.g. illness, redundancy. For example, if you are applying to a charitable trust that provides grants to disabled individuals, provide details of the nature and effects of the disability. Supporting documents and interviews Many charities require supporting documents to accompany the application. Supporting documents are usually required as proof or to provide third party support for the application, e.g. documentation from the Home Office to prove the individual has refugee status or a reference from a course tutor in support of the application. It is important to ensure that all requested supporting documents are submitted with the application. If not, an application s assessment is likely to be delayed or may not be considered at all. Some charities, particularly those providing larger grants or support over a long period, require an interview with the applicant which may be over the telephone or in person. The aim of both supporting documents and interviews is to ensure that funds available are disbursed to individuals who meet the charity s eligibility criteria and that a grant will make a difference to the recipient. Continues... 8

9 ...continued Who can submit the application form? Many charities require applications to be completed and submitted by a professional sponsor who is familiar with the circumstances of the individual or family. Some charities accept applications from individuals applying on their own behalf. It is important that the appropriate person completes, submits and signs the application. When to apply Some charities consider applications on a frequent or on-going basis, others only meet two or three times a year. To avoid the frustration of missed deadlines, always check if there are any final dates for receipt of applications and ensure that applications are despatched in good time. Most charities will supply information on deadlines with their application procedure and/or on their website. 9

10 Golden Rules when applying to grant-giving charities: 1: Ensure the applicant meets ALL the charity s eligibility criteria (don t forget the exclusions). Helpful tip: Print off the criteria and tick them off as you go through the application form, to ensure you re meeting all of the charity s criteria, and supplying all of the relevant supporting documents. 2: Answer ALL the questions on the application form OR provide comprehensive but concise details in a letter if no application form is required. 3: Supply ALL the required supporting documents. 4: Take your time to complete the application form properly. 5: Meet deadlines. 6: Keep a copy of the application form and supporting documents. 10

11 Where to find more information? There are many sources of information to help you identify grant-giving trusts including libraries, local or parish councils, directories and websites. Below are a few examples and some of these will direct you to further sources of information. Free (unrestricted access) resources Family Action s Educational Grants Search Student Cash Point A free online directory of over 1,200 educational grant-making charities. A website designed to help students find the funding needed to cover the costs of going to college or university, includes information on student grants, loans, bursaries, scholarships and awards. Postgraduate Studentships Funding for Postgraduate students. Other (paid for) resources GrantsForIndividuals.org.uk The Educational Grants Directory The Grants Register (The Complete Guide to Postgraduate Funding) An online directory for individuals in need, dealing with welfare and educational grants. You have to register and pay for this search. A publication by the Directory of Social Change, which can be purchased for roughly 75. A publication by Palgrave MacMillan, available for approximately

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