Potential Sources of Funding for Schools and Nurseries

The immediate future for school funding is depressing as more and more local authorities face cuts in expenditure. In an effort to release funds to schools and nurseries we have devoted a considerable amount of time to research just what is available.

THE RESULTS ARE MOST ENCOURAGING!

Not all of the funds are available nationally and some are quite local in availability. Where possible or appropriate we have added some tips on how to approach the application. It is obvious from some of the feedback we have received that it is important to include as much detail on the application form regarding the nature of use of the equipment that will be funded. This appears to be particularly important in Awards for All funding. It is extremely unlikely that any charitable organisation providing funding will fund any project that would normally fall within the responsibility of the local authority.

AWARDS FOR ALL

Awards for All is the section of The Big Lottery Fund that deals with the awards to communities and smaller organisations. There are grants available up to £10,000 per school. It is interesting to note that the School Board/Forum/PTA is considered separately from the school itself. Details and an application form can be obtained from www.awardsforall.org.uk This funding is only competitive in that there is a limited annual pot and it appears that applications submitted early in the financial year may have a slight advantage. Current levels of expenditure are guaranteed until 2009 when it is anticipated that funding levels will drop because of the demands of the Olympic Games.

What do we mean by including as much detail as possible regarding the use of the facility funded by a grant? It is simply that if the equipment has more than a single use it is a better use of the lottery funding and it is an even better use of these funds if there is a benefit to the community as a whole rather than a number of individuals within the community. If we take a Timberline pavilion as an example of how an outside classroom develops to a community asset.

• School would like an outdoor classroom that would be used for nature classes, visits from local farmers with animals etc.- Good for the school.

• Security considerations mean that parents picking up children at the end of the day cannot enter the school to wait, even in torrential rain - Pavilion now becomes a meeting point for parents where they can shelter from the weather

• The same consideration with weather conditions now means that the pupils have a place to shelter before school - One of the arguments for "the school run" is that if it is raining the children have to wait in the rain for the bell to ring. The pavilion now becomes a dry waiting area that is encouraging pupils to walk to school, promoting a healthier lifestyle and cutting carbon emissions etc.

The same criteria applies to all applications as all funding organisations are looking for value for money. All of them need to justify their expenditure.

The Royal Bank of Scotland - Supergrounds scheme

The Royal Bank of Scotland operates an employee sponsored fund operated by Learning though Landscapes. The funding is to a maximum of £4000 for playground improvements. A school has to be nominated for funding by an employee of The Royal Bank of Scotland. For those schools that don't bank with The Royal it is likely that a pupil in the school might have a relative working in the local branch.   See www.rbs.com/dreamplaygrounds for details