posted by Rhonda McFarlane, Funding Officer, Economic Development

Please find below the latest Grants4Schools news alerts

The school library improvement fund is an opportunity for our schools, the School Library Improvement Fund accepts up to two applications per local authority. This is to give each authority an equal opportunity to be considered for funding. They also accept an unlimited number of collaborative bids. This is where an application is made by either two or more schools within separate Local Authorities and/or external partners. There is no minimum or maximum amount for bids although all SLIF projects must be completed within 12 months.

Funding for Links with Japan (UK)
Grants of £2,000 – £7,000 are available to promote and support interaction between the two countries. Daiwa Foundation Small Grants can cover all fields of activity, including educational and other projects and events. New initiatives are especially encouraged. Projects that have received funding in the past include Beckfoot School (Bingley) which received a grant of £3,000 to support a two-week curriculum-based school exchange visit by ten students and two teachers to Hiroshima Kokusai High School; and Dene Magna School which received a grant of £4,000 to support a school exchange visit by three teachers and nine pupils to enhance links established in 2002 with two partner schools in Okinawa and to consolidate Japanese as part of its curriculum. The next closing date for applications is the 30th September 2019.

Society for Microbiology – Science Education and Outreach Grants (UK)
Members of the Microbiology Society, residing in the UK or Republic of Ireland, including those working in schools, can apply for a grant of up to £1,000 for innovative Outreach Activities that support relevant science teaching or promotion initiatives. Also funded are developments likely to lead to an improvement in the teaching of any aspect of microbiology. Grants can cover, for example, talks, workshops, demonstrations, posters, leaflets, broadcasts, activities at science festivals and audio-visual or computer-based packages or activities that take place as part of a National Science and Engineering Week. Apply by the 1st October 2019.

Funding for Projects that Support Disadvantaged Young People (UK)
Grants of over £10,000 per project are available to not for profit organisations and schools that work with young people who are experiencing disadvantage through illness, distress, abuse or neglect; any kind of disability; behavioural or psychological difficulties; and / or living in poverty or situations of deprivation. Schools can also apply for funding but the project must be additional to their statutory duties. The funding is being made available through the BBC Children in Need Main Grants programme. The next closing date for applications is the 19th May 2019.

School Library Improvement Fund (Scotland)
School Library Managers can now apply for funding from the Scottish Library Improvement Fund (SLIF). The funding is administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council on behalf of the Scottish Government. A total of £150,000 is available to innovative projects in Scotland’s school libraries. There are no minimum or maximum grant amounts but projects must be completed within twelve months. The deadline for applications is Friday 31st May 2019. Collaborative bids are welcomed, these may be from two schools or a school and another organisation e.g. the Scottish Book Trust.

Funding Available to Increase Engineering Knowledge Among Young People (UK)
From the 22nd June 2019, schools and other organisations such as youth clubs, science festivals, museums, science centres; etc can apply for grants to develop and deliver UK-based educational projects that nurture and support the increase of engineering knowledge among young people between the ages of five to 19. Applications from teams with diverse expertise, a range of skills and from a variety of sectors are particularly welcomed. Grants will be awarded at two levels; up to £5,000 for standard applications and four larger grants of up to £15,000. The funding is being made available through the Engineering Education Grant Scheme and the deadline to apply will be the 14th October 2019 for projects taking place from 1st January 2020.

Nature Grants for Schools (England, Scotland & Wales)
Schools in England, Scotland and Wales are being invited to apply for up to £500 worth of free outdoor equipment and two hours of professional outdoor training as part of the third instalment of Local School Nature Grants. Schools can choose from over 100 different products to deliver outdoor learning and play. The funding is being made available through the charity Learning through Landscapes Local School Nature Grant scheme. The charity has been helping schools across Great Britain since 2017. Funded by the players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the grants have so far provided £900,000 worth of equipment to 800 schools. This year it will reach a further 500 schools. There will be four funding rounds throughout the year and the first closing date for applications is the 26th April 2019.

posted by Rhonda McFarlane, Funding Officer, Economic Development

Funding for School and Community Projects in Rural Areas (England, Scotland and Wales)
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to support school projects in rural communities in an off-grid location (any location that is not connected to a mains or natural gas grid and uses an alternative energy source). Grants can support a wide range of projects. Previous initiatives supported have included East Worlington School Garden project and Spaxton School Outdoor Environmental Learning Area. The funding is also available to other organisations such as youth clubs, sports teams or scout groups. The funding is being made available through the Calor Rural Community Fund and initial applications are followed by a public vote. The 2019 competition is now open for applications and voting for projects start on the 2nd May 2019

posted by Rhonda McFarlane, Funding Officer, Economic Development

Grants to Enable Disabled People to Play Tennis (UK)
Special schools as well as coaches, clubs, disability groups, associations and individuals can apply for grants from the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust for equipment and specialist wheelchairs to enable disabled people to play tennis. Funding of up to £1,500 is available for groups and clubs and up to £500 for individuals. Individuals can receive support for a sports wheelchairs, tennis rackets, coaching lessons with an Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) licensed coach or course fees for official LTA development/Coaching courses. Groups can apply for wheelchairs, court hire, coaching fees and equipment packages which will include, rackets, balls, mini net, and coaching aids such as cones and throw down marker lines. In the case of wheelchairs a deposit will be required; for individuals the amount of deposit required will depend on the wheelchair type requested, clubs will need to provide a deposit of around £250 per chair. The next closing date for applications in this round is the 29th July 2019.

Funding for Community Sports (North-East Scotland and The Highlands)
Grants of up to £500 are available to sports clubs, schools, religious organisations; and Scout and Guides groups, etc in North-East Scotland and The Highlands to run sporting activities for the benefit of people in the local community. The funding is being made available through the Aldi Scottish Sport Fund and applicants need to be based in the vicinity of an Aldi supermarket. In 2017 the Fund awarded a total of £50,000 to 115 projects. The Fund operates on a regional basis in Scotland with each region having their own deadline. Previous projects supported include Glasgow Panthers Wheelchair Sports Club, which promotes Rugby 7’s to disabled and able-bodied players of all ages. With the help of the Aldi Scottish Sports Fund, the club were able to pay their hall hire fees for 10 weeks and set out a 5-year plan for the sport in Scotland. The deadline for this funding round is the 29th April 2019.

Funding to Support the Education of Young People with Physical or Learning Disabilities (Scotland)
The John Watson Trust has announced that the next closing date for applications is the 24th May 2019. Schools, charitable organisations and other groups supporting young people under the age of 21 who have a physical or learning disability or who are socially disadvantaged can apply. Previous awards of around £1,000 have been made to schools for items such as dyslexia tuition or books and equipment. For example, Castleview Primary School, Edinburgh received a grant of £1,000 to support field trips and days out for eligible pupils; and Women’s Aid East and mid Lothian received £1,000 towards their summer programme.

Free Trees for Community Groups and Schools (UK)
Schools across the UK, nurseries, colleges, universities, and other groups such as resident associations, sports clubs, parish councils, scouts, guides are amongst the organisations eligible to apply for up to 420 trees to improve their local environment. Tree packs available include hedging, copse, wild harvest, year-round colour, working wood, wild wood and urban trees. The Woodland Trust is currently taking applications for trees to be planted in November 2019.

Funding to Engage People with Science and Technology (UK)
The Spark Awards programme has re-opened and will close at 4pm on the 2nd May 2019. Grants of up to £15,000 will fund high quality programmes of novel public engagement that inspire and involve audiences with stories of science and technology. Activities must focus on astronomy, solar and planetary science, particle physics, particle astrophysics, cosmology, nuclear physics or accelerator science. Well-planned proposals for novel or innovative approaches towards engagement are welcomed. Grant funded researchers, STFC scientists and engineers, facility users, schools, museums, science communicators and amateur astronomy groups are all eligible to apply to the Science & Technology Facilities Council.

Funding for School and Community Projects in Rural Areas (England, Scotland and Wales)
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to support school projects in rural communities in an off-grid location (any location that is not connected to a mains or natural gas grid and uses an alternative energy source). Grants can support a wide range of projects. Previous initiatives supported have included East Worlington School Garden project and Spaxton School Outdoor Environmental Learning Area. The funding is also available to other organisations such as youth clubs, sports teams or scout groups. The funding is being made available through the Calor Rural Community Fund and initial applications are followed by a public vote. The 2019 competition is now open for applications and voting for projects start on the 2nd May 2019.

posted by Louise Kirby, YMI Coordinator, Schools & Learning

Introduction to Scottish Music at Warddykes Primary

Warddkes Primary pupils from P4 to P7 received an eight week Introduction to Scottish Music input delivered by musician Will Marshall.  This project was funded by Youth Music Initiative.

The main outcome for this project was for the pupils to increase their awareness of Scottish music and its culture across Scotland, its influence across the UK and indeed, the world.

The project introduced various Scottish instruments to the pupils and Will demonstrated each one playing different genres of Scottish music.  They children also had opportunities to engage with the instruments themselves by playing a small accordion, bagpipes and small fiddle.

They learned about the four main Scottish rhythms and chords and pupils learned Scottish and Gaelic songs and words and numbers and the Virginia Reel ceilidh dance.

Pupil feedback –
‘’ Loved the games and quizzes”

Class teacher feedback –
“Enjoyed watching the children have fun during the many activities Will introduced especially, and don’t clap this one back!”
“Engaging and really highlights Scottish music”
“It was excellent – the children were very engaged and it was a lot of fun”

Head Teacher –
“We loved having Will in school. He taught the children Gaelic songs which the children shared with their parents and Will during Scottish Nicht”

Will Marshall Musician –
“I love demonstrating with my accordion all the Scottish rhythms, chords and teaching the pupil’s songs. It is great to make it fun and watch the

posted by Rhonda McFarlane, Funding Officer, Economic Development

Opportunities for our schools to apply for  funding for science through “Funding for School Science Projects UK” and the Food for Thought Education Fund is now open for Scottish Local Authorities, full details in the alert below.

Small Grants for Summer Playschemes (UK)
Charities, social enterprises and community interest companies with an annual income of under £100,000 can apply for grants of £500 to £1,000 towards a playscheme that runs for a minimum of 2 weeks or 10 days across the summer holidays. Priority is given to small local playschemes involving a large number of children especially those with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds. Projects supported will also be expected to make good use of volunteers, encourage past and current users to participate and ensure that funds awarded are being well used. Grants are awarded in May by the Woodward Charitable Trust and the closing date for submitting an application is the 5th April 2019.

Grants for Chemistry-Based Public and Schools Engagement Activities (UK)
Grants of up to £2,000 are available for chemistry-based public and school engagement activities that offer teachers a range of effective curriculum-enriching opportunities to further engage their students. Open to individuals and organisations, the aim is to provide hard-to-reach student audiences with inspiring chemistry engagement opportunities through outreach activities. The Chemistry Society’s Small Grants Outreach Fund is run on a rolling basis with the next deadline being 12 noon on the 13th May 2019.

Royal College of Pathologists Public Engagement Innovation Grant Scheme (UK)
The Royal College of Pathologists has announced that applications are now being accepted for the Public Engagement Innovation Grant Scheme. Under this scheme grants of up to £1,000 are available for individuals or organisations who wish to run a project that engages audiences such as secondary school students, undergraduates, health professionals or local communities with pathology. The closing date for applications is the 3rd June 2019.

Funding for School Science Projects (UK)
Primary and secondary schools in the UK can apply for funding to purchase equipment so that students can enjoy practical science, to run science enrichment projects in schools, or to enable students to participate in science events and competitions. Primary schools can apply for grants of up to £600 and secondary schools up to £1,000. The funding is being made available through the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers, which is one of the leading charities in the UK supporting metallurgy and materials science education from primary school to postgraduate levels. Funds are finite and will be allocated on a first come first served basis in each year starting on 1 April 2019 until all the funds are exhausted.

Food for Thought Education Fund Phase 7 Now Open (Scotland)
Local Authority Schools and Early Learning and Childcare settings can apply individually or as clusters for grants of up to £2000 to develop projects to develop Food and Health as a context for learning and embed food education into their ethos. The aim of the grants is to help people from every walk of life take pride and pleasure in, and benefit from, the food they buy, serve, and eat day by day. The funding is being made available through Education Scotland’s Food for Thought Education Fund and previous projects supported include Garnetbank Primary School, Glasgow for the purchase of digital equipment to record the learners cooking resulted in filmed recipes uploaded to their own YouTube Channel called ‘Kids Cook’. The closing date for applications is 2pm on Tuesday 30th April 2019.

posted by Carol Lyon, Education Support Officer, Schools & Learning

Ahead of Cyber Scotland Week on the 22-28^th of April we want to make all schools aware of the new Digital Schools Awards Cyber Resilience Internet Safety Badge (CR-IS):

What is CR-IS and what do schools need to know:

Please click on the link below for more information:

CR-IS March 2019