CFAs: Funding for Special Schools and Colleges (UK)

Funding Information

• Minimum grant amount: £25,000
• Usual grant range: £40,000 – £75,000
• Match funding required:
  • If project cost is between £50,000 to £80,000, some match funding may be required. Projects costing above £80,000 should have at least 25% of match funding (required when submitting a Stage 2 application).

Ineligible Costs

• There are specific projects and costs which are not eligible for funding from this programme:
  • Playgrounds and play equipment, including sensory play
  • Charities which lend equipment to individuals and families
  • Facilities for primary or pre-school children.
• They also do not fund:
  • Purchase of land or existing buildings (including a building’s freehold)
  • Grants direct to individuals
  • Grants through conduit organisations
  • Overheads, maintenance costs and VAT
  • Non-specific appeals (including circulars) and endowment funds
  • Costs of meetings, exhibitions, concerts, expeditions, conferences, lectures, etc.
  • Salary costs
  • Running costs, including vehicle fuel and maintenance
  • Film, websites or promotional materials
  • Repayment of loans
  • Projects that have already been completed or will be by the time of award.

Eligibility Criteria

• They support special schools and colleges for children and young people with special educational needs. They award grants to projects which support pupils at secondary level to develop skills which would help them to gain employment or live independently after school or college.
• Your organisation should:
  • Be a registered or exempt charity or a local authority
  • If applicable, have at least a ‘good’ rating from a regulator such as CQC or Ofsted.
• Your project should:
  • Be for a new building, refurbishment work or equipment
  • Include capital costs of at least £50,000
  • Have a shortfall in capital funding of at least £25,000
• Your project should also address at least one of the following aims:
  • Increased access to services for new and existing users at secondary/post-16 level
  • Improved quality and range of services
  • Improved future sustainability of the organization

For more information, visit The Wolfson Foundation.