Funding for Schools

Funding Opportunities & Grants for Schools

You will find below a list of links which can help you to find funding for your school. We regularly update this page, so please check back for the latest information.

UK Wide Grant and Funding Providers

Sport England Movement Fund – The Sport England Movement Fund offers funding for schools, sports clubs, charities, local authorities and not-for-profit companies with grants of up to £15,000. The main aim for the grant is to help get more people active in England.

Baily Thomas Charitable Fund – The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund donates grants of up to £5,000 to schools working with young people with learning disabilities. Grants can be used for capital building, renovation and refurbishment and play schemes. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

Ernest Cook Trust – The Ernest Cook Trust gives grants to registered charities, schools and not-for-profit organisations wishing to encourage young people’s interest either in the countryside and the environment or the arts (in the broadest sense) or aiming to raise levels of literacy and numeracy. Grants relating to the education of young people range from £100-£4000.

Esmee Fairbairn Foundation  – The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation aims to improve the quality of life throughout the UK. They award grants towards the promotion of cultural life, education, the natural environment and enabling people who are disadvantaged to participate more fully in society.

The Prince’s Countryside Fund – The Prince’s Countryside Fund awards grants to projects which aim to reconnect people with the countryside.

The Wolfson Foundation – The foundations aims to support excellence in the UK, generally through their funding in the fields of health and education. Grants are generally given for capital infrastructure to schools, universities, hospitals, museums and historic/religious buildings. Their grants generally range from £1,000 to £8,000.

The Wesleyan Foundation – The Wesleyan Foundation award grants from £2,000 to £10,000 for voluntary organisations and schools in the UK. In 2021/2022, they are making their grants available to organisations that are looking to resolve issues caused by the on-going pandemic. They are favouring outdoor projects or projects designed to improve mental health or personal and social development.

School Capital Funding – The Department for Education provides annual school capital funding to support the maintenance and improvement of educational buildings and outdoor spaces across England.

Funding is available through three primary routes:

• School Condition Allocations (SCA): Direct funding provided to larger responsible bodies such as local authorities and large multi-academy trusts
• Condition Improvement Fund (CIF): A bidding-based fund for smaller academy trusts, voluntary-aided bodies, and sixth-form colleges
• Devolved Formula Capital (DFC): Allocations given directly to individual schools for smaller-scale capital projects

This funding is available to a wide range of institutions, including maintained schools, academies, sixth-form colleges, and special education providers.

Funding levels are calculated based on factors such as pupil numbers and building requirements, ensuring resources are directed where they are most needed. The funding must be used for capital works, including repairs, maintenance, and improvements that create safe, functional, and high-quality learning environments.

Persimmon Homes – The Persimmon plc Community Champions scheme provides quarterly funding to local organisations across the UK, with each regional office donating up to £6,000 to support charities, sports clubs, and community groups. Smaller grants are also available.

To apply, complete the online application form, explain why your organisation should receive funding and include the amount requested and your contact details.

Applications are reviewed by local offices, with a focus on projects that positively impact the community.

Classics for All – Classics for All provides funding to support state schools in introducing or expanding the teaching of classical subjects, including Latin, Greek, and ancient history, particularly in areas where these subjects are not currently available.

This funding is open to UK state primary and secondary schools, as well as school partnerships. Grants typically range from £1,000 to £10,000

Funding is aimed at increasing student engagement and building long-term teaching capacity in classical subjects.

The Hargreaves Foundation – The Foundation provides funding to support projects that help children and young people under 18 who are experiencing poverty, physical disabilities, or mental health challenges. The foundation focuses on initiatives that use sport and education to improve wellbeing, build confidence, and enhance future opportunities.

Funding is available to schools, charities, and educational organisations across the UK for clearly defined projects, initiatives, or specific equipment. There is no fixed grant amount, and applications can be submitted year-round via an online form, with decisions typically made within a month. Projects must demonstrate a clear positive impact on young people’s development, including areas such as academic engagement, life skills, and accessibility to activities.

The Garfield Weston Foundation – This foundation provides funding to support a wide range of charities across the UK that deliver positive impact within their communities. The foundation funds organisations of all sizes, from small local groups to large national charities, across sectors including education, the community, youth, health, the environment, and the arts.

Grants are flexible and can be used for capital projects (such as building works or equipment), core running costs, or specific activities and programmes. Funding amounts vary significantly depending on the project, ranging from smaller grants of around £1,000 to several million pounds, with applications typically accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

The Clothworkers’ Foundation – This foundation provides funding to support capital projects that improve the lives of disadvantaged individuals and communities, particularly those with physical or learning disabilities. The scheme is open to charities, non-profit organisations, and educational institutions working within this focus.

Grants are available through both small and main funding programmes, with smaller grants up to £10,000 and larger awards typically averaging around £25,000, with no upper limit. Applications can be submitted online, and funding is aimed at projects that deliver meaningful, long-term impact.

The Tesco Stronger Starts – This programme (previously known as Bags of Help) provides funding to support local community projects that benefit children and young people. The scheme is delivered in partnership with Groundwork UK, with funding raised through Tesco stores nationwide.

Grants typically range from £1,000 to £4,000 and are available to a wide range of organisations, including schools, charities, local authorities, and community groups. Applications can be submitted online or through local Tesco stores, with a focus on projects that create a positive impact within the community.

Regional Grant and Funding Providers

A selection of funding which is only available to certain areas:

Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust – Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust (SCCT) provide grants to schools and other organisations in the Sutton Coldfield district up to £40,000 or even more. One of our school customers have already successfully funded their canopies from SCCT.

London:
City Bridge Trust – The City Bridge Trust offer funding via their Working With Londoners Grant. They have 7 different sectors to help the London area with Accessibility, Environment, Mental Health etc and can offer up to £500,000 to sector organisations and registered charities.

London Marathon Group – The London Marathon Group are offering grants from £10,000 up to £80,000 through their Active Spaces Fund to improve sports spaces and inspire activity in London.

North East England:
Hadrian Trust – The Hadrian Trust awards funding for projects within the North East of England whose aims are to improve areas such as: Social Welfare, The Disabled, Youth, Education etc. Their average grant ranges between £500 to £2,000

Southwold, Suffolk:
The Adnams Community Trust – This award offers grants within the range of £100 to £2,500 to causes within 25 miles of Southwold. Their grants are made under the general headings of: Education, Health & Social Welfare, The Arts, Recreation, Buildings/Community Facilities and The Environment/Conservation.

North of England:
The SHINE Trust – The Trust provides funding to support innovative projects that help disadvantaged children achieve better educational outcomes, with a particular focus on schools in the North of England. The programme is open to teachers and schools looking to develop creative approaches to improving areas such as literacy, numeracy, and pupil wellbeing.

Funding is primarily delivered through the Let Teachers SHINE programme, which offers grants for new, evidence-based initiatives. In addition to financial support, successful applicants benefit from training, networking opportunities, and guidance to help evaluate and scale their projects. Applications are typically open annually, with further regional opportunities available at certain times of the year.

Selected Area Grant and Funding Providers

Biffaward – Community funding scheme which offers grants of between £5,000 and £50,000. Biffa Award awards grants to projects that are within a certain distance of an active Biffa operation. Both the Main Grants Community and Small Grants funding schemes require an active Biffa operation to be within 10 miles of the project site. However, if you’re applying under the Main Grants Biodiversity or Flagship Scheme the radius is extended to within 25 miles.

Magnox Socio-Economic Scheme – Funding scheme offered by Magnox with the aim to mitigate the impact of decommissioning on local communities living near Magnox Ltd sites. Grants are offered between the value of £100 to over £100,000. Education establishments, community groups, voluntary groups etc local to these sites can apply for funding.

Other registered Landfill Site Operators also offer funding for projects within a specified distance of their sites. A list of registered landfill site operators is available from the HMRC website: List of Registered Landfill Site Operators

School Grant and Funding Directories

Grants for schools – You need to subscribe to use this service but they do offer a free trial

Good Luck with your Funding. Need help with your completing you application?
Download our Free Funding Guide for tips and ideas.

Please note: Able Canopies Ltd. have not been endorsed by any of the above charities/organisations in anyway. Our previous customers have that stated that they have successfully received funding from these sources and we have mentioned them for your information only.

If you have any questions, or to find out if you qualify for a Free Site Survey contact us today