According to one estimate there are over 2,000 different grant schemes open to UK schools, and a huge number of charities and other bodies supporting community programmes, so time spent on research could yield dividends. This section offers some tips for making a successful grant application and provides a list of some of the main providers.

Most projects will seek funds from a number of different providers. But make sure you tailor your application for each funder, showing show your project meets their specific criteria. Do not send the same application to everyone!

To a large extent, the success of your grant application will depend as much on the quality of your submission as the ‘worthiness’ of the actual project. Many applications are rejected, not because their ideas are poor (although some will fail because of this), but because they are presented poorly.

Here are some tips for writing a good application:

• Take time to prepare. Ensure that you have answered all the questions and provided all the information and documents requested by the funding body.
• Make sure that you understand the aims of the funder’s organisation and have aligned your project with them.
• Use active language – "this will...." as opposed to the passive “it is our intention to...”
• Be positive! An application that sounds successful will usually be more successful than one seeking the “sympathy vote.” Clearly state who will be benefit from your project and how. What evidence will show that the project is a success? If you’ve successfully delivered projects before, say so – you have a track record.
• Be clear on costs. The funder will want to see that their money is part of a well thought out plan which is realistic and deliverable. They will not want to put money into projects which look likely to fail because their costings are unrealistic or their other expected sources of funds do not materialise.
• Do not use jargon, acronyms or flowery language. The funder may have to read many applications and it helps if you make yours clear and easy to read.
• Don’t assume! As well as not assuming the funder understands jargon, don’t assume they have an intimate knowledge of your local community, school or local issues. You need to include these in context if they are relevant to your application.
• Tell a story about how your successful project will benefit individuals within your school or community. You should make the funder feel that they want to be part of your successful project.
• And finally... make your application legible. It sounds so obvious but you’d be surprised at how many applications are rejected because the assessor can’t read them!

Remember that there may be hundreds or even thousands of grant applications, so think about how to make yours stand out from the crowd.

As we said earlier, time spent on research is seldom wasted but to give you a flying start, here are details of some of the main sources of funding:

www.lotteryfunding.org.uk This is a joint website run by all Lottery funders which contains details of all current lottery funding programmes in the UK.

www.supergrounds.com RBS Supergrounds is a community programme from The Royal Bank of Scotland Group with a£6m annual programme for primary schools.

www.awardsforall.org.uk Awards for All is a Lottery grants scheme funding small, local community-based projects in the UK, with each country is running its own programme.

www.wren.co.uk WREN - Waste Recycling Environmental Limited is a body which distributes the landfill tax credits of Waste Recycling Group to projects in their operating areas.

www.biffaward.org Biffaward is one of the most respected Landfill Communities Fund schemes, and has awarded more than £100 million to worthwhile projects since 1997. Community awards are from £5,000 to £50,000.

www.communityfoundations.org.uk Community foundations are charitable trusts that support local community causes. They manage funds set up by donors and businesses. All grants are awarded locally.

www.londonplay.org.uk This website lists funding sources for the London area.

www.coalfields-regen.org.uk Dedicated to improving the quality of life for people in Britain’s coalfield communities.

www.tescocorporate.com/plc/corporate_responsibility_09/community/ making_difference/charitablegiving/tesco_charity_trust/cagapr09.pdf
Tesco Charity Trust makes awards of between £500 and £4,000 for projects providing direct benefit to children.

www.ltl.org.uk/johnlaingawards.htm In partnership with Learning Through Landscapes, the John Laing Awards offer up to £5,000 to any LEA school in the Greater London area to improve their outdoor spaces.

www.co-operative.coop/membership/Community-Fund In 2008, the Co-operative Community fund distributed £1.2million for local projects.

www.dcsf.gov.uk Will provide capital grants to state schools to cover pathways and shelters for those waiting for buses or parents waiting for children, provided they are part of a school travel plan. £20million per year has been reserved for grants until the end of the 2010-2011 financial year.

This guide is not intended to be exhaustive but gives you some pointers on how and where to seek funding for your project. Good luck!