This information was last updated in August, 2010. If you have more up-to-date information or comments, please let Steve know: 01204 336652 or click here to email Steve
This information is based on comments sent by members of the Bolton ESD Network who've had experience of working with these funders. Other funds are available, but are not included here. If you have experience of these or other funding sources (positive and negative) please let Steve know so that the info can be shared within the ESD Network. Send your comments and let others benefit from your experience!
If these sources don't meet your need, contact Steve for further information 01204 336652 or click here
Nb. This list is limited to funding for relatively small amounts. Some of the funds that offer very large grants for big building improvements, for example, haven't been included.
1. GENERAL FUNDING
Awards for All (part of the National Lottery)
(grants for almost any aspect of environmental/sustainability work in schools)
Awards for All: www.awardsforall.org.uk tel: 0845 4 10 20 30
Many Bolton schools have been successful in applying for these in the last few years. (Esther from Lancs Wildlife Trust reports that schools she's worked with have a 100% success rate!). Awards for All also funded the Bolton Fairtrade Schools worker.
Individual school successes: 1 primary school got £10 000 for community activities and a living outdoor stage. A secondary school received £10 000 for developing an allotment and delivering after school family cooking and budget management sessions.
Lesley Turner (from the Council's Regeneration Partnerships and External Funding team) has experience of guiding schools and "friends of"/PTA groups through the application process. See 3. OTHER SOURCES below for her contact details.
Action Earth Grants
(Small, easily accessed grants)
A lot of Bolton schools have found Action Earth Grants really useful for small projects like tree planting, bulb planting, litter picking and school garden work. The application form is simple (mostly tick boxes) and just 4 pages long, but grants are only available at certain times of the year, so keep checking the website. If you'd like to receive information, email: naseem@csvenvironment.org.uk or 0121 328 7455 with your name, email address and full postal address.
further info: www.actionearth.org.uk
The Ernest Cook Trust Educational Grants
The Ernest Cook Trust Educational Grants support applications to educate young people about the environment and the countryside. Grants from £100 to £3000. No application form - just send a letter outlining your project. Grants are considered 5 times a year. For more information visit: http://www.ernestcooktrust.org.uk/grants/how-to-apply.html
or phone 01285 712492
BES/ Ecological Education Grants
Ecological Education Grants for the following things: research, school ground developments, primary school field work or nature visit, field equipment grant, teacher attendance at BES meetings and professional development courses in fieldwork. Applications need to fall into 1 of these 7 areas. (Bids are accepted 3 times a year, so check for when money might be available and plan ahead!) For more information: http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/grants/
2. MORE SPECIFIC FUNDING
Creating Cleaner Greener Communities
Look around your school or where your group meets and talk to your local community. Is there an area that could do with a Spring Clean? Small grants are available with priority given to groups and schools in neighbourhood renewal areas. Projects must improve the local physical environment and be visible to the public, involve people in improving their local area and have the support of local people. This grant is administered on behalf of Bolton Council.
The cleaner greener application form is downloadable at http://www.boltoncvs.org.uk/big-bolton-fund-grants or as a paper copy.
The deadlines for the grant are ongoing and are on the last day of each month. A panel is held monthly and all applications are assessed by accredited Volunteer Grant Assessors.
More information: Kairen Smith 01204 546010 or Kairen@boltoncvs.org.uk
Local Food Fund
This funding source from the National Lottery has been successfully used by local schools to fund planting schemes, improve the outdoor environment, reduce CO2 emissions and to create enterprises in schools. Small and large-scale projects can be funded - from £2 000 to £300 000.
Ask Steve to speak informally to successful schools.
details: http://www.localfoodgrants.org/contact
School Travel Plan grants
These grants ended in Spring 2010. The School Travel Adviser may be able to help with information about subsidised resources and useful materials: Carole Heaton 334336 or carole.heaton@bolton.gov.uk
The Peter Miller Schools Ponds Fund
The grant you can get is up to £250 for pond construction and materials. There is no application form, you can write a letter describing your project and a quotation for the materials to Convenor of the Dragonfly Conservation Group, Dr Pam Taylor, Decoy Farm, Decoy Road, Potter Heigham, Norfolk, NR29 5LX. More information: http://www.dragonflysoc.org.uk/projects.html#pmspf
Trees for All
The Woodland Trust provides schools with free tree planting packs at various times of the year. To register: http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/hedge/
Tree Appeal/Trees for Schools
If your school wants to plant trees linked to environmental education, Trees for Schools might be able to supply trees free of charge. If you qualify then saplings will be delivered to your school free of charge, including canes and protection. They'll let you know right away if your application is successful.
Details: http://www.treeappeal.com/Tree_Application_Schools_09.pdf or 01388 835533
You can also contact the Council's Tree and Woodlands officer on 01204 334100 for expert tree advice
Solar4Schools
Grants for sustainable energy provision are made to "not for profit organisations" and schools have been successful in applying for these. Applications are considered at certain times of the year - check with the website.
www.solar4schools.co.uk Includes an interesting 5 minute explanatory video about how your school might get support for solar panels....
Sustainable Energy grants from E-On
E-On give grants for schools & other not-for-profit groups "..committed to introducing sustainable energy projects and who can demonstrate an understanding of the importance of not only reducing the energy we use but also creating that energy from renewable sources." Applications are considered 3 times a year.
To find out more: http://www.eon-uk.com/about/2688.aspx
if you're looking for grants for renewable energy sources within your school or group's site (e.g. wind turbines or solar panels), Anne Mason (Bolton Council's Property Services) is a good first contact as she can offer free advice and help with planning applications 01204 331351 or anne.j.mason@bolton.gov.uk
Royal Bank of Scotland Group grants
If any of your parents are employees of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group (including Natwest, Direct Line and others), your school can get Community Cashback Awards. They will help any school where their staff are making an important contribution in their own time - including helping on fete days, listening to readers, PTFA work. The school writes a letter saying how the volunteer has contributed and the volunteer sends it into the Royal Bank of Scotland Human Resources.
Also: Super Grounds Fund. The school and volunteer come up with an idea for how they could improve their school. The bid is given to the bank through your volunteer.
(Ladybridge Primary School has taken advantage of this money to improve their school grounds.)
3. OTHER SOURCES
Local Area Forums
(small, local grants)
2 schools in regeneration areas have successfully used their Area Forums to fund (and help them prioritise) the work they've done with Groundwork.
To contact your local Forum: 01204 331252 or locate your Forum at: http://www.bolton.gov.uk/website/pages/AreaForums.aspx
The Regeneration Partnerships and External Funding Team within Bolton Children's Services are keen to see projects developed involving children & young people. They can offer funding opportunities, advice and partnership links including the Grantfinder scheme. If you have a project which requires external funding they may be able to help you find the right source. Contact:
Lesley Turner 01204 332202
Samira Al-Obaidi (previously Samira Foster) 01204 332282
samira.al-obaidi@bolton.gov.uk
Bolton CVS funding advice provides information, advice and support to voluntary and community organisations in Bolton regarding finding sources of funding. Groups linked to schools such as Friends Of ... groups, Parent & Teacher Associations, Nursery Groups etc are able to access these services. Further information relating to funding sources: Funding & Development Team at Bolton CVS on 01204 546010 or Kairen@boltoncvs.org.uk
The Bolton Cash Panel is made up of local young people. They have money to distribute to projects run by young people. Details: ciara.steele@bolton.gov.uk
Environmental Funders Network
If your funding request is very specialised, one of these funding sources may be able to help.
some of these will not be open to schools, but if all else has failed so far, there may be something here..?
http://www.greenfunders.org/whosinvolved
Happy funding hunting - and don't forget to tell Steve how you get on...!
