Who can apply?
Grants for school-based projects can be made directly to Lambeth schools or to organisations working in schools. Organisations must also fulfil our eligibility criteria. The Walcot Foundation is a Living Wage Funder and we seek to ensure that all posts which are wholly or partially funded by us pay the Living Wage, unless there are particular reasons for this not to happen. Schools or organisations working in schools do not need to be registered Living Wage employers to apply to the Foundation but we do encourage schools and organisations to consider whether this is a possibility for them.
Please note - we only consider funding for school-based projects in one round prior to the start of each academic year. We have now taken applications for 2023/24 academic year. The next school round for 2024/25 academic year will open for expressions of interest in late January 2024.
Grant size
We offer grants up to £30,000 per year for up to three years. Please note, for schools we are no longer giving indicative amounts. Any Lambeth school can apply for funds up to £30,000 per year.
Types of projects
Our grants for schools-based work (either directly to schools or via organisations working in schools) are designed to enhance educational opportunities and outcomes for pupils from financially poor Lambeth households (that is, families in receipt of means tested benefits, on very low incomes or without access to benefits). We take Pupil Premium - or being verifiably known to be slightly above the eligibility limit (e.g. in receipt of significant working tax credit) - as a proxy indicator of need. We are interested in receiving applications from projects that fit at least one of our five Governor Priorities (below).
Top Priorities
4. To address student (re-)engagement with school, particularly in transition years and for students at risk of exclusion.
5. Early intervention projects that address the mental health needs of our target pupil groups where it is clear they cannot be funded by school or state.
When reviewing which school-based projects to fund, the Governors are more likely to consider funding projects that fulfil the following criteria:
Also, in making decisions on school-related projects, the Foundation will consider the geographical spread of its grants and the surrounding levels of deprivation in that school’s neighbourhood. In order to make sure there is a spread of school-related projects, a school can only have one active Walcot grant at a time. This includes a grant made directly to a community organisation or charity for a project that is taking place within the named school.
We will NOT fund the following:
Grants for school-based projects can be made directly to Lambeth schools or to organisations working in schools. Organisations must also fulfil our eligibility criteria. The Walcot Foundation is a Living Wage Funder and we seek to ensure that all posts which are wholly or partially funded by us pay the Living Wage, unless there are particular reasons for this not to happen. Schools or organisations working in schools do not need to be registered Living Wage employers to apply to the Foundation but we do encourage schools and organisations to consider whether this is a possibility for them.
Please note - we only consider funding for school-based projects in one round prior to the start of each academic year. We have now taken applications for 2023/24 academic year. The next school round for 2024/25 academic year will open for expressions of interest in late January 2024.
Grant size
We offer grants up to £30,000 per year for up to three years. Please note, for schools we are no longer giving indicative amounts. Any Lambeth school can apply for funds up to £30,000 per year.
Types of projects
Our grants for schools-based work (either directly to schools or via organisations working in schools) are designed to enhance educational opportunities and outcomes for pupils from financially poor Lambeth households (that is, families in receipt of means tested benefits, on very low incomes or without access to benefits). We take Pupil Premium - or being verifiably known to be slightly above the eligibility limit (e.g. in receipt of significant working tax credit) - as a proxy indicator of need. We are interested in receiving applications from projects that fit at least one of our five Governor Priorities (below).
Top Priorities
- Support for the academic achievement of pupils, particularly projects that will help close the attainment gap between pupil premium pupils and their peers.
- Support young people (under 30) into employment – priority will go to projects that are able to offer routes into secure employment at London Living Wage level and/or working with young people who are furthest from the labour market.
- Maximising access to free, independent advice from accredited sources, particularly in the fields of debt, housing and employment.
4. To address student (re-)engagement with school, particularly in transition years and for students at risk of exclusion.
5. Early intervention projects that address the mental health needs of our target pupil groups where it is clear they cannot be funded by school or state.
When reviewing which school-based projects to fund, the Governors are more likely to consider funding projects that fulfil the following criteria:
- Focused on one of the Governor Priorities
- Clear how the project proposal is additional to the school's core offer to pupils
- Provides targeted and sustained group activities or one-to-one activity with pupils from low income homes. WF is unlikely to fund whole class activity.
- Project costs are match-funded by school funds
- A partnership with a community organisation or charity
Also, in making decisions on school-related projects, the Foundation will consider the geographical spread of its grants and the surrounding levels of deprivation in that school’s neighbourhood. In order to make sure there is a spread of school-related projects, a school can only have one active Walcot grant at a time. This includes a grant made directly to a community organisation or charity for a project that is taking place within the named school.
We will NOT fund the following:
- Independent schools
- Anything we consider to be the responsibility of central or local government
- Anything we consider could be reasonably met from the school's devolved budget
- Debt repayments
- Capital works such as classroom renovation and playground equipment