Please note: you will find funding related to Covid-19 on page 2 of this resource. Links include funding for projects that address need as well as emergency funding to offset impact.
This round-up of funding and grants opportunities relevant to Essex 2020 STEAM will be regularly updated. Keep checking back for new opportunities that may support your school, charity or community group to fund ideas for activities.
If you are thinking of applying for a grant or other funding you can find useful information in our Funding Application Guide and Fundraising During a Pandemic webinar.
Scroll through all the opportunities or jump straight to the section relevant to your organisation or activity.
Education
Public Engagement Spark Awards
Proposed engagement programmes must clearly focus around the remit of the STFC science programme (astronomy, solar and planetary science, particle physics, particle astrophysics, cosmology, nuclear physics and accelerator science). Wide organisational eligibility. OPENS Sept 9th.
Asda Foundation Getting Schools Back On Track
New grant to help families who may be struggling financially and need extra support. Schools may apply to purchase items on behalf of children or provide additional services. This fund is not for individual students.
Biochemical Society Scientific Outreach Grants
Grants of up to £1,000 to assist with the direct costs involved with scientific outreach activities that communicate the excitement of molecular bioscience to young people and the community. Deadline: Sept 24th.
Royal Society of Chemistry Outreach Grants
Provides financial support to members, individuals and organisations in order to enable them to run chemistry-based public and schools engagement activities. Small grants up to £5,000 - Deadlines Sept 14th, Oct 12th, Nov 16th.
Royal Society of Chemistry Enhanced Equipment Grants
These funds are awarded against bids for equipment that cannot be purchased through a school’s mainstream teaching budget and which would enrich the learning experience of students in either primary (science) or secondary (chemistry) studies.
Universal Music UK Sound Foundation Musical Instrument / Equipment Grants
Support for schools and individuals to buy musical instruments and equipment. Teacher’s Award for funding to undertake music courses and training.
The Newby Trust
The Newby Trust funds local, regional or national charities registered and operating in the UK within the broad categories of Education, Health or Social Welfare. Rolling deadline.
The Ironmongers’ Company STEM Grants
The Ironmongers’ Foundation wishes to support initiatives that encourage young people to study science subjects at school and go on to pursue STEM-related further education or vocational training, particularly in the area of Materials Science. Deadline Dec 1st.
Credit Suisse EMEA Foundation
Awards grants to registered charities and seeks to support long-term strategies for dealing with youth education and employability. The Foundation will fund specific project or ongoing costs including staff salaries and overheads. For more information and how to apply please contact emea.corporatecitizenship@credit-suisse.com.
Institute of Physics School Grants Scheme
Grants of up to £600 for projects, events and activities that promote a greater interest in physics and engineering in young people. Deadline Nov 1st.
DWF Foundation
Grants under £5000 for registered charities focusing on employability and education and enabling young people to develop skills for the benefit of the community. Rolling deadline (3 per year).
Salix Energy Efficiency Fund
Working to reduce energy usage; Salix Energy Efficiency Funding is available for all individual academies, academy sixth forms, free schools and those in Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs). Opens in September.
Rural community Energy Fund
Funding to develop renewable energy projects which provide economic and social benefits to their communities, and also make money by selling it back to the grid. Schools, Parish Councils and other community based organisations may apply.
Community: Children & Young People
Youth Music Fund A
Grants of £2,000 to £30,000 are available and the fund is designed to support music-making and music-making related activities for children and young people (aged 0-25) facing barriers. Rolling deadlines. Next deadline Dec 4th.
Youth Music Fund B
Grants of £30,001-£200,000 to support music-making related activities for children and young people (aged 0-25) facing barriers and/or workforce and organisational development to create a music offer that’s more inclusive for all children and young people. Rolling deadlines. Next deadline Oct 2nd.
Youth Futures Foundation
Rolling grants programme designed to find, fund, support and evaluate promising practice. Funding will go to organisations working with young people aged 14-24 to help overcome barriers to finding meaningful work.
The Newby Trust
The Newby Trust funds local, regional or national charities registered and operating in the UK within the broad categories of Education, Health or Social Welfare. Rolling deadline.
DWF Foundation
Grants under £5000 for registered charities focusing on health and wellbeing, homelessness, employability and education and enabling young people to develop skills for the benefit of the community. Rolling deadline (3 per year).
Credit Suisse EMEA Foundation
Awards grants to registered charities and seeks to support long-term strategies for dealing with youth education and employability. The Foundation will fund specific project or ongoing costs including staff salaries and overheads. For more information and how to apply please contact emea.corporatecitizenship@credit-suisse.com.
Community: General
Brentwood Community Fund
Grants of up to £4000 available for community projects taking place within the borough. Deadline September 30th.
Brentwood Borough Council Mental Health Small Grants Scheme
Grants of up to £2500 are available to individuals, organisations and groups for wellbeing projects delivered within the Borough between 1 January and 31 December 2021. Deadline October 30th
Rural community Energy Fund
Funding to develop renewable energy projects which provide economic and social benefits to their communities, and also make money by selling it back to the grid. Schools, Parish Councils and other community based organisations may apply.
Masonic Charitable Foundation Later Life Grants
Small grants for charities working to reduce loneliness and isolation in later life (would fund digital inclusion projects). Several rounds and deadlines throughout the year.
Alpkit Foundation
Small grants (£50-500) to help with costs for projects that help people to get outdoors, environmental projects and diversity and inclusion activities. Rolling deadline.
The Newby Trust
The Newby Trust funds local, regional or national charities registered and operating in the UK within the broad categories of Education, Health or Social Welfare. Rolling deadline.
Edward Gostling Foundation
Grants to UK registered charities with the aim of enhancing the quality of life of people in need and, particularly, those on a low income who have a physical and/or mental disability or long-term illness. Rolling deadline (6 per year).
The Allen Lane Foundation Social Cohesion Programme
Supports community-led grassroot groups or organisations at a very local level where there are issues which identify marginalised groups of people who are excluded. Project applications should propose ways to make communities more inclusive for the betterment of all. Rolling Deadline.
More Than a Pub
Community groups who are considering taking ownership of their local pub to open with expanded community services can apply for grants, loans and business support.
Tesco Bags of Help Community Grants
Grants of up to £2000. Continuous rolling programme.
The Arts
National Lottery Project Grants
Arts Council England have announced the return of the Project Grants scheme, opening July 22nd. Grants of £1-100,000 for individuals, organisations, libraries and museums.
Women Make Music
The fund can support projects by women, trans and non binary songwriters, composers, artists, bands and performers who are writing their own music. Deadline: Oct 5th.
Youth Music Fund A
Grants of £2,000 to £30,000 are available and the fund is designed to support music-making and music-making related activities for children and young people (aged 0-25) facing barriers. Rolling deadlines. Next deadline Dec 4th.
Youth Music Fund B
Grants of £30,001-£200,000 to support music-making related activities for children and young people (aged 0-25) facing barriers and/or workforce and organisational development to create a music offer that’s more inclusive for all children and young people. Rolling deadlines. Next deadline Oct 2nd.
Fidelio Charitable Trust
Fidelio welcomes applications for grants in support of the Arts particularly for music; including opera, lieder, composition and dance. Deadline: Sept 25th.
Cottam Will Trust - Funding for Art in Churches
Grants for new art which furthers religion. This can include, but is not limited to statues, murals, paintings, stained glass, altars and altar frontals. Rolling deadline.
Heritage & Culture
Esme Fairbarn Collection Fund
Fund supporting a range of projects that bring collections closer to people and demonstrate the significance, distinctiveness and power of collections. Deadline Sept 14th.
National Lottery Heritage Emergency Fund
Grants of between £50,000-£250,000 for heritage assets at immediate risk. Applicants can apply to cover essential costs for up to four months or for a contribution towards increasing your digital activities and offer during this period, testing new activities that will help your organisation’s recovery, and reviewing and revising your strategic and operating plans. Rolling deadline.
Historic England Grants for Programmes of Major Works
This fund (around £34 million) will support repair and restoration works (not new works) at nationally important heritage attractions, most likely on sites where progress was stalled by the restrictions caused by Covid-19, or by the uncertainty over available funding sources.
Industry
Wingate Foundation Medical Research Travel Grants
Funds up to £1,000 to cover the expenses of travel and subsistence for visits to laboratories for the acquisition of new skills, and for setting up inter-institutional collaborative research. Deadline Sept 4th.
SPRINT Programme and Innovation Vouchers
Support and Innovation Vouchers to help fund collaborative projects between your company and the SPRINT university partner(s). These projects can enable you to exploit space technologies and data in a wide range of commercial activities.
ClimateLaunchpad Green Business Ideas Competition
Individuals such as researchers, students, consultants or new start-ups with a green business idea have the opportunity to win an award of up to €10,000.
Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI)
SBRI brings together government challenges and ideas from business to create innovative solutions. View the latest funding competitions.
Other
Data Analytics Innovation Vouchers
The Business and Local Government Data Research Centre is inviting Essex based small business owners, public sector organisations and local government to apply for Data Analytics Innovation Vouchers (DAIV) that can be used to pay for its experts to act as consultants to address specific problems or help organisations collect and use data more effectively.