British School Charity (Educational Opportunity Foundation)

British School Charity Grants

The British School Charity, a restricted fund run by the Educational Opportunity Foundation, supports the education of young people under 25 in Saffron Walden and the surrounding villages. It gives up to £5,000 to schools, playgroups, early years services and youth groups for projects that include young people who are financially disadvantaged, have special educational needs or disabilities, have mental health issues or are otherwise marginalised, and up to £500 to individual young people in financial hardship. Funding for 2026 is fully spent; the next closing date is 31 May 2027.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £5,000
Deadline: 217 days left; 31 May
Effort: Light; short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

Organisations: schools, playgroups, other early childhood education services and youth groups working with young people under 25 who live in the Saffron Walden area, including Linton, Steeple Bumpstead, Great Bardfield, Clavering and Great Chesterford
Preference is given to smaller organisations with limited income streams
Community groups that are not registered charities are welcome, but may be asked to show they are a formally constituted not-for-profit group before payment
Individuals: young people under 25 experiencing financial hardship who, or whose parents or carers, currently live in the area, or who attended a school there; students in higher education must qualify for a full Student Loans Company maintenance loan or show clear financial need
Parents or carers can apply for a young person under 16 or one unable to apply themselves
The area of benefit is mapped in the charity's 1988 scheme, roughly bounded by Linton, Steeple Bumpstead, Great Bardfield, Thaxted and Great Chesterford

What it funds

Organisations (up to £5,000):

Educational projects to support young people who are financially disadvantaged, have special educational needs, have a disability, have mental health issues or are otherwise marginalised, including the adaptation or provision of buildings and equipment
Making existing educational activities more inclusive for those young people, including the adaptation or provision of buildings and equipment
Individuals (up to £500):
Essential equipment or study materials required to pursue their education
Travel to further their education
Essential equipment required to enter a profession or trade after leaving education

Education is defined broadly to include pre-school, school, academic studies, vocational training, physical education and the expressive arts. In exceptional circumstances, after discussion with the funding panel, small adjustments to the maximum sums may be possible.

What it will not fund

Academic tuition fees (individuals)
Living costs (individuals)
Substitutes for usual state education finance (the fund can supplement it)

How to apply

Check eligibility; to discuss your project, contact the Foundation through its web contact form
Optionally draft your answers in the Word version of the application form
Submit the application and any supporting evidence through the online form (Formstack) by 31 May 2027

Applications are only accepted through the online form. None are reviewed before the closing date, and if eligible applications exceed the funds available the panel may reject an application or offer partial funding.

Successful applicants must report on how the grant was spent and what it achieved.

Have ready

Budget for the activities the grant will fund, where appropriate
Organisations: most recent financial statements or other evidence of financial viability
Individuals: evidence of financial hardship

Individuals provide hardship evidence during the application process (the 2025 form says before payment, if successful). Organisations must share their safeguarding policy if successful.

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