Jupiter Play... Spaces to learn

and grow

Funding Guide

You can see the potential that your school grounds hold and want to offer your pupils more than an expanse of concrete to run around on, but where do you begin? Well that,s where we can help.......

Based in Edinburgh and Nottingham, Jupiter Play

has been designing and installing award-winning play

spaces for over 10 years. In addition to this, we have

engaged with Barnardo’s, Capability Scotland and

several special needs playgroups to develop a range of

equipment specifically designed to encourage children

of all abilities to play together.

It is widely acknowledged that children get numerous

benefits from the freedom of play, and a well

designed, challenging play space can compliment and

aid lessons learned in the classroom.

Central to what we do is gain an understanding of

the specific needs of the children in your school,

enabling us to provide equipment that will aid their

development and build on skills for life.

Through working with a number of schools and

community groups from the early stages of

fundraising, we have gained a comprehensive

understanding of a variety of funding sources and

procedures and we know what makes a successful

application. We believe that any money raised should

be used to directly benefit the children and as

such our initial consultation, fundraising advice and

design proposals are free of charge, helping you get

underway.

We are on hand throughout the process to ensure

your project gets off the ground with assistance

from our experienced and qualified in-house

fundraisers.

Funding advice from a qualified advisorConsultation involving the whole school

Dedicated designer for your projectHolistic approach to outdoor space design

Bespoke equipment to fit the needs of your schoolExpert installation

Spaces to learn and grow...

While free space is invaluable for children to express themselves in

whatever way they wish, the benefits of exciting and challenging play

equipment are endless:

• Allows children to learn in an informal environment,

re-enforcing the lessons learned in the classroom.

• Encourages exercise, healthier lifestyles and social interaction.

• Allows children to let off steam between lessons and

express themselves freely away from adults.

• Gives children the skills to manage conflict and

embrace individuality.

• Improves judgement and evaluation of risks and hazards.

• And most importantly - they have FUN!

The fundraising environment is becoming increasingly competitive with a

large number of possible sources to research. With teacher’s time already

stretched, it is often impossible to trail through all the information and

give fundraising the time and focus that it requires. Our funding guide not

only provides information on current and applicable funding sources but

also gives guidance on putting together a successful bid.

“There is a pot of

cash out there to

support projects

such as yours

- if you don,t

take your share,

someone else will!

Ten Tips to Successful FundraisingResearch the funding body – Do your homework!

What are their funding priorities?

What projects have they previously supported?

What amounts do they award?

What are the deadlines?

2If the funder publishes

what projects they have

previously supported then

contact the schools and

find out what secured the

funding for them. After all,

they were once in the same

position as you!

3 If you know of any other

schools who have been

successful in securing funding

then call them and learn how

they did it. Even better ask to

see a copy of the successful bid.

5Be as creative as you can to

make sure your application

stands out from all the

other pages and pages of

standard applications.

Tailor your application

to each individual funder,

tying your project aims

to their funding priorities.

This shows that you

have taken the time to

research the funding body

- adding credibility to your

application.

hintFundraising should be seen as part of your project, involving children, parents and the wider community if possible, and not merely a means to an end - This is the key to successful fundraising!

If there is no application

form but you are to submit a

supporting statement then keep

it to two sides of A4.

6 Focus on outcomes and

objectives.

The majority of funding is

now outcome driven– ENSURE

YOUR OUTCOMES ARE:

SPECIFIC, SUSTAINABLE,

MEASURABLE and benefit as

many people as possible—

Pupils, teachers, parents and

the wider community.

hint

9 Have well-defined timescales

for your project. This helps

to keep everyone informed,

motivated and on track for

achieving your goals. A great

idea is to have a notice board

dedicated to your project

with fundraising progress and

design ideas for children to

comment on.

7 If you have any previous

fundraising experience or

experience from a similar

project then always mention

this. Convey a positive sense

of belief in your project and

its objectives.

8Funders are keen to see

pupils involved in research

and consultation in collecting

evidence for the funding

application. This is also

a great opportunity for

children to learn about design,

planning and budgets and feel

integral to the project from

the beginning. This creates a

sense of ownership over the

play area.

Don’t forget ongoing

maintenance costs–

these will need to be

included in your bid.

A. Introduction• Background to your school and your project.

• Mention if you have Charitable status?

If not see the opposite page for information.

• Summarise your project aims, linking them to the

funder’s priorities.

• Establish credibility — previous successes or similar

experience.

B. Statement of Need• What problem are you aiming to solve?

— Importance and significance.

• How have you identified the problem?

• Why is the project necessary?

• Link the benefits to the pupils, teachers and entire

school community.

• Document evidence to support your case.

C. Objectives• What the project will achieve.

• Specific, Sustainable and Measurable outcomes.

• Do your objectives link to the funder’s priorities?

D. Project Description• Nuts and bolts of how your project will be

implemented.

• Methodology — Who? What? When? How?

• Accurate project timescales.

E. Evaluation• How the success of your project will be measured?

F. Sustainability• Long term viability

• Financial support for ongoing costs such as

maintenance.

G. Budget• Financial breakdown.

• What is needed and how it will be used.

• Ensure budget is realistic and reasonable.

• Design proposals and quotes from providers

such as Jupiter Play give accurate budgets for

completing your project.

Golden Rules in

application writing:·

• Write in plain English

• Use active language

• Tell a story and use human

interest (quotes from pupils and

parents demonstrating NEED).

• Avoid assumptions—be specific

and precise.

Many funding bodies would agree that some applications are rejected because they contain poor ideas, but most applications are rejected because they contain good ideas that are poorly presented.

With this in mind, and from our experience of reviewing funding applications, we have summarised the best approach to compiling

your supporting statement:

Things to consider in your application

Charitable Status for Independent Schools The Charity Commission was established as the regulator and registrar

of charities for England and Wales. Their main aim is to provide the

best possible regulation of charities in order to increase efficiency,

effectiveness and public trust in them. Independent schools are allowed

to apply for charitable status however, schools governed by a local

education authority are not.

Broadly speaking, to become a charity your school must show that

it has charitable purpose or aims that are for the public benefit.

For more information on The Charity Commission and to

find out if your school is eligible for charitable status visit

www.charitycommission.gov.uk

Having charitable status

means that your school

may be eligible for

various tax concessions

and can apply for

additional funding that

only applies to charities,

therefore, it is well

worthwhile researching.

NB Slight layout different from Scottishpaper and top 5 pics

There is a never-ending list of charities and organisations that provide grants for schools across England and Wales. We know

that Head Teachers and PTAs don’t have the time to research all of them, so in order to make your life easier we have contacted

various charities and organisations and compiled a list of key funding sources available for school ground development.

Funding Opportunities

Primary and Secondary schools in England and Wales receive a certain

amount of money annually which they can spend on their buildings and

any Capital priorities. This fund is referred to as Devolved Formula Capital

(DFC) or Devolved Formula Capital Grant (DFCG). This grant is of great

importance to schools as it can be pooled with other capital funding or

even joined with DFC assigned to other schools. In addition, it can be

accumulated to fund larger projects.

DFC is assigned at the beginning of each three year spending review period.

However, the amount depends on the number of pupils in your school. This

fund can be used to enhance school grounds as well as for on-going repairs

and maintenance.

Ultimately, a good starting point is to contact your Local Authority. Most

Local Authorities will have a Play Development Officer or a Schools Officer.

They can provide you with funding information for your specific locality, as

well as any local authority grants that your school is entitled to.

A list of Local Authorities can be found on the DCSF website: www.dcsf.gov.uk

RBS Supergrounds is a six year, £6 million community programme aimed at improving school grounds and helping to improve learning through play. RBS employees are allowed to nominate their local school (Primary or Secondary) for this award. The RBS employee can increase the chances of receiving a grant if they are a PTA member, governor, volunteer, fundraiser or supporter of the school.

Fund Value: £4,000 paid in three instalments.Who can apply: RBS employee nominated.

www.rbssupergrounds.com

RBS Supergrounds

This is a National Lottery grant scheme which supports people and communities that want to improve health and well being. In relation to schools, it mainly supports extracurricular activities that help children to learn about new things that are not part of the daily teaching regime.

Fund Value: England £300 - £10,000; Wales £500 - £5,000Who can apply: An individual directly employed by the school must make the application.www.awardsforall.org.uk

Awards for alls

CABE Educational Grants

ways to fund

your school

project

Ford Britain offers grants that support communities that we live and work in. It was set up in April 1975 to help education in communities and the progression of neighbourhoods. This scheme pays special attention to education,

environment, children, disabilities, youth activities and projects that aim to develop

communities that are close to Ford Dealerships.

Fund Value: Small grants up to £250; Large grants from £250- £3,000.Who can apply: School Members/PTA’s.

www.peoplesmillions.org.uk/about-us

Ford Britain Trust

This educational grant looks at the design and use of building and public spaces in an imaginative

way. All applicants are judged on educational value, impact and overall best practice.

The Sustaining Our Cities grant focuses on transforming the schools outdoor area ,

learning about local places, getting involved in the design process as well as contributing to

community projects.

Fund Value: £1,500. Who can apply: All teachers who work with pupil’s aged 5-19 years.

www.ford.co.uk

The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation

This charity aims to improve the quality of

life across the UK. Its primary interests are

to improve education, learning and cultural life

as well as enabling disadvantaged people to get

more involved in society. Their funding strand is

dedicated to new approaches to learning.

Fund Value: £15,000 - £250,000 with about twenty

grants a year.

Who can apply: Teachers and school members.

www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk

Playground Partnerships has awarded over £2m to schools across the UK. This is a cross-curricular program which gets children involved and is aimed at helping them develop the necessary skills to enable them to grow into responsible adults. Playground Partnerships applies to schools working with children aged 4-11, as well as Special Needs Schools who cater for people outside this age bracket.

Fund Value: First prize is £10,000 with 10 runners up of £250.Who can apply: Anyone as long as the school supports the project.

www.playgroundpartnerships.org

Playground Partnerships

The Ashden Awards for sustainable energy

The Ernest Cook Trust

This award focuses on the importance of

sustainable energy activities in schools with the

aim of embedding sustainable energy into the

school culture. It requires that the school has

an energy topic identified in their curriculum

and carries out energy-saving activities as well

as having an energy conservation policy.

Fund Value: £10,000 - £20,000.

Who can apply: School members.

www.ashdenawards.org/school_award

In 2008/2009, The Ernest Cook Trust distributed

£1.25m in grants to over 450 educational projects.

This grant focuses on land-based learning and

aims to encourage young people’s interest in the

countryside, the environment or enhancing literacy

and numeracy. This grant requires your project to

have a link with the National Curriculum.

Fund Value: Small grant is under £4,000. Large is

£4,000 - £10,000.

Who can apply: Teachers and school members.

www.ernestcooktrust.org.uk

The Peoples MillionsFootball FoundationThe People’s Millions focuses

on improving your community

and providing an area indoors

or outdoors that will benefit

all. This scheme wants you to

come up with a new and creative

idea that will make your local

schools better. Once you apply

you are in with a chance to be

on TV in November and compete

for viewers votes to secure the

funding.

Fund Value: £20,000 - £50,000

Who can apply: School members.

www.peoplesmillions.org.uk

The Football Foundation offers various

different grants, each are tailored to

different needs. The Junior Kit Grant Scheme

offers grants for team kits and basic training

equipment but there are also grants for

replacement goals, facilities and much more.

Fund Value: Varies.Who can apply: Schools and local clubs.

www.footballfoundation.org.uk

Sport EnglandSport England has set-up a small grants scheme to

help local communities increase sport participation

or improve overall experience of people playing

sport. This scheme will not fund a project that the

school has a statutory responsibility to provide,

however it will look at projects that provide new

or additional activities for the school.

Fund Value: : £300 - £10,000 but total project cost

cannot exceed £50,000.

Who can apply: Schools and not-for-profit clubs.

www.sportengland.org/

In 2009, Tesco supplied £1,899,137 in cash grants. The main aim of this scheme is to support children and their education, welfare, elderly people, adults and children with disabilities. The grant supports the

development of playgrounds and outdoor classrooms.

Fund Value: : £500 - £4,000 Who can apply: Anyone.www.tescoplc.com

Yorventure is an independent not-for-profit body that distributes grants through The Landfill Communities Fund. Your project must be within 10

miles of a Yorwaste landfill site.

Fund Value: : Small project fund £1,000 - £5,000; Main fund £5,000 - £25,000 and Yorventure must fund 50% to 100% of the entire project costs.Who can apply: Anyone.

www.yorventure.co.uk

The Peoples Millions

NCPTA Awards

Yorventure

The NCPTA Gold Awards and LEAPP (Learning,

Education and Parental Partnership) are

celebrating their fifth anniversary this

year. The priorities for both awards are PTA

fundraising achievement; changing the life of

the school; achievement of parental involvement

and working with the local community.

Fund Value: £1,000. Who can apply: All PTAs

www.ncpta.org.uk/information/100761/awards/

Tesco Charity Trust Community Award

Funding Opportunities for S.E.N. Schools

ways to fund

your school

projectWooden Spoon

The Trusthouse This charity is dedicated to helping underprivileged children and young people across the UK live a happier and fulfilled life. Wooden Spoon supports and accepts applications from Special Needs Schools if the project will benefit disadvantaged children and young people.

Fund Value: £20,000 – £100,000 and representing 25-100% of the total project cost.Who can apply: School member.

www.woodenspoon.com

This Trust helps fund special educational needs and children with learning difficulties. It will accept applications for Special Needs play equipment as long as it can be linked to educational development.

Fund Value: Main grant £10,000 - £50,000; Capital projects from £50,000.

Who can apply: School Member.

www.foylefoundation.org.uk

The Foyle Foundation

This Trust will support children at risk of exclusion or pupils that have exceptionally

challenging behaviour to realise their educational potential. It will focus on

projects that give opportunities to children whose circumstances might deny them

access to further education.

Fund Value: Small grant under £10,000; Large £10,000- £30,000Who can apply: School Staff.

www.trusthousecharitablefoundation.org.uk

Provides the latest information on funding opportunities, calls for applications and a searchable grants database.

For more information see: www.grants4schools.info/portal/index.asp

Grants4schools

This is a monthly magazine which provides a comprehensive and up-to-date guide on funding. It offers information on grants that are available, criteria for applications and how and when to apply.

For more information see: www.fundraisingschools.co.uk

There are many up-to-date sources

of information on grants and funding

available to your school. Below is a list

of some useful resources, it is in no way

exhaustive but should help you on the

road to finding the perfect funder for

your project.

Other Funding Opportunities

Practicalfunding .comPLay England

Teachernet.gov.uk

The Play England website does not have a specific funding section, however if you search for funding in their search tool, it will provide you with funding advice downloads.

For more information see: www.playengland.org.uk

This website offers a funding list for schools in England and Wales and can provide helpful information for grants.

For more information see: www.teachernet.gov.uk

Always remember that charities and organisations are not the only way to raise funds for your school. One of the most satisfying

ways to boost your school funds is to get PTAs and the pupils involved and make it a whole community project.

...Fundraising is FUN!

How your school can fundraise...

Get as much press coverage as possible! Contact local radio and TV stations. Update your website and provide a blog of your fundraising activities. Maybe even have a dedicated Facebook or Twitter page.

Press Coverage

School Fundraising DIY Why quit when your ahead? Start thinking creatively

and get motivated. Children can be a source of

inspiration so get them involved!!

Here’s a few ideas to get you thinking……….

Get the Parents Involved! Mums and Dads alike know the importance of play and

how it can impact on their child’s life. Why not get them

involved and ask them to hold a Coffee Morning; Cheese

and Wine party or for the big bucks, a sponsored run or

Fashion show?

What about finding a parent who could do odd jobs

for the day and raise funds for your school while also

helping the wider community.

Don’t forget that the parents of your pupils may have

specific skills that could be invaluable in progressing your

project—mention your project in the school newsletter

and call for their help!

- Skipathon

- Bike for miles

- Sponsored Sports day

- Pirate Day

- Sponsored Walk

- School Sleepover

- Bag packing

- School Dance

- Kickathon

- Toddler Triathlon

- Teacher Football Match

- Denim day

- School Play

- Footy Grand National

- Local Singalong

- Car Wash

- Cake sale

- Church Craft Fair

- Talent Show

- Local town clean-up

- Town flower planting

Christmas, Halloween and Easter are the best times of year to get your fundraising project up and going. Raise funds by holding:- Snowman building competitions- Christmas Card Sale- Easter Egg Sale- Valentine’s Day — Last Rolo present- Community Halloween Party- Christmas Wreaths Sale

It,s that time of Year!

What,s Next? Once you have sent your application it’s then time to be patient and

wait! Most charities and organisations take several weeks to come to a

decision.

When a funder decides to support your project it is important to keep

in touch with them. Encourage them to get involved and participate with

your on-going project as well as attending your opening ceremony or

any activities that relate to their funding. But most importantly, don’t

forget to thank them for all the help they have given you throughout the

project in any literature you produce to promote the project.

If they are not prepared to fund your project and are willing to provide

feedback, then take this opportunity to learn how you could improve

your submission. This information is invaluable and may increase your

chances for your next application.

Don’t be disheartened if you are unsuccessful. It is important to stay

positive and carry on the fundraising momentum! Keep your goal clear

and don’t give up.

The rest is up to you!

Jenny Templeman: jtempleman@jupiterplay.co.uk

Communications Manager

We hope this guide has been beneficial to your

school’s fundraising project and that it has given

you a good overview of the many funding options

available. We would like to hear from you about

your funding achievements so contact us with your

ideas or successes so other schools can benefit!

If you require any more information, just pick up

the phone or email

Keep your school informed and involved!

It is important to show your continuing progression towards achieving your funding goal.

A great idea is to dedicate a wall display in reception to your funding project. Get pupils to make a thermometer which indicates how close you are to your target and your project progression.

Jupiter Play & Leisure Ltd Unit 14 Swanston Steading, 109 Swanston Road, Edinburgh EH10 7DS Tel: 0131 445 7989, Fax: 0131 445 7980, info@jupiterplay.co.ukwww.jupiterplay.co.uk

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