BlueSpark Foundation

Background

BlueSpark Foundation is a registered charity which supports the education and development of children and young people by providing grants for educational, cultural, sporting and other projects.

Objectives of Fund

The funding is for relatively small-scale projects, which might not happen at all or would only happen on a lesser scale without the support of BlueSpark.

The Foundation aims to help children and young people reach their full potential by supporting projects that have the following objectives:

• Encouraging independence.
• Developing team working skills.
• Developing self-confidence.
• Promoting creativity and individuality.
• Encouraging aspiration.
• Enhancing educational achievement.
• Widening educational horizons.

Value Notes

Grants of up to £5,000 are available.

Awarded grants must constitute a significant proportion of the costs of the project rather than being marginally incremental to its funding.

Grants will only be awarded for the amount requested in the application and will not be scaled back to a lesser amount.

Match Funding Restrictions

Match funding is not a prerequisite. However, organisations that can raise part of the cost of a project themselves will be looked upon favourably during the application assessment, particularly where the application is for more than £2,000.

Who Can Apply

Schools, community groups, clubs, societies and other not-for-profit organisations based and working in England can apply, as can individuals.

Location

England

Restrictions

The following are not eligible for funding:

• Projects for children or young people under the age of 5 or over the age of 22.
• Life-skill mentoring services.
• Counselling services.
• Holiday clubs or playgroups.
• Construction, maintenance or repair of buildings or facilities.
• Training adults who work with children or young people.
• Student fees or maintenance.
• Running costs or general activities of an organisation.

The Foundation do not normally make grants to organisations or individuals in order to enable them to provide their own services (for which they would usually charge) on a free or subsidised basis to a third party.

Grants will not be made to a single organisation on such a regular basis that they are effectively an income stream for that organisation.

Eligible Expenditure

The funding is for the costs of specific, relatively small-scale projects that might not happen at all or would only happen on a lesser scale without the support of BlueSpark.

Projects can be educational, cultural, sporting or other activities but particular consideration will be given to those that help the self-confidence, team working skills and future employability of children and young people.

Projects that the Foundation support include, but are not limited to the following:

• Academic education.
• Art and design.
• Community projects.
• Debating.
• Drama.
• Educational excursions.
• Enterprise projects.
• Music.
• Public speaking.
• Sport.
• Vocational training.

Eligible costs could include:

• Educational materials.
• Sports equipment.
• Musical instruments.
• IT equipment.
• Drama tuition.
• Music tuition.
• Art and design equipment.
• Educational training courses.
• Vocational training courses.
• Educational excursions.
• Competitions.
• Educational events.
• Seed funding for enterprise projects.
• Drama production costs.

Grant applications must state exactly what the grant will be used for, for example:

• Physical assets (such as tablets, sports equipment, or lighting for stage productions).
• Services or facilities (such as sports coaching, music or drama tuition).
• Provision of experiences (such as theatre visits).

How To Apply

Applications can be submitted at any time and are reviewed on a rolling basis at approximately eight week intervals.

Applications should be submitted using the online application form, which is available on the BlueSpark Foundation website.