The Portal Trust

Objectives of Fund

The aim of the Trust is to enable young people, particularly those from disadvantaged or low income backgrounds, to experience life-enhancing educational opportunities.

Value Notes

There is no minimum or maximum grant amount that can be applied for. Sometimes projects are funded in their entirety while others require match funding.

Match Funding Restrictions

The requirement for match funding is determined on a project-by-project basis.

Who Can Apply

The Trust will only consider applications from educational establishments and charitable organisations that benefit children or young people (under the age of 25) who are:

• Permanent residents in one of the inner London boroughs (Camden, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, Westminster and the City of London).
• From a low income or disadvantaged background.

Location

Inner London boroughs of Camden, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, Westminster and the City of London.

Restrictions

The following are not eligible for funding:

• Projects that do not meet funding priorities.
• General fundraising campaigns or appeals.
• Supplementary schools.
• Youth and community groups.
• Costs for equipment or salaries that are the statutory responsibility of education authorities.
• Costs to substitute for the withdrawal or reduction of statutory funding.
• Costs for work or activities that have already taken place prior to the grant application.
• Costs already covered by core funding or other grants.
• Capital costs, that are exclusively for the purchase, repair or furnishing of buildings, purchase of vehicles, computers, sports equipment or improvements to school grounds.

Eligible Expenditure

Projects should meet with one or more of the Trust's priorities, which are:

• Portal Trust Schools: to enhance the learning experience of every child at Aldgate School and Stepney All Saints CofE secondary school.
• Widening access and participation in further and higher education: to promote access to further and higher education for disadvantaged young people in inner London.
• Truancy, exclusion and behaviour management: to encourage and support children and young people's attainment through initiatives that help them engage with, and stay in, education.
• Prisoner education: to reduce re-offending through education and initiatives that promote employability.
• New initiatives: to influence and improve education policy and practice with direct impact on inner London students from disadvantaged backgrounds and with potential for influence at scale.
• Scholarships, bursaries and individual grants: to remove financial barriers and empower young Londoners to achieve their potential in further or higher education.

How To Apply

Applications can be made at any time and will be considered three times a year (usually in March, June and October).

The Trust operates a two-stage application process - an initial enquiry and a full application stage. Applicants should first complete the eligibility quiz application on the website. Eligible organisations will then be taken to the online application portal.

Contact The Portal Trust for further information.