Main Grants Scheme - Learning

The Foundation will support projects which facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and learning and which have a long-term strategic impact.  Key areas for support are:

• libraries, museums and archives; 
• special educational needs;
• projects that encourage sustainability by reducing overheads or which help generate additional revenue;
• projects and activities which increase access and widen the diversity of attenders/visitors.  

For state funded schools our main initiative will be The Foyle School Libraries Scheme (see special guidance notes on website).

Dedicated schools and educational charities catering for those with Special Educational Needs (SEN) will also be considered.   We are interested in projects that develop the abilities of children/young people to access learning and educational opportunities.  We are unlikely to consider funding specifically towards the development of independent living skills or vocational training.

Independent schools will not generally be supported.

For Universities we will consider supporting arts, museum, archive or special collection projects, usually for capital funding, which meet a clear public benefit.  All University projects should enable general and not just specialist use, the majority of time, and not be limited to out of term use, or be relatively inaccessible by being sited in remote parts of University buildings or campuses where public access will be restricted. In all cases we will expect Universities to be contributing to the project in financial and not just in-kind terms. Some grants may be offered on a matched funding basis.

Citizenship, esteem-building, training, skills acquisition to aid employment, independent living, early learning projects or playgroups will not generally be considered under the Main Grants Scheme.