International Criteria and Eligibility
International Criteria and Eligibility
BFSS supports work that aims to improves the quality, sustainability, and access to education for young people up to the age of 25 within marginalized and deprived communities worldwide.
Funding is available for one to three years, for new or pilot projects. We will fund between £10,000 to £60,000 per project (maximum £30,000 per year). Annual grant payments cannot exceed 50% of an organisation’s 3-year average income. BFSS will fund between 25% to 100% of the total project costs, but will give preference to projects with some degree of matched funding.
We will fund projects which
Improve access to education
Including increasing the number of educational opportunities, especially for girls, (including construction of classrooms or latrines), increasing the number of qualified teachers trained in inclusive, non-discriminatory practices and improving community attitudes to educating children who are often excluded or overlooked.
Improve the quality of education
Including enhancing the quality of teaching and learning, improving access to extra-curricular support, increasing child friendly resources, and increasing access to aspirational vocational training opportunities including STEM and IT.
Improve the sustainability of education projects
Including encouraging educational projects with integrated community management or ownership, self-generating income and minimising their environmental impact.
Priorities
BFSS currently has two priority areas, and particularly welcomes applications which focus on:
- Addressing the specific challenges that children and young people who have been displaced by conflict face in accessing quality education.
- Enhancing the opportunities and reducing barriers for girls to access education
BFSS does not usually fund:
Long term projects, services which are available through the state education system; existing projects, summer camps; bursaries, school fees or scholarships; expeditions, volunteering trips and conferences; international travel; feeding programmes; and projects where uniforms, transport, ongoing salaries or running costs are the main expense.
Who can apply
UK registered charities with an annual income normally between £25,000 and £2.5 million.
Charities must be financially sound and registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. We do not fund non-UK based organisations, Community Interest Companies (CICs) or individuals.
Charities must have at least three years of continuous accounts submitted to the relevant UK Charity Commission or Regulator.
Organisations must be directly involved in the provision of the project activities. We do not fund organisations whose primary purpose is fundraising.
Ready to apply?
From 2024, BFSS will be moving to a rolling application process with applications being assessed at regular intervals throughout the year.
Find all the key documents you need to begin your application on the link below: