It funds collaborations of schools across all phases of education from early years to special schools, with the common factor being that projects must focus on improving the life chances of children and young people from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.
The theme of the next round of research funding is Effective Transitions: educational readiness for every child at every phase.
What is the funding for?
To test new ways of working that boost the educational outcomes and wellbeing of disadvantaged groups of children and young people and in particular support those with protected characteristics. Trustees say schools need more support in this area in light of the widening attainment gap following the pandemic.
Previous grant rounds have funded 47 place-based projects that have “taken account of local knowledge, context, and priorities, thereby showing an understanding of local and regional needs”. Several projects have formed partnerships with parents and the community, the NHS and other public agencies, while others have been entirely school/setting focused.
What are ‘effective transitions’?
The trust is looking for collaborations of schools that will:
Develop innovative approaches that foster collaboration and creativity at a stage of transition to promote continuity of learning, wellbeing and resilience
Build sustainable relationships with teachers, parents/carers and families to support children and young people’s educational and social readiness for the next phase of learning
Foster positive approaches to behaviour and attendance
Focus on creative ideas to improve how children thrive and achieve at points of transition.
How much is available?
There is no information on the size of the grants in this round of funding. More details will be available at four national briefings for interested applicants held in January.
What will and won’t be funded?
There is a lengthy list of activities the trust will fund through the grants, including:
Costs related to planning, monitoring and evaluation meetings
Supply cover/backfill for the release of project staff from classroom teaching
Additional hours by administrative staff
Staff training and development related to the research and its sustainability
Travel between partner schools
Monitoring and evaluation costs including external evaluation and reporting to a maximum of £2,500
Dissemination activities and events, including website development.
It does not cover staff salaries, including for head teachers, capital expenditure or payments to local authority officers or staff.
Other useful information
The trust recommends that one of the schools in the partnership takes the role of the lead school and is able to take responsibility for the leadership and management of the project including signing The Laurel Trust School Agreement. The lead school should be judged to be “good” or “outstanding” by Ofsted.
The research/innovation should make a difference to children living, learning and growing up in communities of multiple disadvantage and research partners will need to make a contribution to the overall cost of the research, in terms of people, time, expertise and resources.
How will impact be measured?
The project should have a clear outcome and show how it will make a sustainable longer-term impact.
On completion an external evaluation will be needed from an independent evaluator with no prior links to your project.
What are the timescales?
The application window opened in November 2024, with briefings for interested schools set for 14, 15, 16 and 21 January 2025. Applications close on 28 February.
Research projects will need to begin in September 2025 and be completed in January 2027 including the external evaluation report.
More from: https://laureltrust.org.uk/applying-for-a-research-grant/
Funding roundup
UK Youth has been awarded a £1mn “prize” by the Reed Foundationto celebrate Sir Alec Reed’s 90th birthday and Reed’s 65th year in business. The prize is intended to support young people aged between 16 and 24, who are experiencing poor mental health to secure or keep employment. UK Youth was selected from more than 20 charities that were invited to apply for the prize.
Local community network Know Your Place has secured just under £1mn funding to empower young people aged 13 to 19 to undertake evidence-based community research. The money has been awarded through the Community Research Networks programme, which has been funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and will be delivered by The Young Foundation, a non-profit organisation that specialises in community research and social innovation.
A national scheme that gives schoolchildren the chance to enjoy a residential in the countryside, has been extended to Cumbria. The OWL Collaboration – Outdoor Week of Learning – has been created by educational charity The Ernest Cook Trust. It will fund 130 primary school children from four schools to take part in an immersive residential week in nature.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has received a donation of £100,000 from Bestway Group. The donation was raised through Bestway’s annual Ascot Charity Race Day held in June 2024, which was attended by over 750 of Bestway’s key business contacts, supplier partners, colleagues, press and the charity.
