Grant-Giving Trusts

Educational trusts help with school fees in some cases of genuine need and with some specific categories, such as orphans, children of the clergy, missionaries and teachers. Genuine needs recognised by grant-making trusts include:

  • boarding need, where the home environment is unsuitable because of the disability or illness of the parents or of siblings
  • unforeseen family disaster, such as the sudden death of a parent when a child is already at school
  • need for continuity when a pupil is in the middle of an examination course and a change in parental circumstances threatens withdrawal from school
  • need for special education where there is a genuine recognised learning handicap which cannot be catered for within the state sector and which causes the child severe distress coupled with social problems. Grant-making trusts maintain that special educational needs are the responsibility of local education authorities and are able to help only in the most severe cases

The desire for an independent education which you cannot afford to buy for your child on your own is no reason to apply to a grant-giving trust. Such applications will be rejected.

Parents should also ask their local library for information on local charities, whose funds tend to cover uniform, equipment and essential school expenses rather than fees. They should also ask employers, their unions and other organisations to which they belong whether there are any relevant benevolent funds.

Details of regional and national trusts may be found in the following publications which are available in most public libraries:

  • The Directory of Grant-Making Trusts
    Published by the Charities Aid Foundation, 48 Pembury Road, Tonbridge TN9 2JD (Only apply to those trusts which help individuals)
  • The Educational Grants Directory
    Published by The Directory of Social Change, 24 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2DP

The ISC Educational Grants Advice Service (telephone 01932 865619) between 9-11.30am weekdays) which refers genuinely deserving cases to charitable trusts, is operated by the Royal National Children’s Foundation RNCF (formerly JET and Royal Wanstead Children’s Foundation) www.rncf.org.uk RNCF helps children who have suffered tragedy or trauma at home or are at risk in some way. RNCF enables these children to attend caring independent schools where they have a real chance of making a new start. RNCF helps by working towards providing a free or reduced-fees place, may also provide grants if there is a shortfall in funding, and often works in conjunction with other charities.

The Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust are able to offer financial support to children whose parents have previously worked / currently working in the fashion, textile, retail and manufacturing  industries. This includes funding towards boarding school fees. They warmly welcome applications from parents who may need financial support for a range of different educational or welfare needs for their son or daughter.

The criteria is as follows:

  • The child must be 0 – 18 years of age
  • The parent or carer for the child must have worked in UK fashion, textile, retail or manufacturing for at least five years. This can be past or current employment. For example, this could be a parent who works in a department store, owns their own business or works for a UK manufacturer.
  • There must be a ‘case of need’; for example where the child is ‘at risk’. This could be for a child who has been bereaved, is suffering from emotional distress, where there is financial breakdown / divorce in the family. They also support children with ADHD, dyslexia and dyscalculia or those with a special needs or disability. And they are also able to support a child who is particularly gifted and talented.

Further details can be found on: www.ftct.org.uk