Deadline for applications: Applications can be made at any time. The time needed for a decision will depend on the amount applied for.
Requests for grants of less than £2,500 will be dealt with by the Chairman and Deputy Chair of the Grants Commission and applicants will usually hear from them within one month.
Applications for between £2,500 and £25,000 will be considered by the full grants committee that meets every two months.
Applications for more than £25,000 will need to be endorsed by the full Trustee Body that meets three times a year in March, July and December

Objective of the funding opportunity: To develop and enhance educational opportunities in the Borough. Grants are made to support:
- collaborative projects, enabling significant numbers of young people in the Borough to have access to new and valuable learning opportunities
- projects that focus on: enriching the educational experiences of younger people; enabling older people to remain active learners; provision for those with additional support needs to be able to access educational and training opportunities
- innovative and potentially replicable projects initiated by schools in the maintained sector, and other educational establishments, where there is no statutory obligation for funding
- educational projects where an award may help leverage in significant additional funding from other sources

There is also a small grants programme that makes awards to individuals who are undertaking postgraduate or continuing education studies. The chosen course must generally have a strong vocational element.

Funding available:
Across all its programmes, the charity usually gives out over £500,000 in grants each year.
There are no 'limits' on the amount of funding that can be applied for.
Details of the numbers of grants of different sizes awarded in 2002/2003 are provided on the Bedford Charity website as a guide

How to apply for this funding :
Fill out an application form.
The Bedford Charity is happy to provide early guidance on project proposals before a formal application is submitted.

You will need the following documents to apply :
Application form and guidance notes

For further information contact: