This page features external grants which schools in Suffolk can apply for (subject to eligibility).
An overview of each grant is provided with a link to a website, where schools will be able to view the full details, including the eligibility criteria and how to apply.
If your school has any questions about a specific grant, please use the contact details featured on the website linked to that grant.
Grants with application deadlines – In date order
Henry Smith Foundation Holiday Grants
Type of school: Primary and secondary schools (the grant is for children aged 13 and under)
Deadline to apply: Applications for trips between 1 May and 30 September 2026 will be open from 20 March – 19 August 2026.
Grant value: Up to £3000
Type of grant: To fund a day trip or residential trips of up to 7 days (trip must be recreational). The foundation prioritise groups supporting disabled children and those with limited access to funds to go on holiday.
Charity status required: No
Universal Music UK Sound Foundation (UMUKSF) School Funding
Type of school: All schools (who teach the national curriculum)
Deadlines to apply: 17 June 2026
Grant value: Up to £800
Type of grant: To help schools improve their music departments by purchasing or upgrading musical instruments and equipment.
Charity status required: No
Royal Institution Science in Schools funded visits
Type of school: State-funded primary or secondary schools
Deadline to apply: 18 June 2026
Grant value: Free fully funded Science in School day worth £800
Type of grant: The Royal Institution Science in Schools days are designed to support children’s science education, meet CPD requirements for teachers, engage families, and raise funds for schools.
The Science in Schools Day includes: Two performances of a science show for students – designed to support the curriculum at KS1, KS2 or KS3; a CPD session for teachers; and an after school community show for a family audience to generate support for science in the home (this can be a ticketed event to help raise funds for future activities at your school).
Type of school: All schools
Deadline to apply: 30 June 2026
Grant value: Discretionary
Type of grant: To help with the cost of holidays or respite breaks for disabled children aged between 3-17 with physical, mental or emotional impairments.
Schools can apply on behalf of an individual child or group of children.
Charity status required: No
Type of school: Primary and secondary schools/sixth form colleges (students involved must be between 5-18 years old)
Deadline to apply: 10 July and 30 November 2026
Grant value: Up to £3000
Type of grant: To support investigative research projects that are specifically tailored for students with SEND. The grant enables schools to purchase equipment to carry out investigative Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) research projects in science, mathematics, engineering or computing. By taking part in these projects, students will have the opportunity to develop essential skills, such as problem solving and data handling skills, readying them for the future world of work.
Sheila Coates Foundation – Rapid Impact Fund
Type of school: Mainstream secondary schools and colleges
Deadline to apply: 14 July 2026 – Rapid impact Fund 12 (Autumn 2026)
Grant value: £5000
Type of grant: To support creative, targeted projects to improve attendance and engagement of autistic students. The foundation are particularly interested in approaches that strengthen collaboration between schools/colleges, autistic students, and parents or carers, ensuring that their knowledge, ideas and aspirations shape decisions about how attendance is supported.
The Tree Council – Branching Out Fund
Type of school: All schools
Deadline to apply: 19 July 2026
Grant value: For the 2026/2027 planting season grants between £250 – £2500 are available
Type of grant: Grants are available to schools proposing to undertake well-planned tree, orchard and hedge planting projects.
Armourers & Brasiers Company – Grants for School Science
Type of school: Primary and secondary schools
Deadlines to apply: 31 July 2026
Grant value: Primary schools: £600
Secondary schools: £1000
Type of grant: To help purchase equipment, deliver science enrichment projects, and support participation in science events and competitions.
Charity status required: No
Hugo Burge Foundation – The Creative Education Fund
Type of school: All schools
Deadlines to apply: 31 July 2026
Grant value: Up to £15,000
Type of grant: To fund programmes and classes aimed at participants between the ages of 0 and 29. The fund can be used for the teaching of visual arts, expressive arts, crafts and making.
Charity status required: No
Type of school: All schools
Deadlines to apply: 3 August 2026 and 26 October 2026
Grant value: Up to £1600
Type of grant: To help disabled people in the UK play tennis through the purchase of wheelchairs, tennis equipment and grants for coaching.
Charity status required: No
The Bailey Thomas Charitable Fund
Type of school: All schools
Deadlines to apply: 31 August 2026
Grant value: General Grant programme – over £5000 (Small grants are also available which are for £5000 and less)
Type of grant: To provide funding to voluntary organisations working in the field of learning disability. The funding is available for projects that aid the care and relief of those affected by a learning disability.
Charity status required: No
The Classical Association – School Grants and Major Projects
Type of school: All schools
Deadlines to apply:
School Grants – 1 September and 1 December 2026
Major Projects – 1 September 2026
Grant value: Schools Grants – Up to £500
Major Projects – £5000 and over
Type of grant: A school grant (of up to £500) is available to fund activities in the UK which promote engagement with the ancient world such as school talks, events, workshops, theatrical performances, and Greek and Roman study days.
Funding of £5000 and over is available for a for a small number of major projects which are of fundamental benefit to the discipline, such as projects which support and encourage the study of classical subjects in schools and sixth form colleges.
Charity status required: No
Michael Tippett Musical Foundation
Type of school: Secondary schools and colleges
Deadline to apply: 30 September 2026
Grant value: Up to £3000
Type of grant: To support the development of group music-making especially involving young people, with composing central to the project.
For 2026, the Trustees welcome applications for grants towards projects that support group music-making, especially those that involve young people in the process of composing and the development of creative ideas. Successful projects should commence from January 2027.
Charity status required: No
Ministry of Defence – Service Pupil Support programme
Type of school: All schools
Deadlines to apply: 30 September 2026
Grant value: £5000 to £150,000
Type of grant: To fund projects which address the needs of children aged 4-18 in full-time statutory education who are from currently serving armed forces families. This includes pupils whose parents are on full commitment as part of the full-time reserve service.
Charity status required: No
Eastern Counties Educational Trust Limited
Type of school: State funded schools
Deadline to apply: 31 October 2026
Grant value: Up to £10,000
Type of grant: To provide funding to charities and organisations located in Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Hertfordshire, and Cambridge for projects which support those with special educational needs, particularly those under 25 who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Charity status required: No
Frederick Soddy Schools Award – Grants for School Expeditions and Fieldwork
Type of school: All schools
Deadlines to apply: 30 November 2026
Grant value: £200 to £600
Type of grant: To fund school expeditions and fieldwork, with a preference given to projects that involve a strong element of human geography.
Charity status required: No
Application deadlines which have been extended:
Department for Education – Workplace Charging Scheme for state-funded education institutions
Type of school: State funded schools and educational institutions
Deadline to apply: 31 March 2027
Grant value: You can get 75% off the cost to buy and install chargepoints up to a maximum of:
- £2000 per socket
- 40 sockets across all sites (this includes any applications made previously through the Workplace Charging Scheme)
Type of grant: To support schools in installing chargepoints for electric vehicles.
Charity status required: No
Grants without specific application deadlines – A-Z
Alpkit Foundation – Grants for Outdoor Activity Projects
Type of school: All schools
Deadline to apply: Applications are reviewed every two months
Grant value: Up to £500
Type of grant: To support individuals, community groups, schools and organisations to encourage people to get outdoors and have great experiences that otherwise couldn’t happen.
Charity status required: No
Type of school: All schools
Deadline to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Discretionary
Type of grant: The Trust offers funding to support disadvantaged young people to further develop an existing interest in adventurous outdoor activities such as climbing, cycling, kayaking, sailing and horse-riding in the UK. (The trust usually supports individuals or small groups).
Applications can be made by schools (on behalf of an individual) or individuals themselves (but they will need to provide a reference from a teacher.)
Charity status required: No
Type of school: All schools
Deadline to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Discretionary
Type of grant: The funding for education supports learning experiences and life skills for children and young people, particularly for the disadvantaged, those with disabilities or special needs. There is particular interest in projects that encourage young people to experience the outdoors and to try new pursuits.
Charity status required: No
Birkdale Trust for Hearing Impaired Ltd
Type of school: All schools
Deadline to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Discretionary
Type of grant: To support children and young people who have a hearing impairment. For example, schools could use the grant towards the purchase of specialist hearing equipment or other aids that will aid learning.
Charity status required: No
Type of school: All schools
Deadline to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Up to £5000
Type of grant: To improve the education and development of children and young people through educational, cultural, sporting and other activities.
Charity status required: No
Cash For Kids – Children’s Mental Health Grants
Type of school: All schools
Deadlines to apply: No deadline provided
Grant value: Discretionary (Usually up to £3000)
Type of grant: To help fund organisations supporting the mental health of children and young people (up to 18 years old).
Charity status required: No
Type of school: All schools (must be a registered charity)
Deadline to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Up to £2500
Type of grant: To fund setting up a forest school, horticulture, or outdoor play space, where children who would not normally be able to access the outdoors or children with additional needs, would benefit.
Charity status required: Yes
Type of school: All schools (must be a registered charity)
Deadline to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Discretionary
Type of grant: To fund a specific project that will advance education, for example breakfast/after school clubs that will specifically help pupils who access free school meals beyond normal school provision.
Charity status required: Yes
Type of school: All schools (must be a registered charity)
Deadline to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Discretionary
Type of grant: To support a wide range of charities that make a positive difference, working in different sectors in the UK. These include welfare, youth, community, environment, education, health, arts, heritage and faith. The grants can be used for your organisation’s running costs, for a specific activity or for capital projects.
Charity status required: Yes
Happy Days Children’s Charity – Group Day Trips and Visiting Theatre and Group Activity Holidays
Type of school: SEND schools
Deadlines to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Discretionary
Type of grant: To help fund a day trip to a variety of destinations (the seaside or theme park for example) or a theatre performance for young people aged 3-17 with additional needs. The charity also helps fund group activity holidays to a variety of destinations (such as outdoor activity centres or holiday camps for example).
Charity status required: No
LoveReading4Kids Funding for Schools Scheme
Type of school: All state funded schools
Deadlines to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Up to £5000
Type of grant: To help fund the purchase of books for school libraries to encourage and support children reading for pleasure.
The LoveReading4Kids Funding for Schools Scheme will help schools to provide children with a range of non-curriculum books to improve their reading standards, particularly amongst children experiencing disadvantage or underrepresentation.
Charity status required: No
Persimmon Homes Community Champions Grant
Type of school: All schools
Deadline to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Up to £6000
Type of grant: The Community Champion scheme supports local charities, sports clubs and good causes across the country. The grant could be used to improve a schools outdoor space or other school projects.
Charity status required: No
Suffolk Community Foundation – Stimulus Fund
Type of school: All schools (must be a registered charity)
Deadline to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Up to £1000
Type of grant: To support local grassroots projects that are looking to promote tennis in areas of deprivation (including rural) and help those who are disadvantaged or vulnerable.
Charity status required: Yes
Type of school: All schools
Deadline to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Up to £1500
Type of grant: To help fund good causes/projects/initiatives for children and young people, with a particular focus on projects that incorporate provision of healthy food including fruit and veg, such a breakfast clubs, providing holiday club lunches or healthy snacks.
Charity status required: No
The Allan & Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust
Type of school: All schools (must be a registered charity)
Deadline to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Up to £50,000
Type of grant: The Trust aims to promote education, international friendship and understanding, plus world peace and development. Grants are awarded on a matched funding basis.
Charity status required: Yes
This grant is location specific:
Type of school: All schools based in the Waveney district of Suffolk (must be a registered charity)
Deadline to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Discretionary
Type of grant: To support charitable organisations operating within Norfolk or the Waveney District of Suffolk. Schools can apply for grants to enhance education such as purchasing new equipment or improving their outdoor spaces.
Charity status required: Yes
The Hargreaves Foundation Grant
Type of school: All schools
Deadline to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Discretionary
Type of grant: To cover the cost of residential trips for children and young people accessing Free School Meals, or sports projects/equipment directly benefiting those that are disabled.
Charity status required: No
The Stobart Sustainability Fund
Type of school: All schools
Deadline to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Discretionary
Type of grant: To support community-led sustainability projects and initiatives lead by non-profit organisations, community groups and educational facilities, such as schools and colleges, to help them transform their local community through projects that tackle climate change, reduce carbon emissions or that protect and enhance the environment.
Charity status required: No
Variety the children’s charity – Special equipment for children
Type of school: All schools
Deadlines to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Up to £5000
Type of grant: To help fund the purchase of specialist equipment (such as sports/outdoor play equipment, sensory equipment, communication aids/software, and through-floor lifts) that will support a pupil (aged 18 or under) who has a disability or a long-term health condition.
Charity status required: No
Variety, the children’s charity – Wheelchairs for children
Type of school: Any teachers of a child or young person under the age of 19 living with a disability or long-term health condition can apply. (The charity will accept applications from young people themselves who are over the age of 13.)
Deadline to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Discretionary
Type of grant: To part of full fund a manual, powered or sports wheelchair where appropriate, according to the age and medical condition of that child. All wheelchairs Variety provides are bespoke to meet the needs of the user.
Charity status required: No
Wooden Spoon The children’s charity of rugby
Type of school: All schools
Deadline to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Discretionary
Type of grant: To help fund a project which enhances and supports the lives of children and young people with a cognitive age under 25 that are disadvantaged physically, mentally, or socially. The project must work directly with children and young people and have a positive influence on their lives from the activities or service provided.
Charity status required: No
Youth Hostel Assosiation (YHA) – Support for schools
Type of school: All schools
Deadline to apply: No deadline specified
Grant value: Discretionary
Type of grant: To help fund a school residential (the school must be based in an area of high social deprivation or which has a high number of children receiving Pupil Premium or Free School Meals) with an overnight stay at any YHA-owned hostel (subject to availability). Only one bursary can be accessed per residential stay.
Charity status required: No
The grants featured on this page has been sourced from Grants Online, Funding 4 Suffolk and GrantFinder.