Apply for funding

Applications are not currently open

Please note: we will not be taking any further enquries for school-based funding programmes this academic year (2023/24).

We will be in a position to consider grant applications later in 2024, after the summer holidays.

Have an idea for a project to help disadvantaged children succeed at school? SHINE offers support to projects that can make a real difference to the attainment of children from disadvantaged backgrounds in the North of England.

Before submitting an enquiry or making an application, please take a look at our Application Guidelines and FAQs.

Ready for School

Hand on heart, I believe that attending these sessions has made me the parent I am today.

Parent Ready for School project

We support projects that give disadvantaged children the best possible start to education in the Early Years.

We fund projects that:

Build best practice in developing communication and language skills in nurseries, schools, and other childcare settings.

Develop stronger, more open relationships between parents, teachers, nurseries, childminders, pre-schools and other support networks.

Build communication and language as well as other skills such as curiosity for new experiences and understanding numbers.

Give parents the support and resources they need to build communication and language skills at home.

Help Early Years teachers and practitioners develop their skills and expertise.

Our process:

We’re a ‘hands-on’ funder and we’re happy to advise and support you as you develop your proposal.

Our deadlines for applications are usually around the end of April each year.

Successful applicants have generally been in contact with SHINE for at least one to two months before these deadlines.

The next steps:

Before you submit an idea for funding, please read our Application Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions.

If you have an idea for a project, please submit an enquiry with an outline of your proposal providing, in no more than three to four paragraphs:

  • an overview of the project and its aims related to school achievement in maths, literacy or science
  • how it would meet SHINE’s core priorities
  • the number of children and schools it would benefit
  • the budget for the project.

Bridging the Gap

We support projects in the North of England that help children who need extra support at school to thrive when they move from primary to secondary school.

We fund projects that:

Build achievement in maths, English and/or science in the first few years of secondary school.

Establish better ongoing communication between primary and secondary school teachers to make sure there is a consistent approach to teaching as children move between schools.

Make sure that schools engage parents and carers as equal partners in their child’s learning during the move from primary to secondary school.

Improve how information and practice is shared between primary and secondary schools.

Help schools develop more supportive, holistic practices for children during the transition from primary to secondary school to reduce exclusions and boost learning.

Our process:

We’re a ‘hands-on’ funder and we’re happy to advise and support you as you develop your proposal.

Our deadlines for applications are usually around the end of April each year.

Successful applicants have generally been in contact with SHINE for at least one to two months before these deadlines.

The next steps:

Before you submit an idea for funding, please read our Application Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions.

If you have an idea for a project, please submit an enquiry with an outline of your proposal providing, in no more than three to four paragraphs:

  • an overview of the project and its aims related to school achievement in maths, literacy or science
  • how it meets SHINE’s core priorities
  • the number of children and schools it would benefit
  • the budget for the project.

Flying High

We support projects that help children who do well at primary school to stay on the path to success as they move to secondary.

We fund projects that:

Build achievement in maths, English and/or science in the first few years of secondary school.

Establish better ongoing communication between primary and secondary school teachers and making sure that primary teachers work with secondary teachers to help them identify the most able students.

Assign imaginative school and homework that challenges children and helps them to maintain pace in their learning.

Make sure that schools engage parents and carers as equal partners in their child’s learning during the move from primary to secondary school.

Improve information and practice sharing between primary and secondary schools.

Our process:

We’re a ‘hands-on’ funder and we’re happy to advise and support you as you develop your proposal.

Our deadlines for applications are usually around the end of April each year.

Successful applicants have generally been in contact with SHINE for at least one to two months before these deadlines.

The next steps:

Before you submit an idea for funding, please read our Application Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions.

If you have an idea for a project, please submit an enquiry with an outline of your proposal providing, in no more than three to four paragraphs:

  • an overview of the project and its aims related to school achievement in maths, literacy or science
  • how it meets SHINE’s core priorities
  • the number of children and schools it would benefit
  • the budget for the project.

Let Teachers SHINE

We support brilliant teachers across England who have early stage ideas for projects to help disadvantaged children succeed in English, maths and science.

We fund projects that are:

Innovative: we want to see ideas for projects that will inspire children in new and exciting ways.

Target disadvantaged children in the North: we describe ‘disadvantage’ as a child being eligible for Pupil Premium.

Scalable: we want to see ideas for projects that can be scaled up and replicated easily. This could be in other schools or regional areas or working with a higher number of children.

Our process:

Our assessment process is as follows:

Stage 1: Submit an online application that provides a description of your idea, how it would be delivered and how much it will cost.

Stage 2: All applications are assessed and we tell applicants if they have reached the next round.

Stage 3: Shortlisted applicants are invited to present their idea in person or via video conference.

The next steps:

Click here to find out more information and to apply.

Applications to Let Teachers SHINE are currently closed. They will reopen in the Autumn.