Funding overview

Paying for a range of activities like OwnZone may seem a daunting prospect. But it needn't be.

Because OwnZone is a blank canvas, with no prescribed set of activities, when times are tough you can tailor what happens there to match the funds you can access.

The key to developing a sustainable programme of extended study support is about being creative with funding and making sure that your activities are not reliant on a single funding stream.

OwnZone funding can come via two main routes:

1. Charging

You could consider charging for the ‘care’ aspect of OwnZone. It is quite normal to charge for childcare and families can receive help with paying for this through the Working Tax Credits (Childcare element).

For more information on charging read chapter 10 of the OwnZone resource. (Page 42).

2. Charitable grants and statutory funding

There are several national grant schemes or funding streams that you can access to help fund study support activities. Here’s just a handful:

• Extended Schools: (England) Find out from your local authority how funding is being allocated in your area.
• Secondary Strategy: Funding can be used to develop activities that support or complement the strategy objectives.
• Gifted and Talented Strategy: Funding for gifted and talented pupils can be used to develop extension activities which target gifted and talented pupils but are also open to others.
• Big Lottery Fund: The Young People’s Fund offers grants for projects involving young people that link to at least one of the 5 outcomes of Every Child Matters. 
• Awards for All: Funds projects that enable people to take part in art, sport, heritage and community activities, as well as projects that promote education, the environment and health in the local community.

Details of other funding streams and guidance on how to a make a successful funding application or download our free guide to funding study support activities.