Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for FEES Fund?

I am under 18 can I apply for funding to take place in a weekly sports club?

Yes, if you are aged between 7 and 25, you can apply for money to support your chosen enrichment activity as long as you meet the FEES Fund eligibility criteria.

You will need to discuss your application with your parents / carers and seek their support

You will need to identify a non-family member who can sponsor and submit the online application. This could be an adult within the sports club if they already know you, or an adult who knows you in a professional capacity e.g. a teacher or a youth worker.

I’m a parent who can’t afford a school residential trip that my child wants to go on. Can FEES Fund help?

FEES Fund is a small education charity with a charitable purpose aimed at removing the financial barriers that exist for children and young people who live in families where ‘money is tight’ so they can take part in extra curriculum enrichment activities.

We would encourage you to speak to the trip organiser and see if there is any existing financial support the school can provide related to your family circumstances. If funding for the trip is still needed ask the school / your child’s teacher if they would sponsor a fees fund application. Provide the sponsor with a link to the fees fund website, information about sponsoring an fees fund application and a link to the under 18’s online application form. Arrange a time when you can complete the application together and include details of the benefits of taking part in this trip and the impact you hope it will have. If the grant funding needs to be paid to a third party rather than the school directly make sure you include details of this organisation and a named contact point as part of the application process.

I have been asked by a parent or young person to sponsor a fees fund grant what does this involve?

The sponsor has an important role in helping to identify young people who are currently at risk of missing out in taking part in extracurricular enrichment activities due to financial barriers. By sponsoring a fees fund application, we ask you to complete and submitting the fees fund online application on behalf of young people and /or their parent or carer. We recommend this is completed collaboratively (see the application process).

As a sponsor you are asked to:-

Verify that the young person meets the fees fund eligibility criteria

Provide supportive statements to all the responses provided by the young person, and or their parents and confirming the 'hoped for impact' of the grant funding.

To identify the organisation and contact point where the enrichment activity will take place

Include a breakdown of the full costs – including any other sources of funding applied for, or already in place.

After the activity has been completed, we ask all sponsors to provide a brief impact report. This forms part of our quality monitoring and end of year reporting as we are a small, registered charity.

Why do you suggest sponsors complete the FEES Fund application form as part of a collaborative process with young person, their parents and the activity provider?

In Trustees experience the strongest applications for fees fund grant funding include the voice of the young person detailing their dreams and aspirations; provide details of family circumstances and confirm parental support for the application and have also identified an organisation where the enrichment activity will take place with a clear breakdown of the costs of the activity.

Trustees also want to understand the benefits of the grant funding and why the application has been made at this point. Sponsors might not hold all this information so do need to gather all the relevant information from the the young person, their parents/ carers and the activity provider to gain the information needed and submit a strong application to fees fund.

Why am I asked ‘what inspired you to apply to fees fund’ and what are your expectations for this response?

We are a small, registered charity set up in memory of Fiona (Fi) Braidwood. In your application we hope you can tell us about if you have been inspired by Fi and her incredible legacy. We hope that you will have explored our website, looked at the photos and information about Fi, past fund raising challenges and generous supporters who have supported FEES Fund fundraising initiatives as we are looking for engagement with our small charity and community. In your response consider our charity values - Opportunity, Aspiration, Kindness, Community and what they mean for your application and the young person at the heart of the application you are making.

Can I apply for a fees fund grant for a young person who lives in Scotland?

Fi had family in Scotland and was very proud to be half Scottish. It has been important to Trustees that FEES Fund has a strong presence in Scotland. As a small charity our aim has been to grow organically out of the communities that knew Fi. We have a Scottish based Trustee and supporters who undertake regular promotional and fund-raising activities in Scotland. We expect those applying for grant funding to engage with the values of the charity and the way funds have been raised in Fi’s memory, and demonstrate how the funding will help inspire a love of learning.

FEES Fund is a registered charity in England and Wales with charitable reach covering all part of the UK. Please do apply if the young person lives in the UK and meets our eligibility criteria. Use the guidance in the ‘how to apply section and refer to the FAQs in helping support a strong application.

I work for a charity who provides after school activities. Can I apply for grant funding towards the existing programme we run?

FEES Fund grants are not usually paid to organisations towards the general running costs of providing enrichment activities. Our focus is on providing grants to individual children and young people who are at risk of missing out in taking part in enrichment activities due to financial barriers.

We encourage partner organisations who provide enrichment activities for young people, to help us to identify young people who meet fees fund eligibility criteria and are at risk of missing out. By liaising with the young person and or their parent/carer and sponsoring a fees fund grant you will be helping to promote awareness of fees fund grants and with helping fees fund grants to reach the young people who would most benefit from this grant funding. You can read more here about the FEES Fund application process and who can apply.

Why does your charity focus on grant funding for extracurricular activities?

Research by the social mobility commission shows there are many benefits for children and young people who take part in extracurricular activities.

Such activities can result in improved education outcomes, the building of social and emotional skills and improved social inclusion particularly when children from disadvantaged backgrounds take part. 

FEES Fund pays the fees/costs helping to remove financial barriers. The grant funding aims to inspire a love of learning, help to build new skills, nurture children and young people’s talents and create opportunity that wouldn’t have been possible without this funding. We particularly welcome applications that aim for the grant to fund one off life changing and life enhancing opportunities for young people

What sort of activities has fees fund grants previously funded?

Our aim is to ensure all children have an opportunity to take part in enrichment activities of their choosing and are not disadvantaged when family income is tight. 

FEES Fund has provided grants for children and young to take part in a range of different extracurricular activities. FEES Fund grants (usually around £200- £400 each) have funded music lessons, horse riding, ice-skating, golf lessons, football coaching, swim camps, musical theatre, dance lessons, drama school, art clubs, funding for outdoor adventure, scout-based activities, mountain biking, forest school activities, community-based gardening projects, maths clubs, foreign travel and international trips and competitions.

The money can also be used to fund school activities that have a cost for example, residential trips or Duke of Edinburgh challenges.

FEES Fund grants are paid directly to the enrichment activities provider. Sponsors applying for funding are asked to confirm where the activity will take place, the cost of the activity and a contact person in the organisation for FEES Fund trustees to liaise with around the payment of the grant.

Why do I need to include a contact person and website address for the organisation providing the enrichment activity?

FEES Fund Trustees complete due diligence checks as part of the panel decision making process which involves verifying the activity and the costs detailed in the application. FEES Fund grants, if approved, are paid directly to the enrichment activity provider so we also liaise directly with the contact person identified in the activity provider organisation, regarding the payment of the grant funding.

Are there activities that FEES Fund won't cover?

Grants cannot be awarded to pay for school or university fees or to cover long term or ongoing activity costs. We do not fund school uniform or transport costs.

I am aged between 7-25 how do I apply?

You will need an adult (a non family member) to support your application and to act as a sponsor see FAQ glossary of terms and for us to liaise with on your behalf. Please ask your sponsor to complete the application form on your behalf and share information with them. The sponsors name , professional role and organisation needs to be clearly detailed on the application form .

I am part of an organisation providing enrichment activities, how do I apply?

If you are part of an organisation that supports young people to engage in enrichment or education support activities, you can apply for funds to make it accessible for individual young people from low-income families who are at risk of missing out in the activity by agreeing to sponsor an application on their behalf. Speak to the young person and their parent / carer and gain their agreement for a FEES Fund application to be submitted

Can I apply on behalf of a young person as a surprise?

If you think FEES Fund could fund an opportunity for a young person you know and they meet the eligibility criteria, you can help with a suggestion that they could apply and grant funding could be available. You do need to seek all relevant permissions as an application sponsor as you will be including names and information as part of the application process you will also need information from the young person, their parent and carer and the activity provider to be able to make a strong application.

How much money can I/we apply for and when?

Awards are made to both individual young people in £50 units up to a maximum of £1,000. We expect most grants awarded to individuals to be in the region of £200-£300. You can submit one application per year. Please include how much money you would like to apply for on your application form and also include the breakdown of overall costs and details of any funding already in place and if matched funding has been applied for / received. 

When is the money awarded from FEES Fund?

Trustees allocate awards on a regular basis, and aim to be responsive, please indicate on your application when the money is needed with any dates or deadlines. Please use the application form or use the contact form to ask any further questions.

How will the funding be paid?

If you are successful and awarded a fees fund grant, the money will be paid directly to the organisation that will deliver the project or activity. The sponsor will be asked to sign and return the formal grant acceptance letter. The activity provider will need to provide bank details and financial due-diligence checks are completed before the grant funding is released.

If the grant is to pay for equipment, we will ask you to identify the item and retailer and the purchase will be made directly by FEES Fund with delivery to the young person.

What information do I need to include in my application?

Applications need to be specific and detail how much is requested and the predicted outcome linking to FEES Fund charitable purpose and values. 

Please include as much information as possible on your application form:-

The young person name, age and date or birth

Sponsor: name role organisation and email address

How much you would like to apply for

What you would like to use the funding for

Details of who will be the contact person within the enrichment provider organisation that we have permission to liaise with

The hoped for impact of the funding

How Fi and the charity set up in her memory has inspired you. We are keen that in making an application you feel part of the very special community that surrounds FEES Fund and gain a sense of kindness that surrounds all the fund-raising activities.

Confirm you are able to provide an impact report after the activity has taken place and if anonymised, details such as quotes can be used in future marketing, social media and promotion materials

What will you use my email address for?

We will use your email address to contact you if we need more information or to update you on your application. We will not share your email address outside of FEES Fund.

Do I need to reference FEES Fund values in my application?

Our charitable purpose is informed by our four values; opportunity, aspiration, kindness and community. Trustees use the values to inform panel grant funding decisions. We would love to see in applications how each value will play a part in the chosen enrichment activity, for example how it will it help to raise the young person’s future aspirations? Will it help increase a sense of community? What opportunities will be created?

Why do sponsors need to provide an update on the grant funding impact

This is linked to FEES Funds charitable purpose; we are interested to hear how the grant awarded has helped build new skills, extend the young person’s interests, changed their outlook and perceptions, lifestyle and ambitions.

Trustees are accountable and hold responsibilities to the charity commission and in ensuring we are meeting our charitable purpose, We regular review our work and report on an annual basis. An update from sponsors regarding the impact of grants awarded contributes to our internal reviews and evaluation ensuring we are working in line with charitable aims, objectives and values.

Are there ways I can stay in touch with FEES Fund?

Please complete the privacy questions indicating that you are happy for FEES Fund to hold your details on our charity database. We will send you newsletters and updates.

We will ask your permission to share your story in our marketing, social media and promotion materials to help encourage future fund raising and grant applications.

Can I apply for funding for my organisation?

FEES Fund Trustees are always keen to hear from organisations that provide extracurricular, community based, enrichment activities.  

A small amount of funding is available for organisations who would like to work in partnership with FEES fund to help promote awareness of FEES fund and encourage applications to enable us to reach more children and young people.  Previous examples have included funding team shirts which include FEES fund as a shirt sponsor.  

Please use our website contact form if you have an idea for collaboration that may require a small amount of funding and one of our trustees can discuss this further with you.

I would like to sponsor an application for two siblings so they can both attend a summer play scheme. Do I need to complete two applications even though the information is the same?

Yes you need to complete two separate applications for each sibling. You can use the cut and paste tools if the information / responses are the same or similar. Please do indicate on both the application form the sibling link and that you hope grant funding is available so both siblings can attend.

I applied for a fees fund grant and I have heard back what should I do?

Please check that your application meets the fees fund eligibility criteria, as a small charity with no paid staff we can not routinely provide responses / feedback for individual applications particularly when the applications have not met the initial eligibility criteria.

If you would like to check progress or have specific queries, please email info@feesfund.org

I live in America can I apply?

No, our charitable reach only includes England, Wales and Scotland.

My child attends a private school, our family budget is stretched can I apply for a grant towards school uniforms?

No, to be able to apply for a fees fund grant your child needs to attend a UK state school. Our focus is on providing grants for enrichment activities rather than school related costs.

Why do you need to know about family circumstances? I feel uncomfortable providing this information or asking for grant funding

FEES Fund charitable purpose is linked to making grants so enrichment activities become accessible to children and young people who have been missing out and not had the same opportunities. Trustees need to ensure our funding reaches those children/young people who will benefit the most.

Please only share the information you feel comfortable with, and ask your application sponsor to advocate on your behalf particularly around the benefits of taking part in the chosen enrichment activity. FEES Fund supporters and Trustees don’t want there to be stigma associated with receiving a fees fund grant. We hope it will feel like a small act of kindness coming from a very special small charity set up in Fi’s memory (See Fi our inspiration).