• Introduction
• Project basics
• Current projects
• Timescales
• Themes
• Structure
• Funding
• Mentors
• About

Funding

How much funding is available?

For the application deadline of  21st June, projects will receive a fixed budget of £3,000. This applies to all the themes, including Employer Engagement.

If you have in mind a large-scale project that would involve many partners and activities, please talk to us. In very exceptional circumstances there could be an alternative arrangement.

How should projects allocate their budget?

In your application you will be asked to show how you intend to meet the costs of the project. We advise you to write a budget that is an honest assessment of what you will need to spend. As the budget is fixed, you will need to adjust your plans so that they can be carried out within the funding limit. You can add additional funding from another source if it is available.

When writing the budget, please make sure that it is clear what the unit cost of each item is, and what is being paid for. For example, in relation to supply cover you need to specify whether you are counting cover in half days or whole days. You should also indicate clearly how many teachers are receiving cover and how many days per teacher are allocated.

Please also make sure that the items in the budget relate clearly to the list of project activities that is directly above the budget section on the application form.

Cost headings

Below are some of the cost headings you are likely to use when putting the budget together.

Paying for your own time

If you are the project leader, you will need some additional time to manage the project. This includes attending a LinkedUp briefing meeting at the start of the project (allow one day plus travel), writing reports after each project phase, preparing a Project Guide, dealing with any problems that arise and liaising with your mentor, as well as planning and setting up meetings and ensuring there is ongoing communication between partners, including use of the online workspace. You will therefore need to allocation yourself more time than that of the other partners.

If you are lucky enough to have time available for the project as part of your wider role, for example as an AST, this would allow more of the £3,000 to be spent on other things, and you should enter the amount saved as a contribution towards the project from your school or local authority.

Paying for partners' time and travel

As the focus of all projects is collaborative professional development, we expect a large proportion of the budget to be allocated to supply cover, to enable teachers to meet and work individually to develop ideas, observe learning in action, prepare learning activities and create resources. But please see the note on the use of supply cover in the next section.

The funding can also be used  for out of hours payments if teachers prefer to work on the project after school or at the weekend.

Partners in other organisations or companies may also receive funding for their time and travel.

When including an allocation for travel expenses, we advise you to use the normal mileage rate that your school or organisation provides (a standard level would be 35 pence per mile).

Paying for the cost of meetings

The budget can be used to pay a small amount for a meeting venue, but not to pay for meals.

Paying for pupils' activities

The scheme does not fund pupils' activities unless they are clearly integral to the project and would not otherwise be taking place.  If the activities are an important element of the project, the scheme can fund pupils' travel and other costs at a modest level.

Paying for teacher-made resources

The scheme can provide funding to enable participants to make learning resources for pupils, and for the dissemination materials that are made publicly available at the end of the project. Extreme care should be taken in relation to copyright, and the LinkedUp team can advise on this if necessary.

Payment for your mentor to attend meetings or events

The mentor is paid directly by ALL, so their honorarium should not be included in the budget.  However, you can include the cost of your mentor attending a small number of meetings (if they have time and would like to attend - it is not a requirement) and for his or her travel expenses.

What is eligible for funding?

Checklist

As a guide, funding can include the cost of:

• developing and sharing learning resources
• activities with learners, in and out of school, that are essential to the project and would not otherwise be taking place
• travel to meetings or briefings (including a briefing for the mentor and lead partner at your regional Links centre)
• phone calls or videoconferencing
• a relevant CPD course (normally for one person who feeds back information)
• supply cover for the lead partner for coordination of the project
• supply cover for partners for identified activities (but see the note below about supply cover)
• payment for the time of partners who are not school-based
• briefing or consultation meetings, eg. for parents
• stationery, CDs/DVDs and photocopying/printing
• other expenditure if clearly needed to enable you to meet your objectives

Overseas visits

Funding cannot subsidise an overseas visit, but could be used for an additional aspect or activity during a visit. You may not give any funding to schools that are outside the United Kingdom.

Supply cover

Please consider your use of supply cover carefully and take advantage of opportunities to work in a 'smart' way. For example, it is appropriate to enable teachers to observe lessons or to work together for a short period with a clear outcome in view. In contrast, it would be a less effective use of funding to hold a meeting that required a full day’s cover for all partners. Please also explore the potential of using the shared online workspace to facilitate collaboration without needing to meet face to face.

Co-funding

It is possible to contribute funding from another source to enhance the scope of a LinkedUp project. If this applies in your case, you will be asked to provide details in the application. The two funding streams must be kept clearly separate for accounting purposes.

What can’t be funded?

Funding will not be provided for:

• large scale commercial resources such as sets of text books, recording equipment, software licenses or IT infrastructure
• professional filming or publishing
• equipment which is already available within the school or college
• alcoholic drinks, restaurant meals or catering at project team meetings
• any items or activities which do not directly contribute to the success of the project

If you are not sure whether an item of expenditure is acceptable, please check with us before submitting your application.