Education and Learning grants aim to fill gaps in education and learning so that children and adults globally can succeed in education and thrive in life. Each year, the Trust awards small grants (typically £500-£4,000) to support organisations that work with children and adults most at risk of missing out on education, to improve:
- access to learning and education (including early childhood education)
- experience of learning
- capacity within the education system
Previously grants have reached, for example, children and adults who are: refugees, living in conflict-affected or remote areas; street-connected children; living with disabilities and/or learning needs; and living in high areas of deprivation.
Testimony from Action Syria
Half of Syrian children ages 6-14 living in Lebanon are out of school. With a grant of £2000 and in partnership with SAWA for Development, Action Syria is supporting a school for Syrian refugee children in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. Each day the children arrive to learn Arabic, English, science and maths as well as PE and lifeskills. There is a focus on psychosocial wellbeing and on creating a safe, comfortable and welcoming space for students whose education has been repeatedly disrupted by conflict.
Photo © Action Syria & SAWA
Supporting Early Childhood Education in Mongolia
In 2025, the Gilchrist Educational Trust provided a £4,000 grant through Christina Noble Children’s Foundation to support Blue Skies Kindergarten in Mongolia, helping to expand access to vital early years education for some of the country’s most vulnerable children.
Across Mongolia, many families face significant economic hardship. With high unemployment rates and challenging living conditions, parents are often forced to work long hours, leaving young children without access to safe, structured care. For many, public kindergarten services are either unavailable or out of reach.
Photo © CNCF
Who we want to support
The Trustees prioritise supporting organisations that demonstrate strategic thinking regarding how a small grant can effectively enhance access to education and learning for children and adults most at risk of missing out on education.
Rather than funding one-off activities or events that serve only a small group, the Trust will support projects that have potential to achieve a broader reach and create a more significant impact.
Primary consideration is given to projects that centre on literacy, numeracy, and STEM, as well as those dedicated to improving the safety and overall experience of learners within the educational system. Additionally, the Trustees seek to fund initiatives that build long-term capacity within the education system.
We consider applications from UK registered charities and CICs working in the UK or internationally proposing projects that align to these principles:
- Reach the most vulnerable
- Ensure local voices guide decisions
- Contribute to lasting change
- Learn and evolve from their own and others’ experience
- Are working within the government system
The Trust does not fund vocational training or community projects focused on arts, music, dance, and drama. Funding is generally not available for schemes where the majority of the grant would be directed towards the construction or renovation of buildings, or used to cover general administrative and organisational running costs. Furthermore, the Trustees avoid making unspecified contributions to larger organisational budgets where the impact of a small grant would be difficult to discern within the overall financial requirement.
We are unable to consider applications from the following:
- Schools
- Scouts or Guides groups
- Organisations or groups which show evidence of political involvement
- Organisations whose approach includes institutional care or child sponsorship
- Applicants funded in the previous year
Timetable
| 1 December | Education and Learning Grant applications open |
| 28 February | Deadline for applications |
| April | Trustees consider applications |
| May | Successful applicants notified of funding decision |
Successful applicants are required to submit a short report by March of the following year that summarises how the grant has been used. We may use content from the report online to help publicise the trust.
Apply now
Please complete the following form to start the process. We will be in touch to explain the next steps.