Individual Grants 

Introduction

This fund is to help young people in and around Taunton achieve their goals. The online application form can be found at the bottom of this page where it  says 'Apply Now'.

We want to support accredited education and training routes including higher education, music and other arts, sports, apprenticeships, employment, and also to widen participation in different academic subjects and educational activities. 

Who can apply for this money?

You should only apply for money from this fund if you:

• are aged 11 to 24, 

• in financial need and need funding to help you achieve your goal in life.

• live in or go to a state funded school in the former Borough of Taunton Deane (the area shown in red on this map,) or

• still have a family home in the former Borough of Taunton Deane but now attend university somewhere else. 

Anyone who meets the above criteria can apply however, we prioritise applications from people who currently live and attend a state funded school in the former Borough of Taunton Deane. When we have lots of applications and some are similar, we will usually prioritise grants for people who attend or have previously attended Bishop Fox’s School. 

Ask us if you’re not sure if you are eligible.

What can I use this money for?

We’re interested in supporting you to pay for things like:

• books on your college or university reading list.

• specialist equipment needed for your area of study such as a laptop 

• tools and clothing to help you undertake an apprenticeship.

• fees and other costs when studying certain accredited courses that are not eligible for a student loan.

• costs associated with progressing in a sport or taking part in competitions.

• costs associated with pursuing a recognised talent.

• equipment or other costs associated with trips or expeditions (please note will usually only award a maximum of £250 towards trips organised by schools)  

This isn’t everything we can help you with, but whatever you ask for it must help you learn new things and progress in your life.

What can’t I use this money for?

• Fees for courses that are eligible for a student loan 

• Accommodation costs (unless in exceptional circumstances).

• Musical instruments (unless in exceptional circumstances). For low cost instrument hire please see www.somersetmusic.co.uk 

• Buying books that aren’t on your college or university reading list. 

• Things that were not specified in your application.

• Things that you already have the financial means to pay for.

• Events that have already happened or things that have already been paid for. 

• School Uniform (we have a separate grant application process for school uniforms) 

How much can I ask for?

Grant amounts vary depending on the purpose they will be used for, and our aim is always to support as many young people as possible. We won't usually award single grants of over £2,500, and most grants awarded are for much less than this. The average amount awarded to successful applicants this year has been around £600. 

What you ask for should: 

• Be reasonable – it should clearly link to achieving your goal. 

• Be proportionate – it should reflect what you ‘need’ to achieve your goal rather than just what you would ‘like’.  

• Reflect your financial situation – you should ask for an amount that relates directly to your financial circumstances. For example, if you already have some of the money you need, then you should only ask for the remainder.  

We also consider what other things you have done to try and raise the money you need. For example, if you are applying for a grant for college or university study we'll expect you to tell us whether you have applied for any scholarships of bursary funds that you could be eligible for.  

Can I apply for a grant more than once? 

Yes, you can apply more than once, however we expect 12 months to have passed since your last grant award before you make another application. We also won't usually make more than 3 grant awards to one individual or household.

How much is available?

We have a limited amount of money to give out, which usually totals around £100,000 a year. 

When do I have to apply?

You can apply whenever you like, but we only make decisions 4 times a year. 

Closing date for applications: 

Monday 26th May 2025 - decisions early July 2025

Monday 25th August 2025 -  decisions late September 2025

Monday 25th December 2025 - decisions mid January 2026

Please note: It can take up to 10 weeks from the application deadline all the way through to payment, so you should plan in advance and submit your application well ahead of when you will need the money. 

You will need to provide details for a Sponsor who can support your application. Your sponsor should know you well and fully understand your application including what you want to achieve. They should be able to comment on the reasons why you would be suitable for a grant, and if you have a special talent they should be able tell us about it.   

How likely is it that you’ll give me some money?

We award as many grants as we can, however we never have enough money to support everyone who applies to us. When we have lots of applications, we will consider an applicant’s financial situation as well as how closely the application fits our eligibility criteria. We also look at whether you have received a grant from us before and how much the grant was for. 

Where does the money come from?

The Foundation is closely linked to Bishop Fox’s School, which dates back to 1522. 

The school moved to new premises in 1940 and the old school buildings were sold. The money from this sale was invested by the Foundation, and the income from these investments is now used to provide grants. 

We can only support people with connections to the former Borough of  Taunton Deane. The Borough hasn’t existed since 2019, but we still use this to decide who can and cannot apply.