Find Funding

Sources of income: Contracts

Local Authorities increasingly look to the voluntary and private sectors to help deliver some of the services they provide. They do this by offering contracts for tender and, although the process can be intimidating for smaller voluntary organisations, it is possible for Christian schools work projects to successfully bid and win these kinds of contracts.

The current financial climate and cut backs will, of course, change the context drastically with Local Authorities having to reduce their budgets for the foreseeable future. However, that does not mean that the opportunity for contracts has disappeared altogether. The biggest challenge for schools projects is finding the kinds of contracts that are relevant to the work they are doing. Local Authorities are often focused on the need to deliver hard outcomes like, for example, a reduction in exclusions, an increase in GSCE attainment or numbers of over 16’s in training or employment.

Many schools projects are involved in soft outcomes, that is to say, helping young people develop emotionally or socially, providing pastoral support or simply ‘being there’ in a time of crisis. Although these soft outcomes do indirectly impact the kinds of changes Local Authorities need, it’s a difficult link to prove and projects that are more directly linked to hard outcomes are more likely to be successful. Local Authorities often have mailing lists which they use to publicise tendering opportunities, so it’s worth getting in touch to make sure your organisation is included. Some also use a ‘pre-tendering’ process where you submit basic paperwork and information (safeguarding, accounts etc). If you successfully complete this, it enables you to be eligible for commissioning opportunities.

In the new political climate of 2010, it’s increasingly possible that schools themselves will be given funding directly to commission work. This may, as it turns out, make the process easier for smaller organisations that are already known to the school.

Five actions to successfully tender for contracts

Sources of income: Charging for services

The idea of charging schools for your work will feel strange to many schools workers. Historically, most Christian schools work has been paid for by churches and individual donations. There’s good reason for this: it allows projects greater freedom in deciding what they do and links the work more directly with local churches. Schools work has also been seen as mission or evangelism where again the idea of charging would seem very strange.

At the same time, there’s sometimes an insecurity about what Christian schools work offers to schools, and the fear that, if there was a charge attached, schools would not want it. However, it’s worth remembering that Christian schools work contributes a huge amount to schools, in all kinds of key areas. The work is valuable and there can’t be many schools workers who haven’t thought at some point, having arrived at a school to find a booked assembly or lesson has been cancelled, that charging might at least challenge schools to value this input more highly.

As a result, over the last few years, some schools projects have begun charging for some or all of their services. The different models and approaches include:

Charging for some services. Particular services are charged to the school, whilst the remained of the work is given for free. For example, assemblies, RE and extra-curriculum activities are all done at no cost, but anger management programmes or a special one-off RE day have a cost.
Suggested donation. Projects make clear to schools the overall cost of the work they are doing and ask schools for a donation towards it. The work will continue whether or not the school makes a contribution. Sometimes it can help to lay out how the overall cost is being met. For example: “It costs £10,000 to place a worker part time in the school. The local churches contribute £6,000, but we are asking if the school could make a contribution towards the remaining £4,000.”
Cancellation fee. Projects offer their work for free, but make a charge if a booking is cancelled at short notice. For example, £40 for a lesson or assembly. These charges are agreed with the school in writing in advance.

Sources of income: Training

Many schools projects do not fully realise the depth of knowledge and expertise they possess. In fact, they may be sitting on a valuable source of income. Have you ever thought of offering training to schools and other Local Authority teams on some of the areas in which you work?

For example:
-youth culture and trends
-young people and spirituality
-anger management
-supporting young people through crisis

Some schools projects have found that their own (and neighbouring) Local Authorities have valued highly this kind of input into their training programme. Fees for a day’s training might range from £250-£700. If a project only did one of these a month, they might develop a significant new source of income.

One of the benefits of this approach is that, although the initial set up of a training course is labour intensive, once it is put together it can be used over and over again.

Conclusion

There will hardly be a Christian schools project in the country that doesn’t struggle for funding, at least some of the time. It’s a huge challenge to find the income you need. But it’s not impossible. Developing lots of different sources of income is a much healthier and more secure option, so you can survive if a particular source dries up. And, of course, don’t forget prayer! Whilst this is a practical guide, we’re not forgetting that God is our provider and that our first action should be to pray and ask for His help. That’s the most solid foundation to finding funding!

© schoolswork.co.uk 2010
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