Grants are available to support staff planning visits to set up new or foster ongoing partnerships between schools and youth groups in the UK and Germany.
Fund Information
- Funding body:
- UK-German Connection
- Maximum value:
- £ 1,000
- Application deadline:
- None specified
Background
Established in 2005, the UK-German Connection is funded and governed by the UK and German governments, British Council and the Pädagogischer Austauschdienst. It provides a dedicated linking service and offers complementary funding for UK-German activity as well as a range of bilateral programmes, trips and seminars.
Objectives of Fund
The UK-German Connection is providing funding through the Partnership Visit Fund to support staff planning visits between UK-German school and youth group partnerships to help co-ordinators to meet their partners, gain an insight into their partner institution and plan future partnership activities between the young people.
Grants support visits aiming to:
- Plan a new UK-German partnership and joint activities.
- Revive or develop an existing partnership.
- Introduce new staff members into a partnership where the main co-ordinator has left or is no longer involved.
Value Notes
Grants of (normally) up to £1,000 are available, for a maximum of 75% of total cost of the visit.
In exceptional cases, a higher amount of funding may be available (and/or a higher percentage than 75% of the total costs), for example, if travelling to/from a very remote location or the development of a partnership in challenging circumstances.
Match Funding Restrictions
Normally, at least 25% of the overall eligible visit costs must be contributed by the applicant through participants' contributions and other sources of funding.
Who Can Apply
Applications are accepted from co-ordinators and heads of primary, secondary and SEN schools, FE colleges or youth groups in the UK and Germany, who are registered and/or belong to an accredited organisation.
Visiting co-ordinator(s) must have an active role in the future of the partnership.
Restrictions
Funding is not available for:
- Unilateral (one-sided) activities without a partner institution.
- Multilateral events (where numerous nationalities and groups come together).
- Activities with a tourist focus or language courses.
- Performance tours, festivals, camps, or sports tournaments, etc.
- Activities which aim to make a financial profit.
- Applications submitted after the visit has taken place.
- Institutions already receiving financial support for the same activity from one of UK-German Connection's partner organisations, eg the British Council.
- Visits based solely on teachers' professional development.
Visits related to town-twinning activities can only be considered for support within the context of a school or youth partnership, and the application must normally be submitted by the travelling school or youth group.
Eligible Expenditure
Grants are to support planning visits by one to three teachers, headteachers or youth group leaders, as well as two to three accompanying young people (as long as they have an active role in the planning process). The duration of a planning visit will normally be three to five days.
Funding is for visits aiming to:
- Plan a new UK-German partnership and joint activities, where contact has already been established.
- Revive or develop an existing partnership (eg to include new subject areas).
- Introduce new staff members into a partnership where the main co-ordinator has left or is no longer involved.
To be eligible, visits must:
- Have a commitment to the sustainability of the link with plans for follow-up and development.
- Include partnership planning activities, such as meetings to discuss ideas for future visits and activities between the young people. Recce-visit activities can be included as part of the visit, as long as there is a strong educational/skills development focus to the planned excursions.
- Focus on plans for joint interactive activities between young people from both countries to be initiated within a year of the planning visit taking place.
- Focus on fostering a positive and active relationship with a partner school or youth group in Germany.
Activities/project and visits must have been agreed and planned by both partner institutions and have the support of the heads of each participating institution.
Eligible costs are:
- Travel and transport.
- Accommodation and subsistence.
- Joint activities, including excursions.
- Costs for exchange partners to take part in relevant joint activities while the group is in Germany.
- Materials and room hire.
- Visa costs directly related to project visits.
- Virtual/digital activities. (The grant can be partially used towards software, hardware or hardware rental but cannot cover more than 75% of the cost of any such items.)
Up to 25% of the total grant can be used for organisational support, including:
- Admin costs directly linked to the project implementation, eg supply cover, postage.
- Insurance.
Location
United Kingdom
How To Apply
The programme has a rolling deadline. However, applications must be received by at least six weeks in advance of the visit. Applications must be made by the travelling institution.
Application forms and guidance are available to download from the UK-German Connection website. Applications should be submitted by email.
Organisations should contact UK-German Connection if they want to discuss their project idea.
Useful documents & links
Useful Links
Addresses and contacts
For further information on how to obtain this grant locally, please contact the following:
- Funds Manager
UK-German Connection
34 Belgrave Square
London
SW1X 8QB
Email: [email protected]