Applications are now open for local educational institutions and community groups to bid for grants.
The Foundation previously invited local community groups to bid for grants of £2,500 or £5,000. This year groups are once again encouraged to bid for larger amounts of £10,000 or £20,000 to support sustainable projects that provide beneficial and developmental activities for young people in deprived areas.
Educational establishments are also eligible to make a bid for funding. Local colleges and universities can also apply for grants of £10,000 per year towards innovative bursary schemes that help students from disadvantaged backgrounds continue in further or higher education.
To be eligible, groups or educational institutions must be based within the West Midlands. Full guidelines on how to apply and application forms can be found at www.nationalexpressgroup.com/foundation.
Applications for funding must be received by Thursday 18 April 2019. However the Foundation will also be running another funding programme later this year.
Coventry University is using funding of £10,000 per year for three years to support 10 students each year (30 across the three year bursary programme) that are care leavers or that have a disability; two underrepresented groups in higher education.
Recognising that these two groups may need more support than their peers, the university will also offer further support in the form of more personal careers guidance through ongoing mentoring support.
Ian Dunn, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Coventry University, said:
“We are delighted that the National Express Foundation has supported us once again. As a University we are committed to supporting all our students so that they have the best experience possible while they are here with us. We recognise that some students face more challenges than others so these bursaries will support two groups who are significantly underrepresented in higher education.”
Anthony Vigor, Chairman of the National Express Foundation, said:
“We are extremely proud that over the last seven years, the National Express Foundation grants have helped over 17,600 young people to enjoy positive and engaging activities and helped them to gain qualifications and learn new skills. Last year we ran two funding rounds for the first time and were able to support 3,400 young people in 2018 alone. We are really pleased to run two application rounds again this year with our increased funding commitment of £500,000. We’re absolutely thrilled that this money will help even more local young people in the communities that we serve. I would urge all local educational institutions and community groups to submit an application for funding.”
