Individual grants

Most individual grant applications, unless urgent, are reviewed at our termly grants meetings.  However, we take a flexible approach, recognising that sometimes the need may not fit with our meeting schedule. Applicants will be told when they must submit their applications when they are sent the link to the form.

Click here to confirm that you are eligible to apply for an individual grant prior to submitting an enquiry form.

For Collective applications, you can submit an enquiry to us and then apply anytime up to 12th May for our June meeting. Grants will then be awarded for a September start.

Click here to confirm that you are eligible to apply for a collective grant prior to submitting an enquiry form.

No. We receive a large number of applications from eligible parents and sadly are not able to help them all. The Trustees review all applications at the termly grants meetings to decide on grant allocations.

In addition to means-testing applicants, we take into account a range of criteria including for example: Are you able to describe the impact on the child of their parents’ service? Are either parent still serving? How long did the qualifying parent serve in the Forces and how long ago did they leave? Has any injury while serving impacted their ability to work?

Please do note that the final decision on who receives grants is at the absolute discretion of the Trustees.

Very occasionally, and only if directly related to disadvantage due to the parent’s military service, the Trust may offer some funding  towards accommodation-related charges.

Applications will be means tested, considering all income in a household and proof of student finance will also be requested, whether or not one of the adults is not the parent/legal guardian of the child as this is the basis on which Student Finance make their assessments for loans.

It is expected that students work, at least during holiday periods to supplement and other finance received. Any payments would be made directly to the accommodation provider.

Once you have submitted your application, the documents will be reviewed and we may get in touch to ask you further questions or need to clarify information provided or ask for further evidence.

All applications are reviewed independently by a panel of Trustees, each of whom has an equal vote. We require a quorum to make decisions, and every application is considered on its own merits, based on the information provided by the applicant and, where deemed applicable, the school.

To ensure fairness and transparency:

• Applications are assessed against our charitable aims, which focus on disadvantage arising specifically from service-related circumstances.
• We do not provide individual feedback on applications
• We do not compare or discuss individual cases with other applicants, as each situation is confidential and unique.

Once the decision has been made the email you sent with your financial documents as part of the application will be deleted.

Please note: We treat all applicants with respect and expect the same in return. Any communication that is rude, aggressive or abusive will result in the application being declined without further consideration.

Yes, we will need to ask you some detailed questions about your personal circumstances and your finances.

We recognise that questions relating to personal and financial circumstances can feel intrusive or uncomfortable. However, as a grant-giving organisation, we must understand an applicant’s financial position to determine eligibility and ensure our funds are directed to those most in need. This is standard practice across charitable and educational bursary schemes.

The amount of the grant award is primarily influenced by the extent of need.  Each case is assessed on its own merits and awards are made accordingly, subject to the Trust’s ability to fund these within the context of what is viable within its overall budget.  It is recognised that judgements about what sacrifices a family should make to pay school fees will be personal.  However, the Trust has a duty to ensure that all grants are well focused and so, as well as current earnings, other factors which will be considered in determining the necessary level of grant will include:

• The ability to improve the financial position or earning power of the family. For example, where there are two partners, both would be expected to be employed unless one is prevented from doing so through incapacity, the need to care for children under school age or other dependents, or the requirements of their partner’s work.
• Opportunities to release any capital. Significant capital savings and investments would be expected to be used for the payment of school fees, as would equity values in houses.
• Although there are no set limits for family income Trustees would not usually award a grant if there is a large value of savings/ investments for example or multiple properties. (Family income includes maintenance payments, partner’s income if relevant, benefits, pensions, rental income from additional properties etc).
• In cases of separation, the contribution made by the absent parent.
• Where the applicant is remarried, or living in a household with another adult, the total household income would be taken into account
• Contribution to household costs by other, wider, family members, any adults unrelated to the child or by outside sources.
• Where fees are being paid to other schools (or universities) the grant will take into account all these outgoings.
• Acknowledging that others might have a different view, the Trustees consider that the following would not be consistent with the receipt of a grant:
  • Frequent or expensive holidays.
  • Overseas school trips.
  • New or luxury cars.
  • Investment in significant home improvements.
  • A second property/land holdings.

The applicant is responsible for completing the financial form for both parents/ adults with financial responsibility. Where necessary, to protect financial information, a 2nd form can be set up.

If the grant is for a child over the age of 18 we would also ask for details of any income they may have.

We support applications from all ranks and all services. Unfortunately, not all applications can be supported, and we must prioritise those that most closely align with our charitable objectives and strategic aims.

We do not provide individual feedback on applications and the decisions made by the Trustees and we will not enter into discussions to compare individual cases from other applicants, as each situation is confidential and unique.

If the parents’ or guardians’ financial circumstances do not change, we will always aim to make our grants available to allow a child to complete the full period at school (or college) up to the next obvious break ie to end of GSCEs or A’Levels. However, please note that the means testing is an annual requirement, so if parents or guardians are able to contribute to fees at a later date, they may be expected to do so.

No. Continued Education Allowance (for boarding school) is paid up to a maximum value with parents being expected to pay a minimum of 10% of the fees plus any excess. However, the Trustees may consider an application for other specific education related costs not covered by CEA.

Serving parents are generally able to anticipate the effect of their leaving the service on the education of their children and thus make arrangements for the continuation of their education. The Trust does appreciate however that at times this is not possible, particularly when unforeseen circumstances cause an end to a service career, and also when children are in an important / exam year when their parent leaves. In these situations, the Trustees may consider an application for short term support up to the original CEA element but will look not look favourably on enquiries that are submitted at the last minute.

Parents choosing to leave the Armed Forces before the end of their service are responsible for including the need to pay school fees for children as part of their decision to leave.

Parents should not expect to be extended in service and should always make a plan for continued education of their child(ren) should this not happen.

Parents should remember that a terms notice may need to be given if a grant application is not successful.

If you’re not sure about CEA rules you should refer to JSP 752. PACCC casework will be required for anything not adhering to policy.

If you are leaving at end of service JSP 752 states: the final payment will be in respect of the academic term which includes the claimants last day of service ( 14.0120)

If you are being medically discharged or in the case of death of the service parent,  JSP 752 states CEA is paid until the end of a stage of education or up to 2 full terms whichever is the longer – can include public examinations(14.0121)

In the case of marital breakup, eligibility to claim CEA and change of PSTAT are all set out in JSP 752 chapter 14. Personnel can claim CEA for step-children if they determine that they are the prime mover and that the children have residency with them. If they split up then if the child is no longer resident with them they cannot continue to claim. There may be dispensation to continue if the child is in GCSE or A-level years subject to casework to the PACCC.

Yes. Sometimes Parents apply for CEA and for whatever reason it is refused. If this is the case, we would expect you to have made an appeal to CEAS/PACCC before applying for a grant and would ask to see the details of the CEA refusal.

As long as you have served in one of HM Armed Forces as either a regular or reservist, you can apply. But you will need to demonstrate that the education of the child on whose behalf you are applying has been affected in some way by your service and that, if applying for school fees, state education facilities where you now live cannot meet their needs as a result. If the child was born or reached school age after you left the Services, a grant is only likely to be made in the most exceptional of circumstances.

While of course sympathising with such difficulties, the Trust will only consider grants in such cases where the need is linked to the parent’s service and it is clear that the child’s needs cannot be met from existing resources, or that there are particular reasons why health or education provision cannot do so, due to the parent’s situation as a Service person.

If we do provide support it is likely to be short term and within the state school setting as we would not be able to fund attendance at a special school.

The Trust is not able to support medical diagnosis but will consider specific assessments eg Education Psychologist, where this cannot be provided by the school and this is needed for a mobile service child to access education. This would be organised in conjunction with the school.

No, this is not something the Trust would award a grant for. Access arrangements for a young person with a disability is a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act.

In England, pupils do not need to have a formal diagnosis for support in school, including access arrangements in SATs and GCSEs. In primary schools, it’s usually the SENCo/ class teacher who apply for access arrangements for SATs. Many secondary schools have a member of staff who is qualified to apply for GCSE access arrangements, in line with the JCQ requirements. If a school does not have a specialist assessor in school,  they should arrange for a specialist assessor who is known to the school to support this.  

Contact the British Dsylexia Association for more information – https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/

No, the Trust is not able to support medical diagnosis or assessments.  If you are in the UK and facing difficulties with maintaining a place on a waiting list due to a move then you should contact the Education Advisory Team for advice

Assigned in the UK

If you are from a Royal Navy or Royal Marine family please go to – https://www.navalchildrenscharity.org.uk/docs-category/neurodiversity-send/

Unfortunately the Trust is not able to award grants for debts incurred, or invoices already paid, prior to application. We would recommend contacting a Debt Recovery organisation for this purpose or the Citizens Advice Bureau.  If you are struggling to pay household costs due to paying of debts you could also consider contacting the one of the Benevolant Funds (see link page).

In exceptional circumstances, we will consider additional requests for expenses (up to an agreed limit). However, we are not able to make payments directly to the individual / family in receipt of a grant.

We pay fees direct to the school or university/college or other education provider concerned by BACS. We are not able to make payments directly to the individual / family in receipt of a grant.

All enquiries will be considered on a case by case basis with applications means tested. So whether or not we can help will depend on individual circumstances. When awarded, grants are for an absolute amount towards the total fee.